What to do in the first hour
- Make sure everyone is safe. Get out of rooms under the damaged roof. If the tree is on a car, stay out of the car.
- Photograph everything before anything is moved: the tree, where it came from, the damage, and the weather if it is still going. Your insurer will want this.
- Tarp or close what you can without climbing. Many insurers reimburse reasonable emergency measures to prevent further damage.
- Request an emergency crew. Use the form below and choose Emergency. Include photos; it lets the crew bring the right truck the first time.
- Open the insurance claim. Removal of a tree that hit a structure is usually part of the claim. Keep every receipt.
What emergency tree work costs
Emergency and storm removals cost more than planned removals: crews work overtime, often with a crane, on a tree that is under tension. In New York a routine large-tree removal runs $1,200 to $2,200; a tree lifted off a house by crane is commonly $2,000 to $3,500 or more, depending on size, the roof, and whether the street has to be closed. When the tree hit a covered structure, most of that is an insurance line item.
Cost ranges are published 2026 New York industry figures (Environmental Forest Products' 2026 Hudson Valley tree removal cost guide, eforestproducts.com; Angi's 2026 New York tree trimming cost page; HomeGuide and LawnStarter 2026 national guides), not quotes from this site. Your price depends on the tree, access and your town.
Rockland County storm facts
- Late summer through October is the storm peak in the lower Hudson Valley: tropical remnants (the remnants of Ida in September 2021 flooded Rockland's brooks and brought down trees across the county), nor'easters, and the thunderstorm lines that come over the Ramapos. Ice storms in January and February take down the big limbs.
- Oak, tulip poplar and old silver and Norway maples are the trees most often found on roofs in Rockland after a storm, along with dead ash killed by emerald ash borer.
- Saturated ground tips whole trees. After several inches of rain, a healthy-looking tree with a shallow root plate (spruce, Norway maple, many street trees) can go over in moderate wind, especially on the county's hillside lots.
- After a county-wide storm, crews triage: trees on houses and blocking roads first, then driveways, then yard trees. Being clear about which one you have gets you scheduled correctly.
Hazard trees before the storm
The cheapest emergency removal is the one you do in November on purpose. Dead ash, a leaning tree with heaved soil, a split trunk, or a big limb over the bedroom are all reasons to get a quote now. Clarkstown and Nyack exempt dead and hazardous trees from their permit limits and replacement rules when you can document the hazard, so get the arborist's note or the photos first. See permits by town.
How it works
- Tell us about the job. Your town, what you need, and a photo if you have one. Takes about a minute.
- We match you with a local tree pro. An independent Rockland County tree care company that holds a Rockland County home improvement contractor license and carries liability insurance, and that actually serves your town.
- Get a free on-site quote. The company contacts you directly, looks at the tree and gives you a written price. No obligation, and you deal with them from there.
Emergency questions
A tree fell on my house. Who do I call first?
If anyone is hurt or there is a gas smell, call 911. If wires are down or touching the tree, stay away and call Orange & Rockland at 1-877-434-4100 before anyone goes near it. Then call your insurance company to open a claim, take photos, and request an emergency tree crew. Do not let anyone cut on a tree that is resting on a structure or wires except a professional crew.
Does insurance cover emergency tree removal?
If the tree hit a covered structure, removal and repairs are usually covered minus your deductible. If it fell in the yard without hitting anything, most policies pay little or nothing (often a $500 per tree / $1,000 per event cap). If your neighbor's healthy tree fell on your house in a storm, it is normally your policy that pays, not theirs.
How fast can a crew come out?
For a tree on a house or blocking a road, crews that do storm work can usually respond the same day, often within hours. After a big regional storm, triage applies: structures and roads first, then driveways, then yard trees. Photos with your request help the crew bring the right truck.
Do I need a permit for an emergency removal?
Dead and hazardous trees are exempt or fast-tracked in every Rockland town that has a tree permit. Clarkstown asks for documentary evidence of the danger within seven days of the removal; Nyack issues a permit for a hazardous significant tree without the replacement requirement when an arborist confirms it. Take photos before the crew starts, whatever town you are in.