Emergency Tree Removal Services for Storm-Damaged Trees

Thinkshide Tree Service is a referral service. Thinkshide Tree Service does not cut or haul trees. Instead, it connects homeowners in Chicago with independent local providers who handle emergency tree removal, including fallen trunks, hanging limbs and storm tree clearance.

This page lists the steps in order: what to do first, what to ask, and what usually happens next. It also covers older houses, where aging roofs, past repairs and tight access can change the plan. You will find a short safety checklist, the three common types of urgent jobs, tips for dealing with your insurer, and questions to ask before any cutting starts. Know your options first. Then you can talk to a provider with clear questions and a clear idea of what the job may involve.

First, Check Safety

Before anything else, protect people. Use this short list:

• Stay away from the tree and from any wires near it.
• Treat every downed line as live.
• Keep children and pets indoors.
• If anyone is hurt or a wire is down, contact emergency services and the utility.

The tree can wait. Your safety cannot.

What Counts as an Urgent Tree Problem

Not every tree problem is an emergency. These usually are:

1. A tree or large limb resting on the house, garage or a vehicle. 2. A trunk blocking a driveway or the only way out. 3. A tree leaning after a storm, with soil lifting at the base. 4. A split trunk or a limb hanging over a roof or walkway.

A dead branch far from any building is usually not urgent. A provider can schedule it as a regular job.

Know Your Options

Most urgent jobs fall into one of three types:

• Make safe: a provider removes only the part that is dangerous or blocking access.
• Full removal: the whole tree comes down, in sections or with a crane.
• Clear and return later: the provider clears the path now and finishes the cleanup on a second visit.

A provider can tell you which one fits after seeing the tree.

How Fallen Tree Removal Works

Here is the usual order of a tree falling service:

1. The provider looks at the tree, the roof and the yard. 2. They find where the weight is resting and what is under tension. 3. They cut the tree in sections, starting from the top or the loose end. 4. They lower or lift the pieces away from the structure. 5. They haul the wood and brush, or leave it if you ask.

Tension matters. A tree pinned by a roof can shift when cut. That is why this job is for trained providers, not for a weekend saw.

Get an Estimate

Storm Tree Clearance After Big Weather

After a large storm, many homes need help at once. Expect these things:

• Providers may be busy, so availability can vary.
• Roads and driveways usually get cleared before cleanup of side yards.
• Work may be split into a quick safety visit and a later full visit.

Request a callback to check provider availability in your area. Many providers can respond quickly, but timing depends on conditions.

Extra Care for Older Homes

Older houses change the plan. Tell the provider about any of these:

• An aging roof or thin decking that may not hold weight.
• Past roof or chimney repairs.
• Old gutters, porches or additions.
• Buried lines, old drain tile or a sump discharge pipe near the tree.

Hidden weak spots matter. A provider who knows about them can plan where to place ropes, rigging and equipment.

Check Before Cutting

Ask for these things before work starts:

• A written quote that lists what is included.
• Proof of liability insurance and workers' compensation.
• A plan for protecting the roof, lawn and driveway.
• A clear answer on who handles debris.

Also ask whether the quote changes if the tree is heavier or more tangled than it looks.

Stump Grinding: Now or Later?

In an urgent job, the stump is usually left for later. The first goal is a safe site. Stump grinding can be added to the quote or booked as a separate visit once things settle.

If the tree fell by itself, ask about the root plate. A lifted root ball can leave a hole that needs filling.

Working With Your Insurance

Some policies may cover sudden damage from a fallen tree. Others have limits or exclusions. Check your policy and talk to your insurer.

To help with a claim:

1. Take photos before anything moves. 2. Keep all receipts and the written quote. 3. Ask the provider for notes on what they found and removed.

Providers can often help document damage for a claim. They cannot decide what your insurer approves.

Get an Estimate

Plan the Next Step After Removal

Once the tree is gone, check these items:

• Roof, gutters and siding for hidden damage.
• Fences, sheds and outdoor lines.
• Soil near the foundation, especially if water collects there.
• Neighboring trees that took the same wind.

A roofer or contractor may be needed for repairs. Tree providers focus on the tree.

Preventing the Next Storm Problem

Some tree failures give early warning. Look for dead limbs, cracks, fungus at the base, and trees that lean more each year.

In regions with deep frost, hot humid summers and strong thunderstorms, trees take a lot of stress. Wet spring soil can loosen roots. Hail and wind can strip limbs. A yearly look by a provider helps you decide what to trim or remove before the weather turns.

Questions to Ask the Provider

Keep this list handy:

• Is the tree safe to approach right now?
• What is the plan for protecting my roof?
• What does the quote include and exclude?
• Is stump grinding part of this visit or separate?
• How soon can you start, and what could delay it?

How to Get Started

First, make the area safe. Next, take photos. Then request an estimate, or request a callback to check provider availability. Thinkshide Tree Service will connect you with an independent local provider, who will give you a written quote before any work begins.

What's Included

Fallen Tree Removal

Providers cut and lift trunks and limbs off roofs, fences, vehicles and yards in safe sections.

Storm Tree Clearance

Clearing driveways, access routes and yards after big weather so you can get in and out again.

Hazard Limb Removal

Cutting down split or hanging limbs that threaten a roof, walkway or power line area.

Debris Cleanup

Hauling away wood and brush, with stump grinding quoted separately when needed.

Typical Emergency Tree Removal Costs

Urgent jobs often cost more than planned ones because of risk, rigging and timing. These are typical U.S. ranges that vary by job. Always get a written quote.

Get an Estimate

How It Works

Make It Safe

Keep everyone away from the tree and any wires, and contact emergency services if needed.

Document the Damage

Take clear photos of the tree, roof and yard before anything is moved.

Request an Estimate

Use the form, or request a callback to check provider availability near you.

Review the Written Quote

Confirm scope, debris and stump details before saying yes.

Why Call Thinkshide Tree Service

Options Explained Before Work

You learn what choices exist and what each usually involves before a provider starts.

Independent Local Providers

Providers in our network run their own crews and equipment.

Older Home Awareness

Aging roofs and past repairs are raised early so the plan fits the house.

Honest Process

Thinkshide Tree Service refers you. The provider does the work and gives the quote.

Other Services

• Tree Removal Help