Emergency Tree Removal After a Storm in NEPA: What to Do

Northeastern Pennsylvania gets a bit of everything: summer thunderstorms that roll down the Lackawanna and Wyoming valleys, remnants of tropical systems that dump inches of rain on already saturated hillsides, and heavy wet snow or ice in late fall and early spring. Each of those brings trees down in different ways, and each storm produces the same rush of calls to every tree company in the region. This guide walks through what to do in the first hour, the first day and the first week.

The first hour: safety

1. Get everyone out of harm's way. If a tree has gone through the roof, leave the house until someone qualified has looked at the structure. Trees often shift as they settle.
2. Look up, not just down. Broken limbs hung up in the canopy ("hangers" or "widowmakers") can fall hours later with no warning. Keep kids and pets out of the yard.
3. Handle wires first. Call your utility for any line on the ground or in the tree. A line that looks dead can be re-energized.
4. Stop water if you can do it safely. If the roof is open, a tarp from inside the attic or moving belongings away from the leak limits further damage, which insurers expect you to do.
5. Don't start a chainsaw on a loaded tree. A trunk pinned against a house or bent under another tree is under enormous tension. Cutting it wrong can make it spring, roll, or drop onto you. This is the work professionals are paid for.

The first day: document and call

• Photos and video from several angles, at a safe distance, before anything is moved. Include where the tree stood, where it landed and any damage.
• Call your insurer or start a claim online. Ask specifically how much they'll pay for tree removal and whether you need their approval before a crew starts. Standard policies often pay removal only when the tree hit a covered structure or blocks a driveway, typically with a limit around $500 (Insurance Information Institute, "Am I Covered?"). See our insurance guide.
• Get the tree off the structure first. Many crews do emergency work in two stages: lift the tree off the roof and make it safe now, then come back to cut up and haul the rest on a normal schedule. Asking for only the urgent part can lower the bill and get you on the schedule sooner.

Typical costs (estimates)

Price figures on this page are published estimates from the linked sources, shown as typical ranges. They are not quotes and not a survey of Scranton companies.

National guides note emergency or after-hours work often carries a 15–40% premium (TreeOps USA, 2026 cost guide (national)). A crane, a tree on a roof, or a tree across wires sits at the top of those ranges.

Watch out for storm chasers

After a big storm, out-of-area crews and door-knockers show up. Some are fine. Some aren't insured, demand large cash deposits, or do a quick, damaging job and leave. Protect yourself:

• Ask for a certificate of liability insurance and workers' comp, sent to you directly by their insurance agent.
• Check their PA Home Improvement Contractor registration (PA Attorney General: home improvement contractor registration). In Scranton, tree businesses must also meet the city's registration and insurance requirements (§434-6, Scranton City Code, Ch. 434 Art. II (Trees)).
• Get the price and scope in writing: what's cut, what's hauled, whether the stump is included.
• Avoid paying the full amount upfront.

After the emergency

Once the immediate danger is gone, look at the trees that survived. Storms reveal weakness: cracks where large limbs join the trunk, roots lifted on one side, or a neighboring tree that suddenly has a bare side exposed to wind. A follow-up inspection is cheaper than the next emergency. Our warning-signs guide lists what to look for, and the emergency service page explains how a referral works.

Storm Limb Help is a referral service, not a tree company. Call (570) 565-1102 and we'll try to connect you with an independent local tree service. After major storms every crew is busy, so we can't promise a response time.

Quick answers

Should I cut a fallen tree myself?

Not if it is touching a house, a wire, or another tree, or is bent under tension. Those situations need professional rigging. Small limbs lying flat on open ground are lower risk.

Does insurance pay for emergency tree removal?

Often, if the tree damaged a covered structure or blocks your driveway, usually up to a set limit such as about $500. Ask your insurer before work begins.

How much does emergency tree removal cost in PA?

Published estimates range roughly from $650 to $3,780 for emergency removal, and up to about $9,500 for complex same-day jobs near structures. These are estimates, not quotes.

More guides

• Stump Grinding Cost in Scranton, PA: Typical Prices and What Changes Them
• Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Tree Removal in Pennsylvania?
• Tree Fell on My House or Car: What to Do, Step by Step
• Neighbor's Tree Fell: Who Is Responsible in Pennsylvania?
• Dead or Dying Tree Warning Signs (Including Emerald Ash Borer in PA)
• Tree Trimming vs. Removal: How to Decide
• Scranton Tree Removal Permits and Rules (City Code Ch. 434)

Last reviewed 2026-10-26. General information only; sources linked inline.