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Emergency tree service: what counts, what to say and what happens next
A tree just came down, or a big limb is hanging over the house. This guide tells you who to call first, what counts as a real emergency, what to say on the phone and what usually happens next.
By Umair Nawaz, founder of Lirevon Updated How we check facts
Safety first: who to call
- Someone is hurt or trapped, there is fire, or a tree hit a home with people inside: call 911 first.
- A tree or limb is on or near a power line: stay far away and call your electric utility. Assume every downed line is live. Keep kids and pets back.
- You smell gas: leave the house and call 911 or your gas company from a safe place.
- Get everyone out of rooms under the tree. Do not go back in to save things. A tree resting on a roof can shift.
- Stay on the ground. Do not climb onto the roof or the tree, and do not use a chainsaw on storm-loaded or bent wood. Bent wood can spring back hard. This is work for a trained, insured crew.
Once people are safe and wires are handled, call a tree service.
What counts as an emergency
After a storm, every tree company in town gets flooded with calls. Knowing what truly cannot wait helps crews reach the worst jobs first. Use this table as a rough guide, not an inspection.
| What you see | Who to call | How soon |
|---|---|---|
| A tree or limb touching or near a power line, or a downed line | Your electric utility. Call 911 if anyone is in danger. | Now. Stay far away. Do not call a tree crew first. |
| A person hurt or trapped, or a tree on a house with people inside | 911 first, then a tree service | Now. |
| A tree through the roof, a wall or a window | A tree service that does emergency work | Same day, after everyone is out and safe. |
| A tree blocking your only driveway or a road | A tree service. For a public road, also tell your town or the police non-emergency line. | Same day if you cannot get out, or an ambulance could not get in. |
| A large cracked or hanging limb over a house, car, path or play area | A tree service | Same day or next day. Keep people out from under it. |
| A tree on a fence, shed or in the yard, with no one at risk | A tree service | Usually not an emergency. Book a normal visit. |
Not sure if a standing tree is about to fail? Read is my tree dangerous? for the warning signs you can check from the ground. For the days after a big wind or ice storm, see the after-a-storm guide.
What to say when you call
A clear first call helps the company judge how urgent your job is and what crew to send. If nobody picks up, leave the same details by voicemail or text.
Call checklist
- Your name, the street address and a phone number that can get texts.
- What happened, in one or two plain sentences. For example: "A big oak fell on the back of the house during the storm."
- Whether anyone is hurt, and whether people are still inside.
- Whether any wire is involved. Say if the utility has been called.
- What the tree is touching: roof, wall, car, fence, road or driveway.
- How a truck can reach it: gate width, slopes, soft ground, a backyard with no side access.
- That you can send photos taken from a safe place.
- If you plan to file an insurance claim, so they can take the photos and notes your insurer may ask for.
Then ask: Are you insured? When can you come? Will I get the price in writing first? Our list of questions to ask a tree service has more.
What happens next
Most emergency jobs follow the same steps.
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1. They call or text you back
During a storm, many companies reply by text or call back when they can. Keep your phone on and answer unknown numbers.
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2. Someone looks at the job
This may be a visit, or photos first. A crew should not start on a tree that touches a power line until the utility has made it safe.
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3. You get the price in writing
Emergency work often costs more than normal work, because of night hours, risk and equipment such as cranes. Ask for the price in writing before work starts. We do not list prices.
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4. The crew makes it safe first
The first visit often just takes the weight off the house or clears the way out. Full cleanup and the stump may come on a later day.
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5. You get a written invoice
Ask for an invoice that lists the work done, plus before and after photos. Keep them with your own photos in case you file a claim.
To understand what moves the price up or down, read tree removal cost factors. If the tree hit your home, also read trees and insurance. That is a short explanation, not legal or insurance advice. Call your insurer and read your own policy.
Mistakes to avoid
Stress makes it easy to rush. Watch for these traps.
- Paying the full price up front to a crew that knocks on your door after a storm, without a written quote, proof of insurance and reviews you can check.
- Trying to cut storm-loaded or bent wood yourself.
- Letting anyone work near a power line before the utility says it is safe.
- Throwing away damaged items or cleaning up before you take photos, if you may file a claim.
When the emergency is over, slow down. Our guide on how to hire a tree service covers quotes and insurance. Get two or three written quotes for anything that can wait. More guides are on the homeowners page.
Common questions
What counts as a tree emergency?
A tree that puts people in danger, has hit a home, is on a power line, or blocks the only way in or out. A tree on a fence or lawn with no one at risk can usually wait.
Who do I call first if a tree is on a power line?
Your electric utility. If anyone is in danger, call 911. Stay far away and keep others back. A tree crew should not work near the line until the utility makes it safe.
Should I call 911 for a fallen tree?
Call 911 if someone is hurt or trapped, a tree hit a home with people inside, or there is fire or a live wire. For a tree on a road with no one hurt, use the police non-emergency number.
Can I cut the tree off my house myself?
Please do not. Bent wood can spring back hard, and a tree on a roof can shift. This is work for a trained, insured crew.
How much does emergency tree service cost?
It depends on the tree size, what it rests on, access, the time of day and the equipment needed, such as a crane. Emergency work often costs more than normal work. Get the price in writing before work starts, and get two or three quotes when you safely can.
How fast will a tree service come?
It depends on the company and the weather. After a big storm, every crew is busy at once. Say clearly if people are at risk or you cannot get out, and ask for an honest time.
Will my insurance pay for emergency tree removal?
It depends on your policy and what the tree hit. Call your insurer and read your policy. This is a short explanation, not insurance advice. See our trees and insurance guide.
How do I avoid storm scams?
Be careful with door-to-door crews that want full payment up front. Ask for proof of insurance and a written quote, and read their reviews on Google Maps.
Does Lirevon send emergency crews?
No. Lirevon does not do tree work and does not list or rank tree companies. We help tree service owners answer their calls. To find a local pro, search Google Maps and read their reviews.
Should I call my insurance company or a tree service first?
If anyone is in danger, call 911 first. Then call your insurer soon, ask what they need and take photos before cleanup. You can call local insured tree pros at the same time. This is a short explanation, not insurance advice.
Keep reading: a tree on a power line, should you hire right after a storm, the tree care guide for your state, and what a certificate of insurance is.
This page is general information. It is not a tree inspection, and it is not legal or insurance advice. In danger, call 911. For power lines, call your electric utility. Lirevon does not do tree work.
Find local pros on Google Maps and read their reviews
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