If a tree is touching a power line, stay back and call your electric company first. Assume every downed line is live. Don't touch the tree, the line, or anything the line is lying on.
The Chattanooga area gets every kind of tree-breaking weather: summer thunderstorms with straight-line winds, the occasional ice storm, the remains of Gulf hurricanes, and tornadoes. The Easter Sunday tornado of April 12, 2020 cut through East Brainerd toward Ooltewah and left a long path of downed trees and damaged homes. After storms like that, crews are booked for days, so calling early matters.
What to do right now
- Get everyone out of the damaged part of the house. A tree can shift as branches settle.
- Check for power lines in the tree or on the ground. If you see one, call your utility and stay well away.
- Shut off gas if you smell it, and leave the house.
- Take photos and video of the tree and all damage from several angles, before anything is moved. Your insurer will want them.
- Call your insurance company to open a claim.
- Call us at (423) 356-6500. We'll connect you with a crew that can make it safe, tarp the roof if needed, and remove the tree.
More detail is in our guide: what to do when a tree falls on your house.
How emergency removal works
A tree resting on a roof is under heavy tension, and cutting it the wrong way can make the damage much worse. Crews usually use a crane or a bucket truck to take the weight off the house, then cut the tree into pieces and lift them clear. Once the tree is off, the roof is tarped until a roofer can get there.
Watch out for storm chasers
After big storms, out-of-town crews show up knocking on doors. Some are fine. Some aren't insured, take a deposit and disappear, or quote one price and change it once the tree is half down. Protect yourself:
- Get the price in writing before work starts.
- Ask for proof of liability insurance and workers' comp.
- Don't pay in full until the work is done.
- Don't sign anything that gives the contractor the rights to your insurance claim.
Trees down with no damage
A tree across the backyard or in the woods isn't an emergency, even if it looks dramatic. It can wait a few days until crews have caught up with the trees on houses, and the price is usually lower when it's scheduled as a regular tree removal.
Common questions
Does homeowners insurance pay for a fallen tree?
If a tree damages a covered structure like your house, garage or fence, most policies help pay to remove the tree and repair the damage, after your deductible. A tree that falls without hitting anything usually isn't covered. Call your insurer, and take photos before any work starts.
The tree came from my neighbor's yard. Who pays?
Usually your own insurance covers damage to your property, no matter whose tree it was. If the neighbor knew the tree was dead or dangerous and ignored it, your insurer may try to recover the cost from them.
Can a crew come at night?
For a true emergency, such as a tree through the roof with rain coming in, many crews will come out to tarp the roof and make it safe, then do the full removal in daylight.
A tree is on a power line. Can a tree crew remove it?
Not until the utility makes the line safe. Stay at least 35 feet away and call your electric provider first. In Chattanooga that's EPB.