After a major nor'easter, hurricane, or even a regular wind storm, Connecticut homeowners often wake up to find a tree leaning toward the house, branches hanging from power lines, or a trunk split right down the middle. Most homeowners don't know whether the tree is an emergency that needs handling tonight or something that can wait until morning. Getting it wrong costs more than the tree itself.
01First Things to Check After a Storm
Before you do anything else, walk the property and look up. Check for branches caught in the canopy that could fall later. Look at the trunk for cracks running vertically. Check if the root plate is lifted — this means the tree shifted in the ground. If you see any of these, stay back and keep family and pets out of the area.
Trees that look stable right after a storm sometimes come down hours or days later as the ground settles.
Power lines: If a branch is touching a line or hanging close to one, do not touch the tree. Call Eversource or your utility first. The line might still be live even if your power is out. After the utility clears the line, then a tree company can work safely.
02When It's a Real Emergency
A real emergency means the tree is touching the house, leaning hard toward a structure, or has a branch hung up where it could fall on someone. Trees on cars, trees on roofs, and trees pressing against power lines all count as emergencies. So do trees that are uprooted but still standing — they can fall the rest of the way at any moment.
We run emergency calls 24/7 for these situations across Connecticut. If the storm damaged tree falls into one of these categories, call right away. Document the damage with photos for insurance before any work starts, but don't wait to call.
Emergency wait times: After a major storm, every tree company in the state is booked. The faster you call, the sooner we can get a crew rolling toward your property.
03When the Tree Can Wait
Not every storm damaged tree needs emergency work. A branch on the lawn that didn't damage anything can wait until business hours. A trunk split that doesn't threaten a structure can wait a few days for a regular site visit and written estimate.
The advantage of waiting when you can wait is the cost. Regular scheduled tree work runs significantly less than emergency response rates. We give honest assessments when we come out. If the tree can safely wait, we say so. If it really needs immediate work, we tell you that too.
04What Happens When You Call
When you call about a storm damaged tree, the first question is whether it's an emergency. If yes, we get a crew rolling as fast as our schedule allows. If no, we book a site visit usually within a day or two depending on storm volume.
On the work day, we tarp anything that needs protecting, set up the crane or rigging, and take the tree apart in controlled pieces. The work area gets cleaned up before we leave. Most storm damage cleanups finish same day on residential properties across Connecticut.
FAQCommon Questions
If the tree is touching a structure, leaning hard toward the house, has a hung branch over a walkway, or is partially uprooted, it's an emergency. Trees touching power lines are utility emergencies first — call Eversource before a tree company. For everything else, regular scheduled work usually saves money.
We don't recommend it. Storm damaged trees fail in unpredictable ways. The trunk might look solid but the root system is gone. Branches that look loose might be holding the tree's weight. We use the crane on most storm damage jobs for that reason.
It depends on your policy and what the tree damaged. Most policies cover removal when the tree hits a structure or blocks access. Trees that fall harmlessly in the yard often aren't covered. Document the damage with photos before any work starts and call your insurance company. We provide written estimates and detailed scope for claims.
We run 24/7 emergency response for storm damage across Connecticut. After major storms wait times can stretch to hours or days because every tree company is booked. Call as early as possible. We schedule emergencies first, then work through regular calls in order of urgency.
Depends on the tree size, damage type, access for the crane, and whether it's emergency or scheduled work. Emergency rates run higher than scheduled work. We give written estimates after a site visit. Free estimates, no obligation, no pressure on emergency calls.