When Mother Nature Strikes: Your Complete Guide to Emergency Tree Services During Storms

Storms can transform your peaceful property into a dangerous landscape in a matter of hours. Strong winds can scatter dead branches, leaves, and even entire trees all over your premises, creating immediate safety hazards and potential property damage. Understanding how to respond when trees threaten your property during severe weather can make the difference between minor inconvenience and major catastrophe.

Immediate Safety Steps When Storms Strike

The first priority during any storm emergency is personal safety. If a tree falls on your home, you should evacuate immediately, make sure everyone is safe and call 911. First assess site safety. Check for downed power lines. Examine tree canopies for large broken limbs that could fall.

Treat every downed, hanging, or loose power line as though it’s live. If you’re outside surveying the damage or cleaning up, look up to make sure you don’t come into contact with hanging or loose lines. Never attempt to remove trees or large branches that are touching power lines – this is a job for utility companies and trained professionals.

Once you’ve confirmed everyone’s safety, when it’s safe to do so, you should cover up any openings with a tarp or other covering to keep out water and prevent further damage.

When to Call Emergency Tree Services

Emergency tree removal services are available 24 hours, but knowing when to call professionals versus handling minor cleanup yourself can save time and money. You should immediately contact emergency tree services when:

• There is potential for property damage or if there are bent or twisted branches under pressure that may cause kickback
• Trees have fallen on structures, vehicles, or are blocking roadways
• Storms damage trees in ways that aren’t immediately obvious, such as when a limb is barely holding on, if damaged bark can no longer protect the trunk, or if a tree is unstable and likely to come down in the next storm
• Large trees are leaning precariously or have exposed root systems due to soil erosion

Professional emergency services typically respond within 24 hours, and depending on the severity of the damage, they can usually be at your property within an hour. Emergency services prioritize based on the severity and potential for further damage or injury.

The Professional Emergency Response Process

When you contact a qualified arborist near me, they bring specialized knowledge and equipment to handle dangerous situations safely. Professional emergency services deploy specialized vehicles and state-of-the-art equipment operated by highly skilled staff to handle tree removal emergencies.

Emergency tree services encompass quick and safe removal of fallen or hazardous trees that pose a threat to your property and safety, with teams equipped to handle complex removals, ensuring that the process is conducted with minimal risk and disruption.

Professional emergency services typically include:

• Efficient clearing of branches, leaves, and other storm-related debris scattered across your property, helping you regain the use and aesthetics of your outdoor space
• Thorough assessments of damage to determine the best course of action for each affected tree, whether it’s removal, trimming, or other corrective measures
• Roof tarping services if necessary, though there is usually an additional charge for this service that may not be covered by insurance
• Working directly with insurance companies to facilitate the claims process and ensure you receive necessary coverage for cleanup and restoration work

Post-Storm Tree Assessment and Recovery

After the immediate dangers are addressed, professional arborists conduct comprehensive evaluations to determine which trees can be saved. After a storm, trees may have varying degrees of damage, and trained arborists will inspect the trees and determine which ones can be preserved and which should be removed, ensuring further damage to the surrounding landscape, property, and trees is kept to a minimum.

Trees affected by flooding face particular challenges. Flooding can weaken the roots, trunk, and overall structure of a tree since the tree is unable to absorb the massive amount of water. Erosion exposes the root system and makes it susceptible to damage from many sources. If additional flooding occurs once the root system is exposed, the entire tree can become unstable and fall on the property.

Prevention: Your First Line of Defense

The best emergency tree service is the one you never need to call. The best thing you can do is to prevent storm damage to your trees through proactive maintenance and smart planning.

It’s smart to have a professional prune and trim your tree on a regular basis. They will remove any dead or damaged branches present, preventing the potential of a serious accident or injury during a storm. Proper pruning reduces wind resistance and removes weak growth; cabling and bracing addresses structural deficiencies; and targeted nutrition fortifies vulnerable trees.

Tree selection also plays a crucial role in storm preparedness. Avoid planting problematic trees that commonly cause damage in storms, including Cottonwood, Leyland Cypress, Silver Maple, Bradford Pear and Empress. Hardwood trees, like white oaks and hickories, are usually far more likely to survive a storm than pines or even fast-growing deciduous trees like red maple and birch, with studies showing that pine trees were two to three times as likely as white oaks to be blown over.

Insurance Considerations

Understanding your insurance coverage before disaster strikes is essential. A standard homeowners insurance policy covers damage caused by a tree to a home or other insured structures, such as a detached garage, and their contents. However, poor tree maintenance will be considered when reviewing claims, and tree-related damage may not be covered if the insurance company determines it could have been avoided with proper upkeep.

Homeowner’s insurance typically covers damage from – and removal of – storm-damaged trees that fall on your home or other structures due to natural causes, and may also cover trees that fall anywhere on your property due to fire or lightning. However, it may not cover the damage if your tree was poorly maintained and lost due to owner negligence.

Choosing the Right Emergency Tree Service

When selecting an emergency tree service provider, look for companies with proper licensing, insurance, and experience. A reputable service should have certified arborists on staff who understand both the immediate safety concerns and long-term tree health implications of storm damage.

For Long Island residents, companies like Jones Tree and Plant Care exemplify the professional standards you should expect. As a Suffolk County-based company owned and operated by a New York State Board Certified Arborist with over 10 years of experience, they demonstrate the expertise and commitment to environmentally-sensitive treatments that characterize quality emergency tree services.

Preparing for the Next Storm

Storm preparedness is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. Conduct thorough inspections of trees on your property, looking for signs of disease, decay or structural issues, paying special attention to branches that overhang structures or utility lines.

Healthy soil is vital for strong tree growth and resilience during storms. Regular soil testing can identify nutrient deficiencies or imbalances, and applying organic matter like compost or mulch can improve soil structure, water retention, and nutrient availability.

Remember that there is no way, except for complete enclosure, to protect trees from all storm damage, as trees are not adapted to worst-case storms only to our average wind climate. However, with proper preparation, professional maintenance, and quick response during emergencies, you can minimize risks and protect both your property and your valuable trees.

When storms threaten, don’t wait until it’s too late. Having a relationship with a qualified emergency tree service provider and maintaining your trees proactively will ensure you’re prepared when nature shows its power. Your safety, property, and landscape investment depend on making the right choices before, during, and after severe weather events.