Emergency & Storm Tree Removal in Pensacola

First: stay safe

Before anything else:

• If anyone is injured or trapped, call 911.
• Stay away from downed power lines and anything they touch, including fences, wet ground and the tree itself. Assume every downed line is energized. Report it to Florida Power & Light at 1-800-4OUTAGE (1-800-468-8243).
• If you smell gas, leave the house and call 911 and your gas utility from a safe distance.
• Don't go into rooms under a tree that has penetrated the roof. Ceilings and trusses can collapse.
• Don't try to cut it yourself. Trees on structures are under enormous, unpredictable tension. A wrong cut can drop the tree further into the house or send a limb springing back. Chainsaw injuries spike after every hurricane.

Then: document everything

Before any wood is moved, take photos and video of the tree, the damage to the house, roof, fence or vehicle, and the stump or root plate if the tree uprooted. Shoot wide angles and close-ups. Call your insurance company to open a claim. Most homeowner policies cover removal of a tree that falls on a covered structure, often up to a set limit, even if the tree simply fell from wind. Coverage for trees that fall in the yard without hitting anything is much more limited. Your adjuster has the final word, so ask before work starts if you can.

How emergency removal works

When you call, we'll ask what the tree is resting on, whether lines are involved, and whether the home is still livable. Calls are prioritized by danger: trees on occupied homes and blocking access come first.

On site, the crew assesses how the tree's weight is distributed and plans the removal from the top down. Most trees on houses are removed in sections with rigging, and some require a crane to lift the weight off the roof without causing more damage. Once the tree is off, the crew can tarp the opening to keep rain out until your roofer arrives. You'll get an itemized invoice and photos for your insurance claim.

After a hurricane

After a major storm like Sally in 2020, demand overwhelms local crews for weeks, and out-of-state "storm chasers" arrive quickly. Some are legitimate; many aren't. Protect yourself:

• Ask for proof of liability insurance and workers' compensation, and call the insurer to confirm it's current.
• Get a written estimate before any work starts. Be wary of anyone who demands full payment upfront or asks you to sign over your insurance benefits.
• Check that the business has a real, local way to reach them after the job is done.
• Don't let anyone pressure you with "today only" pricing.

Emergency pricing is higher than routine removal because of the risk, equipment and after-hours labor involved, but it should still be explained clearly. If the tree isn't threatening the house or blocking access, it's often cheaper to schedule it as a regular removal once the first wave of emergencies passes.

Before the next storm

The best emergency call is the one you never have to make. If a big oak or pine leans toward your house, has dead limbs over the roof or shows decay, deal with it before hurricane season. Our hurricane prep and arborist assessment is designed for exactly that, and pruning or removal is far cheaper when it's scheduled than when a tree is lying across the roof.

We respond across Pensacola and the surrounding area, including Gulf Breeze, Pensacola Beach, Perdido Key, Milton and Navarre.