Emergency Tree Service
When Seconds Count, Seattle Tree Trim and Removal Is Prepared to Assist You in an Emergency
Tree emergencies occur unexpectedly. A windstorm can bring down a large tree limb and put it on top of your house; strong winds can knock a tree over into your driveway; a structural failure can cause branches to fall on cars or electrical lines. The moment you are in one of these emergencies, you will want assistance as quickly as possible from a well-equipped, trained, and able to respond emergency crew.
Seattle Tree Trim and Removal has an Emergency Response Team, which is available at all times 24/7/365 to assist you in emergencies. We know that tree emergencies do not follow a typical “business hour” schedule, and neither does our Emergency Response Team. When you contact our emergency line, you will speak directly with someone who will evaluate your emergency and send out a crew(s) according to the emergency’s priority and the safety of those involved.
Seattle Tree Trim and Removal’s emergency crews will be arriving at your site with the necessary equipment, extensive knowledge, and skills to address even the most difficult emergencies while maintaining a safe environment. Our goal during this time will be to ensure the security of your property, eliminate potential hazards, minimize additional damage, and provide a safe working and living environment. Regardless of whether your emergency situation is caused by a recent storm, sudden tree failure, or any other emergency related to trees, we will be there to help when you need us the most.
What Constitutes a Tree Emergency
Immediate Danger Situations
Structures Affected by Trees or Branches: Any tree or significant branch that is on a house, garage, shed, or other building is an emergency, as the weight of the tree or branch may be causing damage to the structure and will continue to do so over time, and moving the tree/branch can also cause additional injury when done improperly.
Vehicles Crushed by Trees or Branches: Any fallen tree or branches that crush a car, truck, or other vehicle is considered an emergency and should be removed immediately to assess the damage to the vehicle and to start your insurance claim process. Removing a vehicle crushed by a tree improperly can add additional damage to the vehicle.
Critical Access Blocked by Trees: When trees or branches are blocking driveways, roadways, or emergency access routes, the tree(s) must be removed quickly for both safety and functional reasons. This is particularly important for emergencies (medical emergencies, Fire Department access) or operational businesses.
Hanging or Partially Fallen Trees: Trees that have partially fallen but remain hanging from other trees or structures are very hazardous. “Hangers” or “Widow Makers” can fall at any time and cause serious injury or death until professionally removed.
Trees Contacting Electrical Lines: If a tree makes contact with any electrical line, it is an emergency that needs immediate professional service and coordination with the local utilities. Do not attempt to go near any tree that is touching power lines; they can be fatal.
Trees Damaged in a Storm that are Threatening to Fall: Trees that have been damaged in a storm and have significant structural issues (major leans, splits in the trunk, or roots that have been uprooted) are posing a serious threat to individuals. Even though they may not have fallen yet, it is a priority to get them assessed and mitigated professionally as soon as possible.
Trees Presenting an Imminent Hazard to People: Any tree situation that presents an immediate hazard to people (blocking escape routes, threatening to fall into inhabited space, etc.) should be considered an emergency and addressed as such.
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Our Emergency Response Procedure
Step 1: Prompt Contact and Analysis
Trained personnel will respond to your call immediately (not voicemail or an automated service) and ask a series of questions to get the most important information regarding the situation:
What kind of emergency?
How bad is the emergency?
Are there any safety issues or dangers at this time?
Is there a specific address, and how do we gain access to it?
Do you have contact information that we can use to follow up?
Have you contacted any utilities to report the problem?
We will determine the level of urgency and advise on any immediate actions to take to ensure safety and send the right crew and equipment.
Step 2: Quick Crew Dispatch
The crews responsible for emergency response are always available and dispatched promptly. The crews will be equipped with:
Emergency vehicles include specialized equipment designed specifically for emergency response situations.
Personnel who have received training in responding to hazardous conditions.
Lamp equipment to facilitate response during nighttime hours.
Safety equipment to protect the crew members in all weather conditions.
Communication equipment to coordinate the response efforts.
Approximately 75% of emergency responses occur between 2 and 4 hours after the initial call is made, although it could potentially be sooner based on the circumstances and our current geographic location.
Step 3: On-site Safety Evaluation
Before starting their work, the crew leader evaluates the site for potential hazards and develops a plan for the safest removal of the tree or branch:
Identify all known hazards, such as electric wires.
Develop a plan for safe access and working zone(s).
Verify that the structure of any building has not been compromised.
Determine if there are any active or inactive utilities involved.
Plan the safest possible removal procedure for the tree or branch.
No compromise is ever made in terms of safety to expedite the removal process.
Step 4: Mitigation of Hazards and Structural Stabilization
Our primary objective during the early stages of an emergency is to prevent further damage and to create an environment that is safe for both you and our personnel.
Remove weight from structures when possible.
Stabilize partially failed trees.
Place barriers around dangerous areas.
Coordinate with utilities when necessary.
Temporarily protect remaining property and structures.
Step 5: Emergency Tree/ Branch Removal
Utilizing specialized equipment and techniques appropriate to emergency conditions:
Sectioning the tree into manageable pieces to minimize the amount of debris created and to maximize the control of each individual piece.
Use of rigging systems to lower branches to the ground in a controlled manner.
Where feasible, utilize crane support to assist in lowering branches.
Protect adjacent property and structures from potential damage.
Emergency Situations We Handle
Storm Damage Response
Storms in Seattle can severely affect an area in a very short period of time. The combination of high winds, snow (heavy), ice accumulation, and saturated soils can lead to significant loss of trees.
What Our Storm Response Entails:
Quick assessment of many damaged trees
Removal of trees by priority (danger level)
Access route and driveway clearing
Tree removal from buildings and vehicles
Branch removal due to hanging branches and securing damaged trees
Comprehensive removal of debris
Follow-up pruning to help prevent further tree failure
Pre-Storm Pruning and Assessment Service: If you believe your landscape is at risk during a storm event, we will perform a pre-storm pruning and assessment service to minimize failure risk and identify which trees are most at-risk to potential failure before worsening conditions.
Complete Fallen Tree Removal
Total tree failure as a result of any cause requires prompt professional assistance.
We Provide Specialized Removal for:
Trees that have fallen onto residential structures and/or roofs
Trees that have crushed a vehicle or equipment
Trees that are blocking roadways or access routes
Multiple trees that have failed in compound situations
Trees located in water features or sensitive environments
Our Methodology: Sectioning the tree to prevent causing any additional damage, controlling the removal process to protect surrounding structures, efficiently removing debris, and restoring the site once the trees have been removed.
Structural Failures & Splits
Even though trees do not need to be subjected to storms to structurally fail, they may still fail due to internal decay, disease, or inherent defects.
Types of Structural Failures:
Split trunks or main branches
Uprooting and root failure
Breaking and hanging branches
Collapse due to decay
Wind throws in shallow-rooted species
Our Response: Evaluate the stability of the remaining portion of the tree, safely remove the failed portion, evaluate the remaining portion of the tree for viability, and recommend whether or not to retain the tree or completely remove it.
Hanging and Suspended Branches
Suspended or partially detached branches that remain in a tree canopy are some of the most hazardous types of tree-related hazards.
Why Hanging Branches are so Hazardous:
The timing of the fall is unpredictable
The branch can break off due to a slight disturbance by the wind
It is likely to rebound and release energy back into the tree if it is under tension
It is difficult to predict when another branch will be disturbed, and therefore cause the hanger to release.
Hangers are extremely difficult for non-professionals to accurately assess.
Our Expertise: We use specialized rigging techniques to lower branches in a controlled manner; we recognize and understand tension and compression forces that are present in suspended branches; we dismantle branches systematically to prevent unexpected releases; and we take every precaution to ensure the safety of individuals and property while removing suspended branches.
Trees Near Electrical Power Lines
Electrical hazards require unique safety procedures and coordination with utilities.
Important Electrical Safety Considerations:
Do NOT approach trees near power lines
Treat ALL power lines as if they are live and unsafe
Maintain distance from the area
Call the electric company immediately to report the hazard
Only hire a professional tree service that has received Line Clearance Training to deal with this type of hazard
Our Capabilities:
Coordinate with utility companies
Have employees who are trained and certified in line clearance
Utilize proper equipment and insulators to work around electrical power lines
Understand electrical hazards and safe approach distances
Experienced working with Seattle City Light and Puget Sound Energy (PSE)