A tree or large limb is resting on a home, garage, vehicle, fence, or another tree.
Do not climb, cut, pull, drive beneath, or move debris to investigate. Keep people and pets outside the possible fall area.
Home / Storm emergency guide
Lewiston, Maine homeowner guide
Emergency tree removal after storm damage
Wind, saturated soil, snow, and ice can leave trees unstable even after the weather clears. This guide explains what to watch for, when crane-assisted removal may be evaluated, and how to prepare for a qualified on-site assessment without entering the danger area.
Recognize the hazard
Warning signs that need prompt professional evaluation
Damage can be above eye level, below ground, or hidden where branches are loaded against one another. Observe only from a safe, open location.
The trunk has split, the root plate has lifted, or the tree developed a new lean after the storm.
Do not climb, cut, pull, drive beneath, or move debris to investigate. Keep people and pets outside the possible fall area.
Broken limbs are hanging overhead or caught under tension in the canopy.
Do not climb, cut, pull, drive beneath, or move debris to investigate. Keep people and pets outside the possible fall area.
The tree is touching, resting near, or pulling on a power, cable, or service line.
Do not climb, cut, pull, drive beneath, or move debris to investigate. Keep people and pets outside the possible fall area.
A tree blocks a driveway, public road, emergency access, or the only safe exit from the property.
Do not climb, cut, pull, drive beneath, or move debris to investigate. Keep people and pets outside the possible fall area.
Cracking sounds, fresh movement, falling debris, or changing wind and rain suggest the hazard is still developing.
Do not climb, cut, pull, drive beneath, or move debris to investigate. Keep people and pets outside the possible fall area.
What to do next
Secure the area, then document from a distance.
Move people, pets, and vehicles away only if that can be done without entering the hazard area. From a safe position, take wide photos showing the whole tree, nearby structures, visible lines, and access. Note when the damage happened, whether conditions are changing, and any insurer claim number. Do not delay an emergency call to collect photos.
1. Use the right first call
Call 911 for immediate life safety threats. Contact the utility for a tree involving electrical lines. Trees affecting public roads or public property may also require local authority coordination.
2. Describe the scene clearly
Share the address, occupied structures, blocked access, wires, visible breakage or lean, approximate tree size, storm timing, and whether anyone is in danger.
3. Ask for a site-specific plan
A qualified company should evaluate the tree, drop zone, rigging, crew, equipment, utilities, access, weather, and property protection before work begins.
4. Separate phases of work
Emergency stabilization, full removal, roof access, debris hauling, log handling, stump grinding, and landscape repair may be different parts of the job.
Crane-assisted removal
When a crane may be considered
A crane is not automatically required after a storm. A qualified tree company may consider one when a large or unstable tree must be controlled in sections, the available drop zone is limited, pieces are suspended over a structure, or conventional access and rigging cannot manage the load safely.
Crane planning is site-specific.
Capacity, reach, setup, ground support, overhead clearance, load estimates, rigging, landing zones, traffic, and crew communication all matter.
Read the crane-removal planning guide →Tree condition and size
Species, trunk diameter, decay, cracks, uprooting, broken tops, suspended pieces, and the direction of lean can change the removal plan.
Targets and utilities
Homes, roofs, vehicles, neighboring property, roads, and overhead or underground utilities affect sequencing and coordination.
Access and equipment
Gate width, slopes, soft ground, overhead clearance, setup space, crane reach, lifts, rigging, and traffic control may affect feasibility.
Timing and cleanup
After-hours response, changing weather, debris hauling, log handling, stump work, and restoration should be separated clearly in the written scope.
Costs and insurance
What homeowners should clarify
What affects the price?
Hazard level, tree size and condition, structures and lines, crane or lift access, crew and equipment needs, traffic control, timing, debris volume, hauling, stump work, and restoration can all change the scope. A website cannot price an emergency tree job safely.
Will homeowners insurance pay?
Coverage depends on the policy, cause of loss, damage, deductibles, and insurer decisions. Photograph conditions only from safety, keep written estimates and invoices, and ask the insurer what documentation and authorization it requires. A tree contractor or referral site cannot determine coverage.
Should every damaged tree be removed?
No. Some trees may be pruned, monitored, or otherwise managed after professional evaluation. Major trunk splits, root-plate movement, severe lean, extensive crown failure, or contact with structures need prompt attention, but the appropriate response depends on the on-site condition.
Is cleanup part of emergency removal?
Not always. Ask whether the proposal includes only hazard reduction or also full removal, chipping, hauling, log handling, raking, stump grinding, and restoration.
Before authorizing work
Questions for a tree company
- 1Is it safe for a crew to enter, and must a utility or public authority control the area first?
- 2What insurance coverage does the company carry, and can current documentation be provided?
- 3What immediate stabilization or removal is included, and what cleanup or stump work is separate?
- 4If a crane is proposed, how will access, setup, ground support, reach, rigging, and traffic be managed?
- 5Who coordinates utility lines, road access, permits, neighboring property, or another trade?
- 6What is the written price, payment schedule, weather policy, timing, and list of exclusions?
Related Lewiston guides
Learn more before the assessment.
These existing pages explain emergency response, storm hazards, crane planning, and how referrals work.
01Emergency tree removalSafety, authorities, access, equipment, and cleanup planning.02Storm-damage tree removalDocument changing conditions without approaching the tree.03Crane tree removalSetup, reach, loads, rigging, traffic, and property protection.04Lewiston tree hazardsLocal warning signs and safe documentation.05How referrals workWhat happens after a property owner submits a request.
Lewiston-area property owners
Request a free assessment.
Use the existing property request form only when it is safe. An eligible request may be shared with an appropriate independent tree contractor. There is no obligation to hire.
Request a free assessment →