Downed power line, fire, gas smell or someone hurt? Call 911 first and stay at least 35 feet from any wire.
Houston · Urgent
Emergency Tree Removal in Houston
After a Gulf storm, thousands of Houston households need a tree lifted off something on the same day. Get people clear, stay away from any wire, photograph the damage, then call. You are connected with an independent tree company that takes urgent work in the Houston area.
Call availability varies by area and time of day. Calls are answered by an independent tree service provider.
The first hour, Houston edition
Check for wires
If the tree touches any line, stay 35 feet back and report it to CenterPoint Energy and 911. Generators in the neighborhood can energize lines that look dead.
Get out from under it
Leave rooms beneath the impact. If you smell gas, leave the house and call 911 and CenterPoint's gas line.
Photograph before anything moves
Wide shots, the root plate or break, each point of contact and interior damage.
Call a tree service and your insurer
Say whether the tree is on the structure, whether access is blocked and whether lines are involved.
Limit water damage
Once the tree is lifted, the opening can be tarped. Keep receipts for every emergency expense.
Why Houston emergencies come in waves
In ordinary weather, an urgent tree call in Houston gets a crew the same day. After a regional event that changes completely. Beryl in July 2024 and the May 2024 derecho each produced tens of thousands of downed trees inside a few hours.
Crews then work by severity. Trees on occupied houses and blocked exits come first, trees on garages and fences next, yard-only trees last. Out-of-state companies arrive within days to add capacity.
Two things help you move up the list: a clear description of the hazard, and willingness to split the job into make-safe now and cleanup later. The full approach is on the main emergency tree removal page.
Houston contacts by problem
| Situation | Who handles it |
|---|---|
| Tree or limb on power lines, or a downed line | CenterPoint Energy and 911. Do not approach. |
| Tree blocking a public street | City of Houston 311, or Harris County precinct road crews outside the city |
| Tree in the right-of-way that fell onto your lot | Report to 311. Ask before hiring removal of the city's tree. |
| Tree on your house, garage, fence or car | A tree service, plus your insurer |
| Gas odor after a tree uprooted | Leave the area. Call 911 and CenterPoint gas. |
| Flooded street with a tree down | Wait for water to recede. Hidden debris and lines make it unsafe. |
Hazards particular to Gulf Coast storm sites
Uprooted trees in soft clay
Root plates in saturated gumbo can shift or fall back when the trunk is cut.
Backfed lines
Portable generators wired into a house can energize the street line.
Gas service lines in the root ball
Roots wrap around shallow lines and pull them up when the tree tips.
Heat
Post-hurricane cleanup happens in high heat with no air conditioning. Heat illness is a leading cause of injury.
Fire ants and snakes
Floodwater and debris piles concentrate both.
Windstorm deductibles change the math
Many Houston-area homeowners policies carry a separate wind and hail or named-storm deductible, commonly 1 to 5 percent of the dwelling coverage instead of a flat amount. On a house insured for $300,000, a 2 percent deductible is $6,000.
That means a tree that dented a gutter and broke a fence may not reach the deductible, and the removal comes out of pocket. A tree through the roof almost certainly will. Coastal properties insured through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association have their own claim procedures and deadlines.
Ask your agent which deductible applies before deciding whether to file. General coverage rules are in the insurance guide.
What drives emergency pricing here
- Days since the storm
- Rates peak in the first week and ease as crews catch up.
- Crane availability
- Cranes are the scarcest resource after a hurricane. A tree that needs one waits longer and costs more.
- Access through debris and water
- Blocked streets and soft yards slow equipment.
- Root plate handling
- Uprooted trees leave a plate and a crater. Hauling it and filling the hole are separate costs. See stump removal.
- Curbside debris pickup
- After a declared disaster the city and county often collect storm debris from the curb, which can remove haul-off from your bill.
Before June 1 each year
- Act now
A dead tree or dead top is within reach of the house
Remove it before hurricane season. It is the cheapest emergency to prevent.
- This week
A large water oak or pine leans toward the house
Get it assessed in spring.
- This week
A tree was partly uprooted in 2024 and settled back
Have it inspected. Its roots are broken.
- Plan it
Healthy live oaks overhang the roof
Prune for clearance and dead wood in winter. Oak wilt precautions apply.
Houston emergency tree questions
How fast can a crew reach me in Houston?
On a normal day, often within hours. In the week after a hurricane or derecho, trees on occupied homes are typically reached in one to a few days, and non-urgent work takes longer. Availability depends on the company and the area.
Does the city remove trees that fell from the right-of-way?
The city clears streets and handles trees it owns. Report it to 311. What it removes from private lots varies, so ask before paying a contractor.
Do I need a permit for emergency removal in Houston?
Not for a tree on your private residential lot. Trees in the right-of-way are the city's, and deed-restricted subdivisions may want to be notified.
Is price gouging illegal after a hurricane?
Texas law prohibits charging exorbitant prices for necessities during a declared disaster. Report suspected gouging to the Texas Attorney General and get a second quote when it is safe to wait.
Emergency Tree Removal help in Houston
Call to be connected with an independent tree company that works in Houston, TX, or request a callback.
(888) 555-0142Call availability varies by area and time of day
Limbwright is a referral service. Your call or request goes to an independent tree service company that sets its own prices and schedule. Ask for proof of insurance and a written scope before work starts. How this works
Request a callback
Leave a number and a tree service provider in your area will call you.