Storm Damage Tree Removal in the Roanoke Valley

First: safety

1. Get everyone out of any room where a tree has come through the roof or a wall. Structural damage can get worse.
2. Stay away from downed lines. Assume any wire is energized, including wires tangled in branches. Report it to the utility and 911.
3. Do not climb onto the roof or try to cut a tree that is resting on a structure. The weight can shift unpredictably when a piece is cut.
4. Shut off gas if you smell it, and leave.

Second: document

Before anything is moved, take photos and video of the tree, the damage, and the stump or root plate from several angles. Insurers generally want to see the condition before cleanup. Keep receipts for any emergency work like tarping.

Third: call your insurer, and a tree crew

Homeowner policies differ a great deal in what they cover when a tree falls: damage to the house, removing the tree from the structure, debris removal, and whether it matters whose tree it was. Read your policy or ask your agent rather than relying on general rules of thumb. Many policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, which is why prompt removal and tarping matter. Your tree crew can provide a written description of the work and photos to support your claim.

How emergency removal works

The crew assesses how the tree is loaded, meaning where weight is resting and what is under tension or compression. Then they remove it in a controlled sequence, often with a crane or rigging, to lift the weight off rather than letting it drop through the structure. Once the tree is off, the roof can be tarped and the remaining trunk and brush cleaned up, either immediately or on a follow-up visit.

After big storms

When thunderstorms, ice or snow hit the whole valley, every crew gets busy at once. Calls are triaged: trees on occupied homes and blocking emergency access come first, then trees on vehicles and outbuildings, then yard cleanup. Be wary of door-to-door "storm chasers" demanding cash up front. Ask for insurance certificates and a written estimate, just as you would for scheduled work.

Hangers and leaners

A storm often leaves partially broken limbs hanging in the canopy ("hangers") and trees that have shifted at the roots. These can fall without warning days later. If a tree near your home has a new lean, cracked soil, or exposed roots after a storm, keep people away from the fall zone and have it looked at soon.

Prevention beats emergency calls

A risk assessment and targeted pruning before storm season can identify weak unions, deadwood and decay, and reduce the chance that a tree fails onto something valuable.

For emergency service, call (540) 904-1819.

How an emergency removal works

When a tree is resting on a roof, the crew first assesses how the weight is distributed and what is holding it. Cutting the wrong piece can let the tree shift and do more damage. Often a crane or a carefully rigged line is used to take the weight off the structure in a controlled way, piece by piece. Once the roof is clear, the crew can help with temporary tarping so a roofer can follow. Wood and debris on the ground are then cleaned up, sometimes on a later visit after the urgent work is done.

Insurance and paperwork

Ask for an itemized invoice that separates the cost of removing the tree from the structure from cleanup of the rest of the tree and stump work. Insurers often treat these differently. Our fallen tree insurance guide explains what is usually covered, and the storm prep checklist helps prevent the next one.

The first hour after a tree falls

1. Get everyone out of damaged rooms and away from the tree.
2. Assume any wire is live. Call 911 and your electric utility if lines are involved.
3. Shut off gas if you smell it and it is safe to do so.
4. Photograph the damage from several angles before anything is moved.
5. Call your insurer, then a tree crew for controlled removal.

What emergency removal involves

A tree resting on a roof is still loaded. Cutting the wrong piece first can let the trunk roll or drop further. Crews typically stabilize the tree with ropes or a crane, remove it in controlled pieces, and then tarp or board the opening. Do not try to cut a tree off a structure yourself.

Costs and insurance

CostFigure cites $2,000 to $5,000 for emergency storm removals, and CostPrism lists emergency surcharges of 50% to 100% above base pricing. The Insurance Information Institute says that when a covered peril drops a tree on an insured structure, policies typically pay for the damage plus removal, commonly up to about $500 to $1,000. Read our insurance claims guide.

Common storm scenarios in the Roanoke Valley

The Insurance Information Institute notes some policies pay to remove a tree that blocks a driveway or ramp even without structural damage; check yours.

Avoiding storm-chaser problems

After big storms, out-of-area crews go door to door. Ask for proof of insurance from the insurer, a written price before work, and a local address. Avoid paying large sums up front.

Documenting for your insurer

• Photos and video before anything is moved, from several angles.
• The date and time, and the weather event if known.
• Receipts for tarps, temporary repairs and removal.
• The tree crew's written invoice describing the work.

Temporary protection

After a tree is removed from a roof, the opening needs to be tarped or boarded to prevent more water damage. Ask the crew whether they provide this, or line up a roofer.

Preparing before storm season

A pre-season look at large trees near the house, followed by deadwood removal and corrections to weak limbs, lowers the chance of a 2 a.m. emergency. Our storm prep checklist lists what to look for.

Neighbor's tree fell on my property

In general, your own homeowners policy handles damage to your property when a covered peril brings down a neighbor's tree, per the Insurance Information Institute. If the tree was obviously dead or neglected, the situation may differ; talk to your insurer.

When it is not an emergency

A tree down in the yard that has not hit anything, is not blocking access and is not on lines can usually wait for a scheduled visit, often at lower cost than emergency service.

Utility emergency numbers

Appalachian Power lists 800-956-4237 (24 hours) for safety hazards such as downed poles or trees fallen on power lines. Salem and Bedford have their own city- and town-run electric utilities, and parts of Botetourt County are served by Craig-Botetourt Electric Cooperative; call the utility that serves your address.

Common questions