Emergency and storm tree removal
A tree on the roof, a limb through the carport, or a pine across the driveway. Here's what to do first, and how to get it cleared.
First, stay safe
- Get everyone out of the damaged part of the house. A tree resting on a roof can shift.
- Stay away from downed power lines. Treat every wire as live. Call 911 if anyone is hurt or a line is down, and report lines to your electric provider.
- Take photos of the tree and the damage from several angles before anything is moved. Your insurance company will want them.
- Call for emergency removal. Getting the weight off the structure quickly limits further damage and lets a roofer tarp the hole.
Why Tallahassee gets so many storm calls
Tallahassee's tree cover is part of what makes it beautiful, and part of what makes storms so damaging here. When two tornadoes crossed the city in May 2024, most of the damage was to trees, and about half the city lost power at one point. Tropical storms and hurricanes from the Gulf bring the same risk every season from June through November.
What emergency removal involves
Storm work is some of the most dangerous tree work there is. Trees under tension, tangled in other trees or resting on a structure can move unpredictably when cut. Experienced crews use cranes, rigging and careful cut sequences to take the weight off without causing more damage.
Expect emergency work to cost more than a scheduled removal, especially after a widespread storm when every crew in town is busy.
Watch out for storm chasers
After big storms, out-of-town crews knock on doors. Some are fine; some take a deposit and disappear. Ask for proof of insurance, get the price in writing, and don't pay in full before the work is done.
Prevent the next one
The trees that fail in storms are usually the ones already in trouble: dead pines, cracked or hollow oaks, and trees with heavy limbs over the roof. Having them looked at before hurricane season is the cheapest storm protection there is. See tree removal and tree trimming.
Areas we cover for emergency and storm
All of Tallahassee and Leon County, plus nearby towns.
Other services
Get a quote
Tell us what's going on with the tree. There's no cost to ask, and for urgent jobs a phone call is fastest.