Stay clear of any downed wires and treat them as live. Photograph the damage before moving anything, from several angles, along with the cause, such as a fallen limb. Then secure what the fence was protecting, especially dogs and pools. Only after that, sort out what needs a temporary fix today and what needs a lasting repair.
Upright Johns Creek Fencing handles fence repair after storms across north Fulton. This post covers the first steps.
Safety first
Fallen limbs often bring down power, cable or phone lines along with fences. Assume any downed wire is live, keep people and pets away, and report it to the utility. Do not cut or lift a limb tangled with wires. Leaning trees, hanging limbs and damaged sections that could fall are hazards too. A broken fence leaves nails and screws exposed; wear gloves and boots.
Document before cleanup
For an insurance claim, photos taken before cleanup matter. Capture:
- The full damaged section and the fence on either side.
- The cause: the limb, tree or debris.
- Close-ups of broken posts, rails and boards.
- Any damage to the house, shed or other property.
Check your policy or call your insurer before major repairs. Many policies cover fences damaged by fallen trees or wind, subject to the deductible and terms; rot and wear generally are not.
Secure pets and pools
A damaged fence no longer holds a dog. Keep dogs on a leash or inside until the gap is closed. If the fence is part of a pool barrier, keep children away from the pool and close the gap before anyone uses it; a pool barrier is a safety system. The pool fence page explains what a barrier needs.
Temporary fixes
Short-term options include:
- Prop a leaning section with a brace staked into the ground.
- Close a gap with a sheet of plywood, a cattle panel or temporary fencing.
- Tie a gate shut if its hinge post is damaged.
These hold for days or weeks, not seasons.
What usually breaks
Storm damage tends to reveal weak points:
- Posts snapped at the soil line, often because they had already rotted. The wood fence lifespan guide explains why.
- Posts tipped in wet clay, when saturated ground lets wind push a solid fence over. The leaning post guide covers resetting.
- Rails and boards broken by a falling limb, with posts still sound.
- Gates knocked out of square; the sagging gate guide covers fixes.
- Chain link top rails bent and fabric torn.
Repair or replace
If the damage is limited to one section with sound posts on either side, that section is rebuilt. If a storm knocks down a long run, look at the rest of the fence: posts that failed easily may mean the others are close behind. The repair or replace guide walks through the decision.
How repairs are scheduled
After a widespread storm, many fences go down at once, and repair crews triage. Downed pool barriers and fences holding animals usually come first, followed by sections leaning into neighboring yards or onto walkways. A clear description and the photos you took help an estimator plan the right materials before the visit, so the repair can often be done in one trip. If your HOA requires approval for a rebuilt section, the HOA approval guide covers what committees review.
Before the next storm
- Have dead limbs over the fence removed by an arborist.
- Fix leaning posts before they fail.
- Re-aim sprinklers that keep the fence line soaked.
- On exposed lots, consider a style that lets air through, such as shadowbox; the board-on-board vs shadowbox guide explains the difference.
Questions about storm damage can go to the number at the top of the page or the form below.