What should I do first when a tree falls on my house?
Get everyone out of the area, stay clear of power lines, and report gas or line damage to the right agencies. Then take photos from a safe spot and ask providers for written quotes.
Kiddsdrivein Tree Service is a referral service. We connect homeowners in the Kirtland area with independent providers who handle emergency tree removal, including storm tree clearance and tree falling service for trunks and limbs that have come down or are about to. The provider does the work and sets the price. We help you ask for a written quote.
A fallen tree feels like a rush decision, but you can still compare. Even after a bad storm, a short look at two quotes can show you what is included, what is extra, and what can wait. Use this page to learn what counts as urgent, how timing changes the outcome, and what to ask before anyone starts cutting. There is no obligation to hire anyone you hear from.
Tree Down? Stay Safe First
Keep away from the tree. Keep children and pets inside. If a limb or trunk touches a power line, treat the line as live and stay well back. Contact your utility and local emergency services first. A provider cannot start cutting until the line is made safe.
If a tree is resting on your house and the structure feels unsafe, step outside. If you smell gas, leave and report it from a safe distance.
What Counts as an Urgent Tree Problem
Urgent means a risk to people or to the building. These are the usual signs:
- A trunk or large limb on the roof, garage, shed or a parked car
- A tree blocking the only way out of your driveway
- A tree that leans more than it did yesterday, with soil heaved up at the base
- A cracked trunk or a hanging limb over a walkway or a bedroom
- Any tree tangled in lines or leaning on a fence near lines
A branch that fell in the grass and hurt nothing is not an emergency. It can usually wait for a normal appointment, and normal appointments often cost less.
Hour by Hour: How the Damage Unfolds
Timing changes the outcome, so here is a rough picture.
The first hour. Get everyone clear. Report lines and gas. Take photos from a safe spot.
The rest of the first day. Many providers can respond quickly, but storms create a rush. Ask what is realistic. If the roof is open, a temporary tarp may be the first job.
Days two and three. Rain and wind can push through a damaged roof. Wet insulation and ceiling stains can start. A heavy limb that shifts can crack more shingles.
The first week. Damp spots can turn into mold. A tree left on a fence or a car can add to the repair bill.
Document Before Anything Moves
Take wide photos and close-ups of the tree, the damage and the surrounding yard. Note the date and time. Do this before a provider cuts or lifts anything. Providers can often help document damage for a claim, so ask if they will note what they found.
How Storm Tree Clearance Works
A provider usually looks at the site first. They check lines, the weight of the tree and what it is resting on. Then they plan the cuts so the load does not drop onto the structure.
A common first step is a make-safe cut. That removes the weight from the roof or car. Full cleanup, such as cutting the trunk into pieces and hauling it away, may follow in the same visit or a later one.
Why Emergency Prices Move
Rush work usually costs more than planned work. Several things drive the number:
- How hard the tree is to reach
- Whether a crane or lift is needed
- Whether the tree sits on a building
- Whether debris hauling and stump work are included
- How many calls the provider is handling after the storm
Price the whole job, not just the first cut.
Compare, Then Decide
Even in a hurry, a second quote is worth a few minutes. Ask each provider to put the scope in writing. Line the quotes up side by side. Look for what is missing, not only the total.
Get it in writing before work starts. A verbal number can change once the saw is running.
Emergency Fix or Planned Removal
Sometimes the smart move is a two-step plan. First, a provider makes the site safe. Then you schedule the rest at a normal rate. That can mean a tarp today and the full cleanup later.
The trade-off is that you may pay for two visits. Ask each provider how they would split the job and what each part costs.
Working With Your Insurance
Some policies may cover sudden storm damage, and some limit tree removal to cases where the tree hit a structure. Rules differ, so check your policy and call your insurer early. Keep photos, the written quote and the final invoice. Providers can often help document damage for a claim.
After a Big Storm: What to Expect
Expect a wait. Many neighbors need help at the same time, and providers sort jobs by danger. A tree on a house usually comes before a tree in a yard.
In this region, storms can bring hail, high winds and saturated ground. Wet soil makes shallow-rooted trees more likely to tip. Spring flooding can loosen roots. Deep winter frost can crack trunks that look fine in the fall.
Be Careful With Door-to-Door Offers
After a storm, unknown crews often knock on doors. Be cautious about anyone who wants cash up front or will not put a price in writing. Ask for proof of insurance from any provider you consider.
Preventing the Next Storm Problem
A yearly look can catch trouble early. Check for dead limbs, mushrooms at the base, split trunks and branches over the roof. Trimming weak limbs costs far less than a rescue job. Remove a tree that is clearly failing before the next storm tests it.
Questions to Ask the Provider
- Is the quote in writing, and what does it include?
- Is debris hauling part of the price?
- Do you carry liability insurance and workers' compensation?
- Will a crane or lift be needed?
- Can you do a make-safe cut first and finish later?
- Will you note the damage for my insurer?
Request a callback to check provider availability and ask for a written quote.
Decide at Your Own Pace
Urgent does not mean you must say yes to the first offer. Make the site safe, compare the written quotes, and then choose. There is no obligation to hire any provider you hear from.
What's Included
Fallen Tree Removal
Trunks and limbs cut into pieces and moved off roofs, cars, fences and driveways.
Storm Tree Clearance
Broken limbs and storm debris cleared from yards and access routes after high wind or hail.
Make-Safe Cuts
Weight taken off the roof or structure first, so further damage can be limited.
Debris Hauling
Brush and wood removed from the site, if the written quote includes it.
Typical Emergency Tree Removal Costs
These are typical U.S. ranges. Real prices vary by tree size, access, damage and how busy providers are after a storm. Always get a written quote before work starts.
| Item | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small tree removal | $300 – $1,000 | Easy access, no structure involved |
| Large tree removal | $1,000 – $3,000 | Height and trunk width raise the price |
| Tree on a roof or house | $1,500 – $5,000 | Careful cutting and often a lift |
| Crane or lift add-on | $500 – $2,000 | Needed when the tree cannot be climbed safely |
| Debris hauling | $100 – $600 | May be included or priced separately |
| Temporary roof tarp | $300 – $1,500 | Often a separate roofing provider |
How It Works
Make It Safe
Move everyone away from the tree and report power lines or gas to the right agencies.
Document the Damage
Take photos and notes before anything is moved or cut.
Request Written Quotes
Ask providers to list the scope, haul-away and extras in writing.
Compare, Then Choose
Review the quotes side by side and pick at your own pace.
Why Call Kiddsdrivein Tree Service
Compare Before You Commit
Get more than one written quote so you can see what is included.
Independent Providers
Local providers do the work and set the price.
No Obligation
Ask questions and review quotes without pressure to hire.
Plain Information
Clear tips on what drives price and timing.
Other Services
Need emergency tree removal in Kirtland?
Ask a question or request an estimate. Kiddsdrivein Tree Service passes your details to a local provider in the network, and you decide what to do next with no obligation.
No obligationQuestions
Emergency Tree Removal FAQ
Does homeowners insurance cover emergency tree removal?
Some policies may cover sudden damage, especially when a tree hits a house or other structure. Coverage varies, so check your policy and contact your insurer early. Providers can often help document damage for a claim.
How much does emergency tree removal cost?
Typical U.S. prices range from a few hundred dollars for a small tree to several thousand when a tree is on a roof or needs a crane. Costs vary by job, so get a written quote and compare.
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