ACTIVE EMERGENCY - tree on house, power line involved, or injuries
Call 911 first. Then your power company if a line is involved. Only after the scene is safe should you call a tree service.
24/7 Emergency: 615-410-9478Step 1: Make sure everyone is safe
Check every member of the household first. If anyone is hurt, trapped, or in a damaged room, call 911 immediately before doing anything else. Do not enter a room with a fallen tree until you've confirmed there's no structural collapse risk - listen for creaking, settling sounds, and look for shifted ceiling beams or visible support damage.
If a power line is on or near the tree, stay 35+ feet away. Energized lines can arc through wood and through wet ground. Call your power company before approaching the tree:
- Nashville (NES): 615-234-0000
- Murfreesboro / Rutherford / Williamson (MTEMC): 877-777-9020
- Sumner / Robertson / Cumberland Electric: 800-987-2362
Step 2: Document everything before moving anything
Photos are the single most important thing for your insurance claim. Take:
- Multiple angles of the fallen tree
- The exact point of impact on your structure (roof, wall, fence, vehicle)
- Visible interior damage if it's safe to photograph from inside
- Debris scatter pattern (wind direction matters for some claims)
- Any obvious pre-existing condition signs (rot, prior pruning marks) - these strengthen your claim
Time-stamped photos from your phone are fine. Don't worry about photo quality - more photos is always better than fewer.
Step 3: File your insurance claim within 24 hours
Call your homeowners insurance carrier within 24 hours. Most have 24/7 storm claim lines. Get a claim number before doing anything else. Ask whether emergency tree removal needs prior authorization or if you can proceed and submit the receipt.
Most Tennessee tree damage claims default to your own carrier even when a neighbor's tree fell on your house (Tennessee follows the modified-majority rule). Your deductible (usually $500-$2,500) applies.
See our full guide: Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Tree Removal in Tennessee?
Step 4: Get a written removal quote from a licensed tree service
Your carrier needs a written, line-item quote from a licensed Tennessee tree service - not a verbal estimate, not a one-line total. The quote should break out: removal labor, equipment (crane / bucket truck / chipper), debris disposal, stump grinding if needed, and any structural-protection rigging costs.
We provide insurance-formatted quotes free. On-site visit, written quote in your hand within 30 minutes, formatted to your carrier's claim submission requirements.
Avoid storm-chaser scams
After major Tennessee storms - especially the 2020 Nashville tornado pattern and the May-Sept derecho season - out-of-state operators show up offering cheap fast removal. Red flags to walk away from:
- No Tennessee business license (verify at tnbear.tn.gov)
- No general liability insurance certificate on request
- Demand for cash upfront before work starts
- No written, signed quote - just verbal
- Out-of-state license plates on the trucks
- Pressure to sign immediately ("price goes up tomorrow")
- No physical office or local phone number you can call back
Legitimate Middle Tennessee operators give you a written line-item quote, show insurance proof on request, never demand payment before work starts, and have a Tennessee phone number you can call back.
Storm damage tree removal FAQ
A tree fell on my house in Tennessee. What do I do first?
If anyone is hurt or trapped, call 911. If a power line is involved, stay 35+ feet away and call your power company (NES, MTEMC, Cumberland Electric depending on Middle TN service area). Once the scene is safe, photograph everything before moving any debris - the fallen tree, the structural damage, the angle of fall, and any visible damage inside the home. Then call your homeowners insurance carrier to open a claim. Only after the carrier has logged the claim should you call a tree service for an emergency-removal quote.
Do I need to wait for insurance before removing a fallen tree?
It depends on the danger level. If the tree is actively a hazard (leaning on the house and continuing to settle, blocking only access route, on a power line), most carriers approve emergency removal verbally over the phone and reconcile the receipt later. If the situation is stable (tree fell in the yard, branches across the driveway but no active risk), wait for the adjuster's visual assessment to maximize your claim payout. Documented photos plus a written quote from a licensed tree service are the two things every carrier requires.
How fast can a tree service respond after a Tennessee storm?
During active storm events (tornado warnings, derecho, ice storms), legitimate Middle TN tree services prioritize active hazards over scheduled work. Expect 2-6 hours for response on structure-impact emergencies during the first 24 hours after a major event. Non-emergency yard cleanup typically reschedules to 5-10 business days out because every truck in the region is on hazard calls. We dispatch 24/7 for active hazards across Murfreesboro, Franklin, Hendersonville, Brentwood, Mt Juliet, Smyrna, Gallatin, Lebanon and surrounding metros.
What does storm-damaged tree removal cost in Tennessee?
Storm-damaged tree removal runs $500-$3,500 in Middle TN, higher than scheduled removal because: (1) the tree is in an unsafe state requiring more rigging care, (2) emergency-response premium applies for after-hours work, (3) debris cleanup is heavier, (4) crane work is more common because access routes may be blocked. A small storm-damaged tree on the ground in an open yard might still run $500-$800; a 60ft oak leaning on a roof needing sectional removal with crane runs $2,500-$3,500+. Insurance often pays in the structure-impact scenarios.
How do I avoid storm-chaser tree service scams in Tennessee?
After major Tennessee storms, out-of-state 'storm chasers' show up offering cheap fast removal. Red flags: no Tennessee business license (verify at tn.gov SOS lookup), no general liability insurance (ask for the certificate - if they balk, walk), demand for cash upfront, no written quote (verbal estimates are scam-prone), unmarked or out-of-state license plates on the trucks, no ISA arborist on staff for any insurance-required documentation work. Legitimate Middle TN operators give you a written line-item quote, show insurance proof on request, and never demand payment before the work starts.
What about power lines and fallen trees in Tennessee?
Never touch a tree that's on or near a power line. Stay 35+ feet away. Call the power company first - NES Power (Nashville Electric Service: 615-234-0000), MTEMC (Middle TN Electric: 877-777-9020), or Cumberland Electric depending on your service area. The power company de-energizes the line and clears the immediate hazard for free. Only after power is confirmed off can a tree service safely remove the tree. Most carriers require power-company clearance documentation as part of the insurance claim package.
Do I need an arborist for storm damage claims?
For Brentwood, Franklin's Westhaven and Berry Farms, Hendersonville's Indian Lake, and several other Middle TN HOAs: yes, an ISA-certified arborist's written assessment is required before any storm-damaged tree removal, even in claim situations. The assessment typically runs $150-$300 and IS covered by most homeowners policies as part of the claim. For non-HOA properties, an arborist isn't legally required but the documentation strengthens your claim. We connect customers with ISA-certified arborist partners when the HOA or insurance carrier requires it.
Tree down right now? We respond 24/7.
Active hazards - tree on a structure, road-blocking fall, power-line risk - get same-day response across Middle Tennessee. Insurance-formatted written quote within 30 minutes of arrival. Licensed, insured, Tennessee-based.