Emergency tree removal in Memphis
Tree on your house, car, or driveway? Call us. We get the weight off your home first, make the rest safe, and clear the way out.
- Answered 7 days a week
- Crane for trees on roofs
- Photos and estimates for insurance
- Help getting a tarp on
Memphis storms bring trees down fast
Memphis gets every kind of tree-breaking weather: straight-line winds from summer thunderstorms, spring storms on soaked ground, and winter ice that loads limbs until they snap. When one hits, it hits the whole city at once.
The worst on record is the July 22, 2003 windstorm locals call Hurricane Elvis. Nearly 339,000 MLGW customers, more than 80 percent, lost power, and crews hauled off over 5,000 tons of tree debris. More recently, the February 2022 ice storm knocked out 186,000 customers at its peak, storms in the summer of 2023 left more than 200,000 dark, and the August 23, 2026 storm snapped trees across the city with 60 to 80 mph winds and about 140,000 outages.
Part of the reason is the ground. UT Extension notes that most tree roots in our clay soils only reach the top 18 inches, with over half of them in the top 6 inches. When that soil is soaked, a big tree with a full crown of leaves can tip right over in a strong wind.
Emergency calls we handle
- Trees and limbs on houses, garages, carports, and sheds
- Trees on cars and across driveways
- Split or uprooted trees leaning toward a house
- Hanging limbs caught up in the canopy
- Trees blocking a private drive or the only way out
Sources: MLGW on the 2003 windstorm, MLGW Winter Storm Landon report, Daily Memphian, July 2023 outages, Daily Memphian, August 2026 storm, Memphis Area Master Gardeners on tree roots.
Tree on the house? Call us right away.
Memphis storms drop big limbs fast. We get the weight off your home, secure what is still hanging, and clear the way out.
Emergency line: (901) 389-2360Before you call us
- Get everyone out of the damaged rooms.
- Stay clear of downed lines. In Memphis and Shelby County, report them to MLGW at (901) 528-4465. Call 911 if anyone is hurt.
- Take photos of the damage for your insurance.
- Then call us. We send a crew and give you photos and a written estimate for the claim.
Who to call for what
If a tree is on a power line, it is not our job yet. A tree touching a live line can energize the tree, the ground, and anything nearby. Stay at least 10 feet back, keep kids and pets away, and call the power company first. Once the line is safe, we can take the tree off.
If anyone is hurt or trapped, or you smell gas, call 911 first.
For the tree itself, call us. Tell us what fell, what it is on, and whether lines are down. We send a crew as soon as we can and give you a price before we start.
Sources: MLGW downed power lines, MLGW outage reporting, Entergy storm center, Local Memphis, West Memphis storm prep.
Insurance and storm damage
Many homeowners policies help pay for removal when a tree lands on a covered structure. We make the paperwork part easier.
Photos first
We photograph the damage before we move anything, so your adjuster can see what happened.
Written estimate
You get a clear written estimate for the removal that you can send to your insurance company.
Make it safe now
Policies expect you to prevent more damage. Getting the tree off and a tarp on does that.
Finish later
Once the house is safe, the rest of the tree and the stump can be done at a normal pace.
The Insurance Information Institute says that when a tree falls on an insured structure, policies generally cover removal up to about $500 to $1,000, depending on the insurer. If a tree falls and does not hit a structure, there is generally no coverage for removing it. Coverage for the trees themselves is limited too, often about $500 per tree. Check your own policy, and call your agent early, because adjusters get busy fast after a big storm.
Sources: Insurance Information Institute.
What happens when you call
Tell us what fell, where, and whether anyone is hurt or lines are down.
- Triage on the phoneWe ask what is on the house, how big the tree is, and whether lines are involved, so we bring the right crew and gear.
- Take the weight offClimbers or a crane lift the tree off the roof in pieces, so the damage does not get worse.
- Secure what is leftHanging limbs and split trunks that could still fall are cut down or made safe.
- Cover and documentWe help get a tarp over the opening and give you photos and a written estimate for the claim.
- Clear the wayDriveways and walkways are opened up. The rest of the cleanup can follow later.
After the storm: limbs and debris
After a big storm, the city and the suburbs usually run extra debris pickup, but the normal size limits still matter. In Memphis, limbs and logs over 13 inches across or 5 feet long are not collected, and piles should sit within 3 feet of the street, away from mailboxes, cars, and fences. Debris a tree contractor creates is the contractor’s job to remove, so when we take a tree off your house, we haul it off too.
A word of warning: storm chasers show up after every big Memphis storm. Get a written price, ask for proof of insurance, and do not pay the full amount up front.
Emergency tree questions
Do you answer on weekends?
Yes. Our phone is answered 7 days a week. Call (901) 389-2360 as soon as a tree is down or hanging dangerously.
A tree fell on my house. What do I do first?
Get everyone out of the damaged part of the house. If lines are down or you smell gas, call 911 and the power company first and stay away from the wires. Take photos, then call us and your insurance company.
A tree is on a power line. Can you remove it?
Not until the power company makes the line safe. In Shelby County, call MLGW at (901) 528-4465 for downed lines. Once the line is de-energized or cleared, we can take the tree down.
Will insurance pay for emergency tree removal?
When a tree falls on an insured structure like your house or garage, policies generally cover removal up to about $500 to $1,000, according to the Insurance Information Institute. A tree that falls without hitting a structure usually is not covered. We give you photos and a written estimate for the claim.
How much does emergency tree removal cost?
It depends on the size of the tree, how it is resting, and whether a crane is needed. National guides put emergency removals at up to around $5,000 for the hardest jobs. We tell you the price before we start.
Why do so many trees fall in Memphis storms?
Our clay soils keep most roots shallow, mostly in the top 18 inches. When the ground is soaked and a strong wind hits a tree in full leaf, it can uproot or snap. Weak species like water oak and Bradford pear fail more often.
Can you tarp my roof after the tree is off?
Once the weight is off, we can help get a tarp over the opening to keep rain out until your roofer arrives.
Tree down right now?
Call us. We answer 7 days a week.