Do you guarantee same-day service?

After a major storm, demand is high and conditions change fast. We don't make blanket guarantees we can't keep. We'll tell you honestly what window we can offer based on what's in front of us.

Should I move the tree myself?

If it's safe to clear small debris from a walkway, that's your call. Anything large, anything under load from a bent or partially-attached limb, and anything near a power line should wait for a crew with proper rigging.

Will you cut a tree off my roof at night?

Trees on structures and actively unsafe situations go up the priority list. Whether we work after dark depends on safety — lighting, structural stability, and crew conditions. We'll tell you on the call.

Is emergency tree work more expensive?

Yes, usually. After-hours response, additional crew, specialized rigging on a damaged tree, and tarping or stabilizing structures all add cost. We give you the number before we start. No invoice surprises.

How do you prioritize calls during a major storm event?

Trees on occupied structures and trees blocking emergency access go first. Trees down in yards with no immediate hazard get scheduled into the cleanup phase. We tell every caller honestly where their situation falls — even when it's not the answer they hoped for.

Should I call my insurance before or after I call you?

If anyone is in danger, call us (and 911 if needed) first. Once the immediate hazard is addressed, document with photos and call your insurer. See our insurance guide for what they typically ask for.

Resource

Emergency Tree Service: What Happens After You Call?

What we ask, how urgency gets assessed, and what comes after the first call.

By Tree Giants · Reviewed and updated May 30, 2026

Quick answer

What happens after I call for emergency tree service?

When you call, we ask a few quick questions: is anyone hurt, are utility lines involved, is the tree on a structure, and can you safely send photos. Those answers shape what happens next — sometimes a same-day response, sometimes a planned visit, sometimes a call to the utility before we move.

We don't promise specific arrival windows we can't back up. We do give you an honest read on what we can do and when.

Safety before cleanup

Get people and pets clear of the drop zone. Don't stand under hanging limbs — a partially broken limb is under load and can move without warning. Don't try to clear anything tangled in lines. If someone is hurt, call 911. If there's a downed power line or a tree contacting a primary line, call the utility first.

Photos that actually help

A wide shot showing the full tree, the structure, and the surroundings.
The base of the tree if it's still standing — shows root condition and lean.
Where the tree contacts a roof, fence, or vehicle.
Any visible utility lines near the damage.

What we ask first

Is anyone hurt? Are utility lines involved? Is a structure damaged? Where is the property, and can equipment reach it? Those four answers shape everything that follows.

How urgency gets assessed

Trees on houses, trees blocking access for emergency vehicles, hanging limbs over occupied space, and damaged trees with active load go up the priority list. A whole tree down in the back yard with no structural damage and no immediate hazard is typically a planned visit, not a same-night response.

Power lines

We don't cut trees off energized primary power lines. That work is done by — or under the direct direction of — the utility company. Call the utility first when a line is involved. We coordinate with them once they've secured the scene.

Two-phase cleanup

Emergency tree work often happens in two steps: make it safe now, then come back to finish the cleanup and any planned removal. We'll walk you through that split so you know exactly what's happening at each phase. See storm damage cleanup for how the full job runs from first call to final debris haul.

What "stabilize now, finish later" actually looks like

Phase one is about removing the immediate hazard: cut the tree off the structure, get the road or driveway cleared, secure anything that's still under load. We may leave the trunk in sections on the lawn, leave large rounds where they fell, or tarp a roof opening before the next rain. Phase two — often a day or several days later — handles the haul, the stump, the structural repair coordination, and the remaining trees that need a closer look.

Trees that didn't fall but should be checked

After a major event, the standing trees often need the second look. Hangers caught in the upper canopy, fresh cracks at a major union, root plate movement under a tree that "didn't go," lean that wasn't there the day before. These can fail in the next storm — or in a calm week three weeks later as wind and gravity finish the job. A walk-around by a certified arborist after a significant event is usually money well spent on a property with mature trees.

What to do before storm season arrives

Walk your trees in February or early March. Look for dead limbs, splits, and lean.
Have known hazard trees addressed before the spring storm window opens.
Save Tree Giants in your phone. The fastest emergency response is the one you don't have to look up.
Know your insurance policy basics — what's covered for tree damage, what isn't, and your deductible.
Take a few baseline photos of your big trees in good condition. Useful documentation if something happens later.

What we won't do in an emergency

We won't cut trees off energized primary power lines — that's the utility. We won't promise an arrival time we can't make. We won't quote a price over the phone on a complex storm-damaged tree we haven't seen. We won't push you into a removal decision in the middle of a stressful day if the tree can be made safe and reassessed later. The pace of an emergency doesn't change the principles.