Emergency Storm Tree Service in Utica, NY

Emergency storm tree service starts with sorting out what is dangerous. A tree resting on a roof, a limb hung up over a doorway or driveway, or a split trunk leaning toward the house needs attention now; a tree lying across the back lawn can wait for daylight. When you call (315) 743-5662, tell us where the tree is, what it is touching and whether any wires are involved, and we will tell you what we can do and when.

Storms that hit Utica

The Mohawk Valley gets damage from ice, from heavy wet snow and from wind. In the early hours of September 7, 1998, a derecho tore through Utica and New Hartford; the National Weather Service reports considerable tree damage, streets in downtown Utica blocked by large limbs and downed wires, and some customers without power for up to four days. Ice storms do a different kind of damage, splitting forks and snapping long limbs under the weight of the glaze, and lake-effect snow loads trees for weeks at a time.

Stay safe first

• Assume any wire touching a tree is live. Stay away and call the utility.
• Do not stand under hanging or partly broken limbs.
• Keep people out of rooms under a tree that has hit the roof.
• Take photos of the damage for your insurance company before anything is moved, if you can do it safely.
• Do not try to cut a tree that is under tension or pinned; the wood can spring back hard.

How we handle a tree on a house

We take weight off the roof carefully, cutting the tree back in pieces and lifting or lowering them so nothing drops onto the structure again. On big trees resting on a house, a crane is sometimes the safest way; we tell you if that is needed and what it adds to the price. Once the tree is off, you can get a roofer and your insurer in to assess the damage. We do not do roof repairs.

Wires and the utility

We do not work on trees in contact with energized lines. The utility clears or de-energizes the line, and then we remove the rest of the tree. After a big storm the utility's priority is restoring power, so there can be a wait; keep everyone clear of the area in the meantime.

Pricing after a storm

Urgent work costs more than scheduled work. HomeGuide notes that same-day or next-day removals often cost two to three times the standard rate, and after-hours emergency work runs about $150 to $250 an hour. We give you a written price before cutting, even in an emergency, unless the only step is making the scene safe and you have agreed to that first.