Emergency Tree Removal After Storm Damage in Memphis: What to Do
Suggested alt text: Tree that fell on a house roof during a storm, with debris around the damaged area.
A fallen tree can turn a Memphis storm into a stressful emergency. If you need emergency tree removal after storm damage, first make sure everyone is safe, stay away from hazards and take photos for your insurance company when it is safe to do so.
Aaaaaaa Tree Service provides 24/7 emergency help across Memphis, Arlington and Collierville.
A Tree Just Fell on Your Property. What Should You Do First?
If the storm is still active or branches are still falling, stay inside and wait for conditions to improve. Once it is safe to check outside, make sure no one is hurt and keep children, pets and neighbors away from the damaged area.
Watch for downed power lines, damaged utility equipment, leaning trees and broken branches hanging overhead. Never touch a fallen wire or anything resting against it because the line may still be live. Report downed or sparking wires to Memphis Light, Gas and Water and review MLGW’s guidance on downed power lines.
Call 911 if anyone is injured or there is a risk of fire, structural collapse or another immediate danger. After those hazards have been addressed, contact a professional tree service to assess and remove the damaged tree safely.
Tree Fell on House? What Should You Do Next?
A tree that lands on a roof can damage shingles, decking, framing, windows and utility connections. The visible damage may represent only part of the problem, so do not assume a room is safe simply because the ceiling has not fallen.
Get Everyone Out If the Home May Be Unsafe
Leave the house if you notice a sagging ceiling, shifting walls, broken rafters, electrical sparks, flooding or the smell of gas. Move everyone to a safe location away from the damaged side of the building and wait for instructions from emergency responders or the appropriate utility provider.
Even if the house appears stable, stay out of any rooms directly below where the tree landed. Do not enter the attic or climb onto the roof to inspect the damage yourself.
Keep Clear and Leave the Tree Where It Is
Do not cut, pull or reposition the trunk before trained professionals evaluate it. Fallen trees can hold tremendous weight, and bent limbs can snap back or shift without warning.
Moving the tree too soon could cause more roof damage and disturb evidence your insurance company may need. Take photos only from a safe distance and leave the tree where it is until help arrives.
When Do You Need Emergency Tree Removal After a Storm?
Not every fallen branch requires an overnight response. However, emergency tree removal after storm damage is appropriate when the tree creates an immediate threat to people, buildings, vehicles, roads or essential access.
Call for urgent help when:
- A tree has landed on a house, garage or commercial building.
- A trunk or large branch is blocking a driveway or entrance.
- Broken limbs are hanging above an occupied area.
- A tree has uprooted and is leaning toward a structure.
- Storm damage has exposed a split trunk or unstable root plate.
- A fallen tree has damaged a fence, vehicle or utility equipment.
- Safe access to the property is no longer possible.
A tree does not need to be completely on the ground to constitute an emergency. Cracked trunks and partially detached limbs can remain suspended after the storm and fall later without warning.
For urgent assistance, visit our emergency tree services page or give us a call.
What Should You Tell the Emergency Tree Service?
Clear information helps the crew understand the likely hazards and equipment requirements before arriving. When requesting emergency tree removal in Memphis, provide:
- Your name, address and callback number
- The tree’s location and approximate size
- What the tree or branch has struck
- Whether anyone is injured
- The presence of power lines or utility equipment
- Any blocked roads, driveways or entrances
- Visible roof or structural damage
- Safe access points for workers and equipment
If conditions allow, send photographs from several safe angles. Never approach a damaged tree, enter a restricted area or climb onto a roof simply to obtain a better image.
What Happens During Storm Tree Removal?
Professional storm tree removal starts with a careful look at the tree and the surrounding area. Before making any cuts, our crew needs to see where the tree’s weight is resting, which parts could shift and how to remove each section safely.
Checking the Tree and Nearby Hazards
Our crew checks the trunk, exposed roots, broken branches and the space around the tree. We also look for power lines, buildings, vehicles, fences and landscaping that could affect the work.
After assessing the area, we will then decide whether standard cutting and rigging equipment will be enough or whether a crane or other specialized machinery is needed.
Removing the Tree Without Causing More Damage
Our crew may remove the tree in controlled sections instead of attempting to move it as one piece. Ropes, rigging systems and lifting equipment can help manage heavy sections and limit their movement around the building.
Storm-damaged wood is often split, twisted or under tension. This makes removal less predictable than routine tree work and is one reason homeowners should not attempt the job with a chainsaw.
Clearing the Debris and Grinding the Stump
Once the immediate hazard is removed, we can cut and clear branches, logs and other tree debris according to the agreed scope. Ask whether hauling and cleanup are included when arranging the service.
Stump grinding may be completed immediately or scheduled after urgent work is finished. It removes the remaining obstruction and helps prepare the area for repairs, landscaping or replanting.
What Photos and Details Will Your Insurance Company Need?
Contact your insurer as soon as practical and ask what evidence and approvals are required. Coverage and claim procedures differ, so avoid assuming every removal or repair expense will be reimbursed.
Document the following when it is safe:
- Wide photographs showing the tree and affected property
- Close photographs taken safely from ground level
- Damage to the roof, siding, windows, fencing or vehicles
- The date and approximate time of the storm
- Emergency calls, claim numbers and adjuster information
- Written estimates, invoices and cleanup records
- Temporary measures taken to prevent further damage
Do not delay emergency work when the tree presents an immediate safety threat. However, retain photographs and service documents so the insurer can understand why urgent removal was necessary.
What Should You Never Do With a Storm-Damaged Tree?
Do not climb the damaged tree, stand beneath hanging branches or use a ladder nearby. Never try to pull the tree with a truck, tractor, rope or winch, as it could shift suddenly, injure someone or cause more property damage.
Stay away from branches touching utility lines, even if the power appears to be out. The lines could still be live, so leave this work to the utility provider and properly qualified professionals.
Be careful when hiring unfamiliar crews that arrive after a major storm. Before approving non-emergency work, verify the company’s identity and insurance, and get a written scope explaining the work, cost and cleanup responsibilities.
Need Emergency Tree Removal in Memphis? Call Aaaaaaa Tree Service 24/7
When a fallen or unstable tree threatens your home, business or access, Aaaaaaa Tree Service provides a 24-hour tree service in Memphis, Arlington and Collierville. Our team can assess the hazard, plan the removal, clear debris and discuss stump grinding once the immediate danger is under control.
Contact us [add Contact page URL] today to discuss the tree damage and request a free, no-obligation estimate for the work your property needs.