Tree on a power line? Stop reading. Get away from it and call National Grid at 1-800-465-1212. Then call us.
First things first
- Get everybody out of the room where the tree came through, and keep them out.
- Stay clear of wires. All wires. Assume every one of them is live.
- Don’t try to cut it yourself. A downed tree is loaded like a spring. Limbs pinned under weight can snap back hard when they’re cut. This is how weekend chainsaw guys end up in the ER.
- Take pictures of everything before anything gets moved. Your insurance company will want them.
- Call your insurance company. Ask what’s covered and whether they need an adjuster to see it first.
Then call us
Tell us what fell, what it hit, and whether anything is blocking the driveway or road. We’ll connect you with a local crew that does storm work. They’ll get the tree off the house and stabilize things so you’re not making it worse. Roof tarping, if you need it, is usually a separate trade. Ask.
Why storms hit this area the way they do
Central New York gets it from a few directions. Summer thunderstorms with straight-line winds. Heavy, wet snow that piles up on limbs that still have leaves on them in October. Ice storms that coat every branch and double its weight. And thousands of ash trees killed off by the emerald ash borer that are just waiting for a good excuse to come down.
After a big storm, every crew in the county gets slammed at once. Calling early helps.
Talk to your insurance company
Many homeowners policies cover removing a tree that falls on the house or another covered structure. A tree that falls in the yard and hits nothing is often a different story. Every policy is different, so call your agent. Some tree companies will work directly with your insurer. Ask the crew.
Questions people ask
Is it safe to stay in the house?
If the tree went through the roof or the house is making sounds it doesn’t usually make, get out and call 911. If it’s resting on the roof and nothing’s coming through, stay out of that part of the house until a crew has looked at it.
Will insurance pay for this?
Often, if the tree damaged the house or another covered structure. Call your agent before work starts and take photos first.
Can a crew come at night?
Some do emergency work after dark, mostly to make things safe. A lot of the full cleanup waits for daylight. It’s safer for everybody.
The tree fell from my neighbor’s yard. Who pays?
Usually your own homeowners policy handles damage to your property, no matter whose tree it was. If the tree was obviously dead and the neighbor was told about it, that can change things. Ask your insurer.
Tree came down? Call now.
More: Tree removal · How it works · Get a quote
Syracuse Tree Pros is a free referral service. We connect homeowners with independent, insured local tree service companies. We don’t perform tree work ourselves, and the crew you’re connected with sets its own prices and is responsible for its own work.