West Alabama knows what severe weather does to trees. The National Weather Service has documented major tornadoes here, including an F4 on December 16, 2000 and an EF4 on April 27, 2011. Most storm calls are far smaller than that: a pine across the driveway, an oak limb on the roof, a leaning tree after the ground has been soaked. This page is a practical guide to the first hours and the decisions after.
The first few minutes
Is it an emergency?
Call now
Tree on or through the house. Blocking the only way in or out. Touching or near lines. Leaning over a bedroom or where people are. Call 911 for injuries and your electric provider for lines, then request a tree service and say plainly that it is urgent.
Urgent, this week
Tree across the driveway. A tree on a car, fence or shed. Large broken limbs hanging over the roof or yard. Tell the pro what is at risk so the job can be ranked.
Can usually wait
A tree down in the open yard away from the house and lines. A leaning or cracked tree that is not threatening anything right now. Still get it looked at, especially if the ground is soft or more storms are coming.
After a big storm, a lot of households need help at the same time, so waits can be long. Being specific (what fell, what it is touching, whether anyone is inside) helps the right job get ranked first.
Document the damage before cleanup
Your insurer may want to see what happened. Take photos and video first unless doing so is unsafe. Safety beats pictures.
- Wide shots from several angles that show the whole tree, the house and the yard together
- Close-ups of each damaged item: roof, siding, gutters, fence, vehicle, screen room
- The base and the break point: roots torn out of the ground, or where the trunk snapped
- Something for scale (a tape measure or a shoe) next to large limbs or trunk cuts
- A slow video walk-around, saying the date and what you are looking at
- Photos of damaged belongings inside, before anything is moved or thrown out
- Original, unedited files. Back them up and keep the timestamps
- Receipts for any emergency measures you take, such as tarps, boarding up or hotel costs
Write down the time the tree fell and who you spoke to at the insurance company. Ask whether the adjuster wants to see the tree in place before it is cut. Policies commonly ask you to take reasonable steps to keep the damage from getting worse, such as getting a tree off a structure or covering a hole, and to keep receipts. Tell your insurer what you plan to do before you do it.
Insurance: what to ask your agent
Coverage varies by policy, so this is a list of questions, not an answer. A common pattern is that policies are more likely to respond when a tree damages a covered structure like your house, and less likely to pay to remove a tree that fell without hitting anything. Your policy and your insurer decide.
- What is my deductible for wind and storm damage?
- Is there a limit on debris or tree removal, and does it apply per tree or per claim?
- Does the adjuster want to see the tree before removal?
- Which temporary repairs will you reimburse, and what documentation do you need?
- Should the tree company's invoice show where the tree fell and what was removed?
Ask the tree company for an itemized written invoice. It gives you something concrete to send with your claim.
Who handles what around Tuscaloosa and Northport
- Tree on your own property
- That is you, your insurer, and a tree service. Request a free quote or call or text (205) 614-9233.
- Power lines, poles, outages
- Alabama Power, 1-800-888-2726, 24 hours. Your electric provider if you are not an Alabama Power customer.
- Tree or limb in a street inside Tuscaloosa city limits
- Dial 311 or call 205-248-5311 (City of Tuscaloosa).
- Tree or limb in a street inside Northport
- City of Northport Public Works. Work in the public right-of-way needs a city permit, so check before hiring anyone to work there.
- County road or unincorporated area
- Tuscaloosa County Public Works, 205-345-6600 (Monday to Friday, 7 to 4). After hours, a downed tree on a public road can be reported to the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff, 205-752-0616.
- City-owned Lake Tuscaloosa shoreline
- Contact the city Lakes Division at 205-349-0279 before any tree work there.
These contacts come from official county and city pages as of October 2026. Numbers and rules change, so confirm before you rely on them.
What emergency tree removal usually involves
The details depend on the tree, but the general shape is: the crew checks for lines and structural hazards, secures anything that could shift, then cuts the tree into sections and lowers or lifts them away, especially over a roof, pool or fence. Cranes are sometimes used to lift heavy pieces off a house when they are available. After the tree is off, the crew clears the debris, and you decide what happens to the logs and the stump.
Tree companies generally do not repair the damage. A hole in the roof, a crushed fence or broken siding is a separate repair. Ask whether the company can tarp the roof, or whether you will need a roofer, and plan for that early. If the stump is left, our stump grinding guide covers what to ask.
Hiring after a storm: protect yourself
Demand jumps after a storm, and so do door-knockers. Some are legitimate local crews. Others are not. Slow down just enough to ask:
- Can I get the quote in writing, with what it includes (cleanup, hauling, stump, tarping)?
- Do you carry liability insurance and workers' compensation? Can you send proof, ideally straight from your insurer?
- What is your business name, local address and phone, and can you give me references from this area?
- Does anyone on the crew hold an ISA Certified Arborist credential, if that matters for the job?
- Who is responsible if the roof, fence or a neighbor's property gets damaged?
- What do you want for a deposit, and when is the rest due?
Be wary of anyone who pressures you to decide on the spot, asks for full payment before work starts, or will not put the quote in writing. Checking all of this is your call. We do not verify any company's licensing, insurance or work.
Cost
Cost varies widely, and we do not post numbers. A tree lying flat in an open yard is a different job than one pinned on a roof beside a power line. Size, access, how close it is to structures and lines, whether a crane or after-hours work is needed, and cleanup all change the quote. Get it written down before work begins, and keep the invoice.
After the tree is gone
- Walk the yard and look for nails, glass, roofing and other debris before kids and pets go out
- Look at neighboring trees for new cracks, lifted soil near the base, leaning or large broken limbs left hanging
- Ask a pro whether other trees close to the house are worth a hazard check
- Decide on the stump: leave it, or have it ground. See the stump grinding guide
Storm damage questions
Who do I call first if a tree falls on my house?
If anyone is hurt or trapped, call 911. If a tree is touching a power line or a line is down, stay away and call Alabama Power at 1-800-888-2726 or your electric provider. Once everyone is safe, take photos, contact your insurance company, and then request a tree service.
Will my insurance pay to remove a fallen tree?
It depends on your policy. A tree that damages a covered structure such as your house is more likely to be covered than one that falls without hitting anything, but the policy decides. Ask your agent about your deductible, any debris-removal limit, and whether the adjuster wants to see the tree before it is cut.
Can I cut up a fallen tree myself?
Be careful. Trees on a house, trees under tension, anything touching or near power lines, and anything you would need a ladder or roof access to reach are jobs for a trained crew. Even on flat ground, wood that is bent or pinned can spring when cut.
How fast can a crew get to me?
We can't promise a time. We are a referral service, and availability depends on the independent local pro and on how many storm calls they are handling. Tell us what is urgent, such as a tree on a structure or blocking your only way out, so it can be passed along.
How much does emergency tree removal cost?
It varies a lot with the size of the tree, whether it is on a structure or near lines, access, and whether a crane or after-hours work is needed. We do not quote prices here. Ask for a written quote, and keep the invoice for your insurance claim.
Are you a tree service company?
No. Tuscaloosa Tree Pros is a free referral service. We pass your request to an independent local tree service company, and that company contacts you, quotes the job and does the work.
Related
- Stump grinding: what to know first
- Tree removal in Tuscaloosa and Northport
- General FAQ: permits, insurance and how this service works
Tuscaloosa Tree Pros is a referral service, not a tree company. We don't perform tree work, we can't promise response times, and we don't endorse or verify any company's work, licensing, or insurance. If life or safety is at risk, call 911.
