What counts as an emergency?
A tree emergency is any fallen or broken tree that is causing damage now or could fail at any moment. The common ones after a Lowcountry storm: a tree or large limb on the house, garage, car or fence; a fallen tree blocking the only way in or out of the property; broken limbs hanging in the canopy over a roof, driveway or walkway; and a tree that suddenly leans after a storm, with cracked or lifted soil at the base.
A tree touching a power line is also an emergency, but the first call goes to the power company, not to a tree crew (see below). A tree that fell across the back of the yard without hitting anything is usually not urgent and can wait for a regular tree removal quote.
What to do right after a tree falls
1. Get people clear. Keep everyone, including pets, away from the tree and the area under damaged limbs. If the tree came through the roof, leave that part of the house until someone checks it.
2. Stay away from wires. Treat every downed line as energized, and stay at least 30 feet away from it and from anything it touches, including the tree, a fence or standing water.
3. Do not cut it yourself. A tree resting on a house or another tree is under tension, and a single cut can make it shift or spring back. That is work for a professional crew with rigging and, often, a crane.
4. Document the damage. Take photos and video of the tree, the roof, the car and the yard before anything is moved. Your insurer will ask for them.
5. Call your insurer and a crew. Report the claim, then call us to reach a local crew for emergency removal and cleanup.
Who handles downed power lines?
Only the utility can work on energized lines, and tree crews cannot start until the line is cleared. Most of the Charleston area is served by one of two utilities. Dominion Energy South Carolina: call 888-333-4465 to report a downed line. Berkeley Electric Cooperative: call 1-855-938-3615 to report an outage. Your power bill shows which one serves your address.
Dominion’s safety guidance is to assume downed lines are energized and dangerous and to stay at least 30 feet away (source: Dominion Energy newsroom).
Does homeowners insurance cover tree removal?
According to the Insurance Information Institute, a standard homeowners policy covers the damage when a tree hits your home or another insured structure, such as a detached garage, and also covers removing that tree, generally up to about $500 to $1,000 depending on the insurer and policy.
If the tree fell without hitting an insured structure, there is generally no coverage for removing it, although some insurers will pay when it blocks a driveway. If the tree came from a neighbor’s yard, your insurer may try to recover the cost from the neighbor’s insurer. Read your own policy and ask the crew for a written estimate to send with the claim.
How much does emergency tree removal cost?
Today’s Homeowner reports that Charleston property owners pay an average of $925 for emergency tree removal, compared with an average of $618 for standard tree removal (source: Today’s Homeowner, Charleston tree removal).
Emergency work costs more because the tree is often resting on a structure or under tension, it may need a crane, and crews are stretched thin right after a storm. Cleanup and hauling away debris may be priced separately, so ask what the quote includes before work starts, including whether grinding the stump is part of it.
Hiring a crew after a storm
After a big storm, crews from out of the area arrive and knock on doors. Before anyone starts, ask for proof of liability and workers’ compensation insurance and a written estimate, and do not pay the full job up front. The same checklist is on our tree service in Charleston page.
Hurricane season in the Lowcountry
The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30. Dead limbs, hollow trunks and trees leaning toward the house are the hazardous ones to deal with before the season, through tree trimming or removal, while crews have time to schedule the work.
Storm calls come in from Mount Pleasant, West Ashley, James Island, North Charleston and Summerville, and from the beaches, Isle of Palms to Folly Beach, and we route each one to a crew that works nearby. See all service areas.
Frequently asked questions
Can a crew come the same day?
Often, yes, but it depends on how many calls come in after a storm. A tree on a house or blocking the only exit is handled first. Call as early as possible.
The tree came from my neighbor’s yard. Who pays?
If it hit your house or another insured structure, file the claim with your own insurer. Your insurer may then try to recover the cost from the neighbor’s insurer, especially if the tree was in poor condition.
Is this a 24/7 service?
It depends on the crew. Some local companies answer around the clock and some do not, so after hours or during a big storm a crew may not be able to come until the next day. If anyone is in danger, call 911.