Emergency Tree Removal in Tyler, TX

Tree on the roof, car or driveway after a storm? Make everyone safe first, then send one request to a local tree service company.

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Emergency tree removal means clearing a tree or limb that has hit the house, a car or a driveway, or is about to. HomeAdvisor says it can cost up to $5,000.

Tyler TX Tree is a referral website, not a tree service company. We send your request to one independent local tree service company. You never pay us; companies we refer you to may pay us for referrals. Once everyone is safe, send a request with the form, and pick "Urgent" in the form.

If anyone is hurt, wires are down, or you smell gas, call 911. Keep everyone out of rooms under a damaged roof, and stay well away from any downed line.

What counts as an emergency

These situations usually can't wait for a normal appointment:

A tree or big limb on the roof or through it, especially with rain coming.
A tree blocking the only driveway or exit, or lying on a car.
A cracked trunk or split crown leaning toward the house after a storm.
A hanging limb caught in the crown over a door, a driveway or a play area.

These are a different kind of emergency:

A tree on a power line, or a line on the ground. That's the electric utility's job first. Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 752 bars work that could bring a person or tool within six feet of a high-voltage overhead line unless the line's owner has arranged safety measures. The Public Utility Commission of Texas warns that a tree touching a line can become energized. Call the utility named on your bill.
A tree across a public road. Call the city or county, or 911 if it's blocking traffic.

A healthy tree that fell into open yard without hitting anything is usually not an emergency. It can wait for a normal price and a normal schedule.

The first hour after a tree falls

Get people and pets clear. Leave the area under any hanging limbs and any damaged part of the roof.
Look up and around for wires before you walk near the tree. Assume any line touching the tree is live.
Call 911 or the utility if lines are involved or anyone is hurt.
Photograph everything before it's moved. The Texas Department of Insurance asks homeowners to take photos of the damage before moving the tree, making repairs or taking other steps.
Prevent more damage, and keep receipts. TDI says to make temporary repairs to prevent more damage, contact your agent or insurer as soon as possible, and save receipts for reimbursement.
Then send a request. Say where the tree is resting, how big it is, what it hit, and whether it's touching any wires.

Why trees fall in Tyler storms

Spring storm lines and wet ground are the usual mix. On June 3, 2024, KLTV reported trees falling across roads in Smith County "due to the already wet ground," and Oncor reported more than 68,000 people in Smith County without power that night. On April 12, 2022, a tornado warning covered parts of Smith County, Oncor counted about 28,000 outages in the county, and viewers sent storm photos from Tyler's Azalea District.

Ice is the other trigger. After the 2021 winter storm, Texas A&M Forest Service noted significant ice damage to trees across Texas. Limbs cracked by ice can stay in the crown and fall later, so have them checked once the storm passes.

What emergency tree removal costs

Situation	Typical national cost	Source
Emergency removal after a storm	Up to about $5,000	HomeAdvisor
A tree already down in the open	About $75 to $150, plus hauling	HomeAdvisor
Crane, when one is needed	About $250 to $600 a day	HomeAdvisor
Chipping / debris hauling	About $95 / about $70	HomeAdvisor

HomeAdvisor says rates spike after big storms, when crews are in high demand. A tree resting on a roof costs more than one in the open, because it has to come off in pieces without causing more damage. Get the price in writing before work starts, even in a hurry. The Tyler tree removal cost guide has the full price table.

Insurance and who pays

The Texas Department of Insurance answers the common questions this way:

Damage to your house. Many policies pay for damage from falling objects, like trees.
Removing the tree. Many policies provide some coverage to remove trees or limbs that fell in a storm and damaged your house or block your driveway. Trees that fall only in the yard usually aren't covered.
Your neighbor's tree on your house. Your neighbor's policy probably won't pay unless the neighbor was at fault, because a neighbor isn't responsible for acts of nature. File on your own policy.
A tree on your car. Your auto policy pays if you carry comprehensive coverage.

Texas Law Help's disaster manual adds the legal side. Damage from a healthy tree knocked down by a storm is usually treated as an act of God. If the tree was dead, diseased or dangerous before the storm, the owner may be liable. If you're worried about a neighbor's tree now, tell the neighbor in writing and keep a copy.

TDI's consumer Help Line is 800-252-3439.

Clearing the debris in Tyler

Ask whether the company's price includes hauling. If you're left with brush inside Tyler city limits, the city picks up bundled limbs under 50 pounds and under 4 feet at no charge. Bigger brush, limbs and stumps are a special pick-up, priced from $20 based on size and quantity.

Hiring in a hurry

Get the price, and what it covers, in writing before work starts.
Ask for proof of liability insurance in the company's own name.
Ask how they'll lift the tree off the roof without more damage, and whether that needs a crane.
Ask whether they'll tarp the roof or whether you need a roofer for that.
Keep every receipt and photo for your insurer.

After the emergency, see tree removal for other storm-damaged trees, tree trimming for broken limbs and stump grinding for what's left. More answers are in the tree service FAQ. We take requests from Tyler, Whitehouse, Lindale and Bullard.

Common questions

What is considered emergency tree removal?

A tree or large limb that has hit the house, a car or a fence, blocks the only way in or out, or is cracked and leaning toward something it could hit. A tree touching a power line is an emergency for the electric utility, not a tree crew. A healthy tree lying in the open yard can usually wait for a normal appointment.

How much does emergency tree removal cost?

HomeAdvisor says emergency removal can run as high as $5,000, and that rates spike after big storms when crews are in high demand. A tree that's already down in the open is simpler: HomeAdvisor puts it at about $75 to $150 plus hauling.

In Texas, who is responsible if my neighbor's tree falls on my house?

Usually your own insurance. The Texas Department of Insurance says your neighbor's policy probably won't pay unless your neighbor was at fault, because a neighbor isn't responsible for acts of nature. Texas Law Help adds that a neighbor may be liable if the tree was dead, diseased or dangerous before the storm. File on your own policy and let your insurer pursue the neighbor if there's a case.

Will insurance pay to remove the fallen tree?

Sometimes. The Texas Department of Insurance says many policies give some coverage to remove trees or limbs that fell in a storm and damaged your house or block your driveway. Trees that fall only in the yard usually aren't covered. Call your agent and photograph everything first.

Can I cut a limb off a power line myself?

No. Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 752 bars work that could put a person or tool within six feet of a high-voltage overhead line unless the line's owner has arranged safety measures. A tree touching a line can be energized. Call the electric utility, and 911 if wires are down.

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Last updated 2026-10-23