A tree on your house, car, or driveway? Call now for fast storm-damage tree removal from local, insured crews.
Litchfield County gets hit hard by storms. Nor’easters, summer thunderstorms, heavy wet snow, and ice storms bring down limbs and whole trees every year, and the hills and big old trees that make the county beautiful also make storm damage common. The October 2011 snowstorm and Tropical Storm Irene that same year left roads blocked and homes without power across the county for days, and smaller storms do damage every season.
When a tree comes down on your house, your car, your driveway, or your power line, you need help quickly, and you need it done safely. This page covers what to do first, how emergency tree removal works, and what to expect for cost and insurance.
What to do right after a tree falls
- Get everyone to safety. If a tree has hit the house, move people and pets away from the damaged area. If there’s any chance of structural collapse, get out.
- Stay away from wires. Assume every downed line is live. Wires can be hidden under branches and leaves. Stay at least 30 feet away and keep kids and pets back.
- Call the utility for downed lines. Report downed lines to Eversource or your local utility, and call 911 if a line is sparking, on fire, or blocking a road. Tree crews generally can’t work on a tree tangled in energized utility lines until the utility has made it safe.
- Call for emergency tree service. Describe what’s down, what it’s on, and whether any wires are involved. Photos help.
- Document the damage. Take photos and video of the tree, the damage, and the whole scene before anything is moved. Your insurance company will want them.
- Call your insurance agent. Many policies cover tree removal when a tree damages a covered structure. Ask what’s covered and how to file.
Don’t try to cut a tree that’s resting on a roof, under tension, or tangled with wires. Trees and limbs under load can spring back or roll without warning. This is the single most dangerous kind of tree work, and it’s how most chainsaw injuries happen after storms.
What counts as a tree emergency?
- A tree or large limb on your house, garage, or another building
- A tree on a car or blocking your driveway, especially if you need to get out
- A broken limb hanging over your house, driveway, or walkway (often called a “hanger”)
- A tree that is cracked or uprooting and leaning toward your house
- A tree blocking access for emergency vehicles
- Trees down after a storm where water or snow can now get into the house
If you’re not sure whether it can wait, call and describe it. A short conversation can tell you whether it needs attention today or can be scheduled.
How emergency tree removal works
Making it safe first
The first goal is to stop further damage. That might mean removing the weight of the tree from the roof, cutting away a hanging limb, or clearing a path out of your driveway. On a house, crews often remove the tree in carefully rigged sections so pieces don’t drop through the roof. A crane is sometimes the safest way to lift a large tree off a building.
Tarping and temporary protection
Once the tree is off, any opening in the roof needs to be covered to keep rain and snow out. Many tree services can tarp the damaged area, or coordinate with a roofer.
Cleanup can wait if needed
After the danger is handled, the rest of the cleanup (cutting up the trunk, chipping brush, grinding the stump) can usually be scheduled for a normal day at a lower cost.
Emergency tree service costs
Emergency work usually costs more than scheduled removal. Crews work in difficult conditions, often at night or in bad weather, and storm-damaged trees are more dangerous to handle. Typical factors include:
- How big the tree is and what it’s resting on
- Whether a crane or bucket truck is needed
- Whether wires are involved
- Time of day and how many other emergencies the crew is handling after a big storm
Many homeowners find their insurance pays for a large part of the cost when a tree damages the house or another covered structure. Ask for an itemized invoice that separates the emergency work from later cleanup, since insurers often treat those differently.
Insurance basics after storm damage
Every policy is different, so check with your agent. In general:
- A tree that hits a covered structure (house, garage, fence) is often covered, including removal of the tree from the structure, up to a limit.
- A tree that falls in the yard without hitting anything usually isn’t covered.
- A tree on your car is usually a matter for your auto policy’s comprehensive coverage.
- A neighbor’s tree that falls on your house is typically handled by your own policy first, unless the tree was clearly dead or neglected.
Photos taken before cleanup make claims much easier.
Preventing the next emergency
The best emergency call is the one you never have to make. A lot of storm damage comes from trees that were already weak: dead ash trees, split forks, decayed trunks, and limbs hanging over the roof. A walk-around with an arborist before storm season can find problems while they’re still cheap and safe to fix. See tree removal and tree trimming.
Frequently asked questions
Can someone come out at night or on weekends?
Many local tree services take emergency calls outside normal hours, especially after storms. Availability depends on how widespread the damage is. After a major storm, crews prioritize trees on houses and blocked access.
Should I call my insurance company or the tree service first?
Make sure everyone is safe, then call for emergency tree service to prevent more damage, and call your insurance company as soon as you can. Insurers generally expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage.
What if the tree is on a power line?
Call the utility first. Tree crews can’t safely remove trees tangled in energized utility lines until the utility has de-energized or cleared them.
Will they take away the whole tree?
Emergency work focuses on making things safe. Full cleanup, wood removal, and stump grinding can be done the same day or scheduled later.
Call for emergency tree service
If a tree is down on your property anywhere in Litchfield County, including Torrington, New Milford, Litchfield, Watertown, Winsted, and nearby towns, call now. Describe what’s down and whether wires are involved, and a local crew will tell you how fast they can get there.