Tree down? Emergency and storm tree help in Chattanooga

How this works: Chattanooga Tree Quotes is a free referral service, not a tree company. We pass your request to independent local tree pros, who may pay us for the referral. They quote, schedule and do the work; check their insurance before you hire. More about us.

What should I do first when a tree falls?

1. Stay away from any wire. Treat every downed line as live. Call 911 for danger, and report outages or lines down to your power company (EPB in its service area).
2. Get people out of any room the tree has entered. Don't go back for belongings.
3. Take photos of the tree, the damage and where it fell from before anything is moved. Angi notes your insurer may need to inspect, and removing the tree too early can remove evidence the adjuster needs.
4. Call your insurer and ask what they cover. HomeGuide says policies usually pay for removal when a tree damages a covered structure, often $500 to $1,000 per tree, but not for a tree that falls in the yard without damage.
5. Then get the tree off the house. Send the form above or on our home page.

Who removes a tree on a power line?

Not a tree company working alone. EPB says that during storms its crews clear fallen trees away from downed power lines and then move on, to restore power for everyone. Once the line is made safe, the rest of the tree on your property is your job and your tree company's. For trees on the line from the pole to your house, EPB will lower the line so your contractor can work.

What does emergency tree removal cost?

• HomeGuide: same-day or next-day removal often costs 2 to 3 times the standard rate.
• Angi: emergency removal after a storm can reach $5,000, and a crane adds about $500 a day ($250 to $600).
• A tree that is already down in an open yard is usually cheaper than a standing one, because there is no climbing.

Storms here are real: April 12, 2020

On Easter night 2020 an EF3 tornado with peak winds of 145 mph started near the Chickamauga Battlefield visitor center in Fort Oglethorpe, crossed into Tennessee near East Ridge, and tore through East Brainerd and Ooltewah before ending in Bradley County. The National Weather Service survey describes uprooted trees in Harris Hills and, in Holly Hills, where the path was about 1,500 yards wide, tree trunks snapped "nearly as far as you could see." Its survey also notes roads blocked by tree debris and fallen power poles.

After the storm: where does the debris go?

Lookout Mountain says that after a big storm it will pick up manageable limbs, but it will not remove the trunks of fallen trees on residential property, even the part in the road; homeowners must hire a licensed contractor. In Chattanooga, contractor-made brush isn't collected. Ask for haul-away in your quote.

Avoid storm-chaser trouble

• Don't pay in full up front. Get a written price and scope first.
• Ask for insurance certificates sent from the insurer or agent.
• Be wary of anyone who wants you to sign over your insurance claim on the spot.