Emergency Storm Tree Removal in Wilmington, NC

Emergency storm tree removal is the work of getting a fallen or broken tree off a house, a vehicle, a driveway or a fence after high wind, and making what is left standing safe. Around Wilmington that usually means hurricane season, but it isn't only hurricanes. Summer thunderstorms, tropical storms that never reach hurricane strength, and winter nor'easters all bring down trees, especially pines with shallow roots in rain-soaked sand. After Florence in 2018, strong winds toppled trees and power lines across New Hanover County and more than 90 percent of the county lost power. Our job after a storm is to take the most dangerous situations first and remove the tree without making the damage worse.

First steps for homeowners

Get everyone out of any room where a tree has come through the roof. Stay well away from any downed or sagging wire and treat it as live; Duke Energy and OSHA guidance says untrained people should stay at least 10 feet from overhead lines. Report downed lines to the utility. Take photos of the tree and damage from several angles before anything is moved, since your insurer will want them. Then call (910) 807-4337 and leave details: what fell, what it's resting on, and whether anyone can get in or out of the house.

Why a tree on a roof is tricky

A trunk lying on a roof is often holding weight in a way that isn't obvious. Cut it in the wrong place and it can roll, drop through the ceiling or spring back. The usual approach is to remove the crown and smaller limbs first, then take the trunk off in controlled pieces, lifting each one off rather than letting it fall onto the roof. On larger trees, a crane can lift sections clear in one move, which often causes less additional damage. After the tree is off, a tarp over the opening keeps rain out until your roofer can get there.

After the danger is gone

Once trees are off buildings and exits are clear, there is usually a second round: hanging limbs left in the canopy, trees cracked at the base but still standing, and pines whose tops snapped out. Snapped pines are worth watching. NC State Extension notes that storm damage stresses pines and makes them targets for bark beetles, so a tree that survived the wind can still die in the months afterward. Duke Energy says it does not clean up storm debris, so wood and brush left after the line crews leave is the property owner's to deal with.