Emergency Tree Removal: What to Do When Disaster Strikes

Did you know emergency tree removal can cost between $300 and $5,000? It depends on how bad the damage is.

When storms hit and trees fall down, you need to know what to do. This can save you thousands in damage to your home. If you ignore bad trees, you could face huge repair bills over $10,000. You could also get hurt or face legal trouble. At Sioux Falls Tree Service Pros, we know that storm damage tree removal needs fast action. This is true when dealing with dangerous tree removal jobs. That’s why we made this simple guide to help you handle tree emergencies. We’ll show you how to check damage safely. We’ll help you find good emergency tree removal services near you. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know when trees cause problems.

Table of Contents

Check the Damage Safely

When storms hit your home, you might want to rush outside and start cleaning up. But before you do anything, you need to check things safely. At Sioux Falls Tree Service Pros, we know that even damaged trees that look stable can be very dangerous.

Look for signs the tree is not stable or damaged

After a storm ends, look at your trees from far away. Watch for these warning signs:

• Dead or broken branches – Look for branches with no bark and leaves. Look for ones that are cracked or hanging
• Leaning trunks – A tree that starts leaning after a storm means the roots might fail. This means high risk of falling
• Cracks or splits – Big cracks in the trunk make the tree weak
• Roots you can see or that are damaged – If you can see soil moved around the base, the tree might fall soon
• Fungus growing – Mushrooms or shelf fungus on the trunk means the inside is rotting

Remember, branches that form sharp V-shapes from the same spot break easily during storms. Also, a tree that starts leaning suddenly needs help right away. This is different from one that has grown at an angle over time.

Stay away from downed power lines and bad trees

After a storm, downed power lines are very dangerous. Think all downed lines have power and can kill you. They might look safe but are not. When you see a fallen power line:

• Stay at least 50 feet away from the line and anything touching it
• Keep other people and pets away from the area
• Call 911 right away
• Never touch anything that touches power lines, even tree branches

If you’re driving and see a downed line, stay in your car and call for help. Also, know that power can travel through the ground, fences, hoses, and wet soil. Even lines with no power might get power back during repair work.

Check for quick threats to people or your home

After you find dangers, check for threats that need help right away:

First, see if the damaged tree or branches threaten your home, cars, or places where people walk a lot. Trees with split trunks or trees that lost more than a third of their middle part have a high risk of falling down completely.

Use tape to mark off danger areas. This keeps people from going into unsafe places. Move cars away from dangerous trees if you can. If you hear cracking or snapping sounds from trees while checking, go away from them right away and find shelter.

Take pictures and videos of all damage from a safe distance. You need these for insurance. This proof will help both with your insurance claim and for the emergency tree removal service you call.

Remember, your safety comes first. At Sioux Falls Tree Service Pros, we strongly tell you not to try to handle bad trees yourself. Some dangers need special training and tools. This is especially true when power lines are involved. If you’re not sure about a tree’s safety or how bad the damage is, call a certified tree expert for emergency tree removal service. Don’t risk your safety.

Call a Trusted Emergency Tree Removal Service

After checking the damage, your next big step is calling for professional help. Time matters most during tree emergencies. Calling experts right away can make all the difference.

Why fast help matters

In tree emergencies, every minute counts. Quick action is key since damaged trees can get worse fast. This increases risks to people and homes. Waiting too long often leads to more damage to your home. A problem you can handle can become a disaster.

Fast professional help matters for several key reasons

• Safety first – Bad trees are hard to predict. They can shift or fall without warning. This can cause terrible injuries
• Stop more damage – Quick removal stops other problems like water getting through damaged roofs, foundation cracks getting worse, or damage to underground pipes
• Insurance needs – Many policies need home owners to take “reasonable steps” to stop more damage after something happens
• Legal safety – Acting fast shows you are responsible. This can protect you from legal trouble if a fallen tree affects nearby homes

Calling emergency tree removal services quickly shows that you took fast steps to reduce risk. This is often needed for good insurance claims.

How Sioux Falls Tree Service Pros can help

At Sioux Falls Tree Service Pros, we’ve spent over 20 years helping with emergency tree problems in Sioux Falls. We work in all weather. Our team specializes in:

• Key emergency services including fallen tree removal and storm debris cleanup
• Making dangerous areas safe, including those near power lines
• Using advanced tools and methods for safe removal

Our licensed experts are ISA-certified tree experts. They work hard to remove debris and branches while keeping your yard looking good. Also, we work closely with other emergency helpers, including firefighters and police. This ensures complete care for your home.

We put safety above all else. We set up secure areas around work zones. We give our team all needed safety gear. Also, we follow strict rules for proper disposal of tree remains and debris.

What to expect when you call

When you contact our emergency tree service, you can expect a systematic, professional response:

• First contact – We answer calls 24/7. We understand that emergencies don’t follow business hours
• Quick help – In most cases, our team arrives within hours of your call
• Professional check – Our tree experts will look at the situation, take pictures of damage, and make a detailed plan
• Clear talk – We’ll explain the needed steps, give you an estimate, and answer your questions
• Fast removal – Using special tools, we’ll safely remove the dangerous tree
• Complete cleanup – We don’t just remove the tree. We clear all debris, leaving your home safe
• Insurance help – We take pictures of everything before and after to help with your insurance claim

This way, you get peace of mind knowing that professionals are handling the situation safely and well. Our approach removes guesswork. We check risks quickly and correctly. This prevents more damage while keeping you safe.

Remember, emergency tree removal is complex and risky. Instead of trying dangerous DIY solutions, trust certified tree experts. They have the training, tools, and experience to handle these situations properly.

Secure the Area While You Wait

Safety stays your top priority while waiting for emergency tree removal professionals to arrive. Help is on the way, but the time between your call and when experts from Sioux Falls Tree Service Pros arrive can be dangerous if you don’t take proper care.

Keep children and pets away

Children and pets often don’t see the dangers that damaged trees pose. A tree that looks stable can suddenly drop branches or fall down completely without warning. For their safety:

• Keep curious children from climbing or playing near damaged trees. Their weight could cause weak branches to break or make contact with hidden power lines
• Stop pets from exploring areas with fallen branches or bad trees. They may disturb debris that is barely balanced
• Think about staying at a neighbor’s home for a while. Or stay in your car if you feel unsafe inside your house

Remember that both children and pets should never be outside during high winds, snow storms, rainy weather, or other bad conditions. These might cause more tree damage.

Mark off danger zones

Making a clearly marked area that people can’t enter is key until professional help arrives:

First, set up what tree specialists call a “drop zone” around the damaged tree. This safety area should go well beyond the height of the tree in all directions. Mark this zone using tape, rope, or any markers you can see that you have available.

But only approach the area to mark it if it’s completely safe to do so. If you see any power lines or very bad trees, stay at least 50 feet away. Focus on keeping others away instead.

For trees with big damage, marking with a sign that people can see can alert others to the danger. Professionals typically use a “K” marking to show known danger trees.

Don’t touch damaged branches or wires

Maybe the most important safety rule while waiting for emergency tree removal service is to avoid all contact with damaged parts:

First, treat all downed wires as having power and deadly. They might look harmless but are not. Power can travel through tree branches, water puddles, and even wet ground around fallen wires. Stay at least 30-50 feet away from any downed lines and call 911 right away if you find them.

Also, never try to move branches touching power lines. Don’t even use tools like wooden poles or plastic rakes. The risk of getting shocked is too great.

Take special care around trees with damage you can see. Even branches that look stable might be under huge pressure. They could snap back with deadly force if disturbed. Fungus growing on trees often means the inside is rotting. This makes them very dangerous after storms.

Also, record everything from a safe distance. Take clear pictures of the damage for your insurance company. But never put your safety at risk to get a better picture.

I understand you feel urgent during emergency tree removal situations. But by making the area safe while waiting for our Sioux Falls Tree Service Pros team to arrive, you’re taking the most important steps. You’re protecting what matters most—the safety of your family and home.

Record the Damage for Insurance

Proper records form a key link between tree damage and insurance money. At Sioux Falls Tree Service Pros, we’ve seen how good records make the difference between approved and denied claims.

Take photos and videos of the tree and home

Time is key when recording tree damage. Once it’s safe, start recording proof right away:

• Take pictures from many angles. Get wide shots showing the entire damaged area and close-ups of specific damage points
• Put a ruler or measuring tape in photos to show the size of damage
• Make sure all photos have correct time stamps to show when damage happened
• Record video walking through the damaged area. Talk about what you’re seeing
• Take pictures from different spots to show the full context of the damage

Good lighting is key. Don’t take pictures that are too bright or too dark. These might hide important details. Focus on quality over quantity. Too many pictures can actually slow down your claim process.

Note any damage you can see to the structure

Beyond recording the fallen tree itself, record all other damage:

Look specifically for hits to your roof, windows, fence lines, and cars. Record any water entry points where rain might enter through tree-damaged areas. Also, keep detailed measurements of damaged areas where you can.

For complete records, scan important documents into cloud-based storage alongside your damage photos. This creates a secure backup you can access anywhere in case physical copies are damaged during the emergency.

Contact your insurance company

Reach out to your insurer quickly. Do this within 24 hours of finding the damage if possible:

• Have your policy number ready when calling
• Send all pictures and records quickly to start the claims process
• Keep detailed records of all talks with your insurance company. Include names, dates, and what you talked about
• Ask specifically about coverage for tree removal costs. These typically range from $500 to $1,000 depending on your policy

Remember that regular tree care and records of your home before any emergency happens can make future claims processes much easier. At Sioux Falls Tree Service Pros, we recommend storing pictures of your home before damage as baseline proof of its condition prior to any emergency tree removal situation.

Plan for Future Storm Tree Removal and Prevention

Being ahead of the game about tree care prevents future emergencies. After having tree damage happen to you, most home owners realize how important prevention is. With proper planning, you can greatly reduce the risk of emergency tree removal in the future.

Set up regular tree checks

Tree checks should happen both during growing season and when trees are sleeping. Professional checks every five years are key, especially for trees showing decline or dead parts. At Sioux Falls Tree Service Pros, we recommend extra checks after major weather events.

During self-checks, look at trees from top to bottom:

• Crown: Look for dead branches or brown leaves
• Branches: Check for wounds from previous branch loss
• Trunk: Look for splits, cracks, or fungus growing
• Roots: Watch for leaning or raised soil around the base

According to tree expert data, regular checks can find potential dangers before they become dangerous. This protects your home value and prevents costly emergency tree removal situations.

Trim weak or overgrown branches

Proper pruning greatly reduces the chance of branch failure during storms. For best results, schedule trimming before storm season arrives. This gives trees time to recover and makes them stronger against high winds.

Good pruning methods include:

• Removing dead, dying, diseased, or damaged branches
• Helping strong branch attachments (U-shaped rather than weaker V-shaped)
• Developing a main leader
• Getting rid of branches with included bark

But wrong pruning can actually increase danger. So professional tree experts should do this work to ensure proper methods are used.

Remove high-risk trees before storm season

Early removal of problem trees saves a lot of stress and money compared to emergency tree removal after storm damage. Signs that a tree needs early removal include:

• Severe leaning or poor weight spread
• Multiple trunks or trunk splits
• Inside decay (rot you can see, cavities, or fungal growths)
• Big root damage from construction or disease

Especially, trees growing too close to buildings or utility lines should be looked at by professionals from Sioux Falls Tree Service Pros before storm season.

Know which tree types are more likely to get damaged

Certain tree varieties have higher failure rates during storms. Common types that get damaged easily include:

• Black locust (shallow root systems)
• Willows (tend to splinter apart)
• Bradford pears (structurally weak)
• Virginia pines (topple easily in wind)
• Red oaks and maples (frequent storm casualties)

Also, taller trees face greater risk of “windthrow”—being completely uprooted by strong winds. Cedar, white spruce, pines, and older willows are especially likely to have this type of damage.

Conclusion

Taking Quick Action When Tree Disasters Strike

Tree emergencies need immediate attention and proper handling to prevent more damage and ensure safety. Throughout this guide, we’ve outlined key steps that protect your home and loved ones during these important situations. Most importantly, remember that professional help stays your best defense against the dangers posed by damaged or fallen trees.

Safety must come first when facing emergency tree removal scenarios. So, checking the situation from a safe distance, contacting qualified professionals, making the area secure, and recording damage well creates a complete response plan. Each step builds upon the previous one. This forms a complete safety plan that reduces risk and gives maximum protection.

Trying DIY tree removal during emergencies puts you at big risk. Fallen trees often create unstable situations where even small movements can trigger terrible failures. Also, hidden dangers like power lines with electricity present life-threatening hazards. These require special training and tools to address safely.

Sioux Falls Tree Service Pros stands ready to help with all your emergency tree removal needs. Our certified tree experts respond quickly with the proper tools and skills to handle dangerous situations well. We pride ourselves on giving reliable service during the most challenging times, regardless of weather conditions or time of day.

Regular care certainly helps prevent many tree emergencies before they happen. Setting up professional checks, addressing potential dangers, and removing weak trees before storm season greatly reduces your risk of facing emergency situations. These ahead-of-time measures often cost much less than emergency removal services while giving greater peace of mind.

The next time severe weather threatens your home, remember that you’re not alone. Our team at Sioux Falls Tree Service Pros stays just a phone call away, ready to give the expert help you need. Your safety and home protection remain our highest priorities—before, during, and after any tree emergency.