Fast Response When Trees Threaten Your Property
When mother nature strikes, Shane’s trees are there to respond & help make your tree emergency safe and hassle free
Shane’s Trees are a fully qualified & iso certified tree removal company
When a tree falls on your property, knowing who to call first can save you thousands of dollars. If the fallen tree is unsafe a smart approach would be contacting the SES (State Emergency Service) at 132 500 to make the tree safe if it’s threatening your home or power lines – this service is completely free.
After any immediate danger has been cleared, that’s when you call an emergency tree service to handle the complete removal and cleanup.
This type of approach will help reduce your total costs and help ensure the safety of your property
What Makes a Tree Emergency Urgent?
Not every fallen tree needs immediate attention. A tree that’s dropped safely in your backyard can wait – that’s not a real emergency. Same goes for an ugly tree you want removed before selling your house.
Real emergencies happen when trees create immediate danger. Trees touching power lines, blocking critical roadways, or leaning dangerously over your roof after a storm are situations that need fast action because they put people and property at serious risk.
Storm-damaged trees are one of our most common emergencies. Heavy rain and wind conditions weaken root systems, snap major branches, and sometimes topple entire trees onto houses, cars, or power lines. When this happens, you need help fast.
Sick or dying trees can also become emergencies. A tree with a hollow trunk might look fine one day and collapse the next. Dead branches pose similar risks – they can break off without warning and cause serious damage or injury below.
Emergency Tree Removal Cost
The average cost of emergency tree removal ranges between $1,172 – $8,200 depending on the species of the tree, its height, and the risk involved with the job.
Here’s how much you can expect to spend under different emergency tree removal conditions.
| Tree Size | Pricing |
|---|---|
| Small Trees | $150 – $650 |
| Medium trees | $350 – $1,200 |
| Large Trees | $850 – $4,900 |
These prices jump significantly for after-hours calls, weekend work, or situations requiring immediate response. The urgency premium can double or triple normal removal costs.
Calling the right Emergency Tree Service
If your trees need urgent attention but people are safe, you can contact Shane’s Trees to assist, or your preferred local tree service or a qualified arborist.
The SES responds 24/7 across Australia. Call 132 500 for tree emergencies that threaten safety. If someone’s life is in immediate danger, always call 000 first.
If any of your trees have fallen over power lines or your house, first contact should be the State Emergency Service (SES). Once they’ve made the area safe, hire your local tree company to cut the tree and then remove the debris.
How the SES Saves You Money
If a fallen tree has caused damage to your vehicle or home, contact the State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500 to help you remove it free of charge. This trick alone could potentially save you nearly 50% of the total emergency tree removal costs.
The SES is usually available in all states across the country and helps out residents recover from natural disasters. If anyone’s life is in danger, call 000 (triple zero).
Note: Although SES removes the dangerous tree, they won’t clean up your ground or take the green waste with them. This remains to be your responsibility. They also won’t remove any tree that doesn’t pose any immediate danger to your family or property.
Another key budget-saver is to not rush the debris removal process if the tree was felled by a storm or heavy wind. On such occasions, local tree service companies experience the highest demand for removal services and so, they hike their services by almost 75%.
Instead, cut the wood into manageable pieces then wait for at least a month before contacting tree care professionals to help you with the removal job. During this time, the demand will have declined and so will their prices.
Common Emergency Tree Removal Scenarios
Storm Damage – Severe weather causes most tree emergencies. High winds can easily uproot shallow-rooted trees or snap major branches. Heavy rain saturates the soil, making trees unstable.
Trees on Structures – Tree fallen on your house, garage, or car, require immediate help. The weight can cause progressive damage, especially if rain gets in.
Hanging or Widow-Maker Branches – Large branches that break but don’t fall completely create potentially dangerous situations. These “widow makers” can drop without warning, causing serious injury or death. Tree’s are extremely heavy and even the smallest branches can be fatal from height. These branches require specialised lifting and climbing techniques to make safe in most situations.
Trees Blocking Roads or Driveways – A tree across your driveway isn’t a true emergency unless it blocks access for emergency vehicles. If you can park on the street and walk to your door, this can usually wait for regular business hours and normal pricing.
Will My Home Insurance Cover Emergency Tree Removal?
In most cases, yes! Many homeowner insurances cover emergency tree removal services if the downed trees fell due to natural disasters like a storm. They might also cover you if the tree fell on a structure like your home or fence.
However, according to the Standard Homeowner’s Insurance Policy, most insurance companies will only cover up to $1,000 in tree removal with not more than $500 on an individual tree, and an extra $500 for debris removal.
Other insurers use the 5% total dwelling coverage which means that if you’re covered for $200,000, you can only receive $10,000 for tree removal.
Finding Emergency Tree Services Near You
Numerous tree companies offer emergency tree services all around Australia. However, this doesn’t mean that you should contact them any time your trees have an issue.
Keep in mind. Most ’emergency tree service providers near you’ will charge you higher for the removal job since they have to drop all their other engagements to work on your job.
So, before contacting the first tree expert that comes to mind, make sure your situation just can’t wait.
What to Look for in Emergency Tree Service
Regardless of what’s led to your emergency tree situation, it’s important to have a tree emergency service you trust and can rely on. More importantly, you want to have a service that won’t take advantage of your disaster to hike up their prices.
- Experience matters in emergencies. Companies that have been around for years will have the right equipment and trained crews. They’ll know how to handle dangerous situations safely.
- 24/7 availability is non-negotiable. Tree emergencies don’t happen during business hours. Your chosen service needs to respond any time, day or night.
- Proper insurance and licensing protect you. Don’t hire anyone who can’t prove they carry full liability insurance and workers’ compensation. If something goes wrong, you could be liable.
Keep the contacts and addresses of reputable companies handy before you need them – they might come in handy on a rainy day!
How to Prevent Needing Emergency Tree Services
While completely preventing emergency tree services may be impossible, there are still some steps you can take to reduce the chances of spending a ton on the job.
- Regular tree inspections. Catch your tree problems early. Walk your property every few months, check for dead branches, cracks in trunks, or trees leaning more than usual. Catching issues early means fixing them before they become emergencies.
- Professional tree trimming reduces storm damage. Over grown and heavy branches are more likely to break during storms. Annual or pruning keeps trees balanced and less vulnerable to wind damage.
- Remove trees too close to structures. Any tree within falling distance of your house, power lines, or important structures is a potential emergency waiting to happen. If a tree can reach your roof when it falls, consider removing it proactively.
- Act fast when you spot power line contact. Never wait on trees touching or growing near power lines. Contact your power company immediately – they often handle this for free since it affects public safety.
Keep the contacts and addresses of reputable companies handy before you need them – they might come in handy on a rainy day!
Making Smart Decisions in Tree Emergencies
By their very nature, emergencies exist due to unforeseen circumstances or events that are beyond our control. With the right knowledge, we can take action to mitigate the effects of a tree emergencies to keep people and property safe and insurances intact.
Follow these steps in a tree emergency
- Assess actual danger first. Is anyone at risk right now? Is property being actively damaged? If not, you might not need emergency pricing
- Use free public services when available. The SES exists to help Australians in these situations. Let them handle the dangerous work at no cost.
- Document everything for insurance. Take photos and videos before, during, and after tree removal. This documentation supports your insurance claim.
- Use qualified & Insured & Experienced contractors. Even in Emergencies, View arborists qualifications and insurances, verify safety record etc
Emergency Tree Removal FAQ’s
How quickly can emergency services respond?
Is this tree my responsibility?
What if the tree is on council land?
Emergency Tree Services along Australia’s east coast
With almost four decades in the arboriculture industry, Shane’s trees has continued to grow our operations. Initially providing our emergency tree services in Sydney, we now also provide the same services from Wollongong all the way up the east coast to Newcastle, Byron bay, Gold Coast and emergency tree removal in Brisbane.
This article ‘Emergency Tree Removal’ is original content from the Shane’s Tree’s Website
