⚠️ Active emergency? Call (865) 348-3063 now. We have crews on standby across Knox County for storm response. If a power line is involved, call your utility (KUB at 865-524-2911) first.
It happens fast. A spring thunderstorm rolls through Knox County, a 60-foot oak you've walked past for 20 years splits at the trunk, and suddenly half of it is sitting on your roof. In the chaos of the next hour, what you do — and what you don't do — can save (or cost) you thousands of dollars.
This is the exact step-by-step we walk Knoxville homeowners through when they call us in an emergency.
Step 1 — Get Everyone Out and Away (First 5 Minutes)
Before anything else: physically clear the area.
- Get everyone out of the part of the house under the tree.
- Stay out of the yard near the fall zone — fractured limbs can drop with no warning for hours after the initial fall.
- Keep the height of the tree as your safety radius if possible.
- Don't let kids or pets near it.
Even after the tree is "down," gravity is still working on the broken pieces. We've seen secondary failures injure people who went back to inspect 15 minutes later.
Step 2 — Check for Power Lines (Critical)
If the tree is touching, leaning on, or near a power line — assume the line is energized and stay back. Power lines can be live even when the visible line is on the ground.
Call KUB (Knoxville Utilities Board) at 865-524-2911 immediately. They send a crew to de-energize the line before any tree work can happen safely.
If the line isn't touching the tree, you can probably skip this step — but if there's any doubt, call KUB first.
Step 3 — Document Everything (Next 30 Minutes)
This is the step most homeowners skip — and it costs them later when filing insurance.
- Take wide photos showing the tree's position relative to the house from multiple angles.
- Take close-ups of the trunk failure point (was it healthy wood? rot? lightning?).
- Photograph all damage to the structure — roof, walls, gutters, fence, vehicle.
- Save the storm forecast — screenshot the NWS warning if there was one. This proves the "covered event" for insurance.
- Don't move anything until photos are done.
Step 4 — Call Your Insurance Carrier
Most major insurance carriers have 24/7 claim lines. State Farm, Allstate, USAA, Farmers, Liberty Mutual, Erie — all have apps that let you start a claim with photo upload in under 10 minutes.
What to tell them:
- What fell (tree species and approximate size if you know)
- What was damaged (be specific — roof, siding, gutters, fence, vehicle)
- When it happened
- What weather was involved
- Whether anyone was injured
The insurer will assign a claim number and typically dispatch an adjuster within 1–3 days. They may also offer to recommend a contractor — you don't have to use their recommendation.
Step 5 — Call a Tree Service for Removal
You can call us at any point in this process — sometimes before insurance, sometimes after. Either way:
- We respond to active emergencies in the Knoxville metro within 1–3 hours during daylight, longer during widespread storm events.
- We bring crane access for trees on structures (which is most of the time).
- We document the removal with photos and provide insurance-ready itemized invoices.
- If the structure is exposed (roof opened up), we can help connect you with tarping crews or roofing emergency response.
Cost-wise: emergency tree removal in Knoxville typically runs $1,500–$5,000+ depending on the tree, the damage scenario, and crane requirement. Insurance covers most of it when a covered structure is involved — you typically pay only your deductible.
Step 6 — Get the Tree Off Before Roofing Repair
The order matters: tree removal first, structural repair second. Don't let a contractor convince you to start patching the roof while the tree is still on it. Sequence:
- Tree removal (us)
- Emergency tarp / weatherproofing if roof is open
- Insurance adjuster inspection
- Permanent structural repair (roofer, contractor)
- Cosmetic finishing (paint, gutter replacement, etc.)
Common Mistakes Knoxville Homeowners Make
- Cutting the tree themselves to "save money." Don't. Tree-on-house removal involves rigging, weight transfer, and structural awareness. People die doing this every year. Your insurance covers professional removal — use it.
- Letting a random "storm chaser" company do the work. Out-of-state crews who appear after major storms often have problems with insurance, quality, and follow-through. Use local Knoxville tree services with verifiable references.
- Signing an "assignment of benefits" without reading it. Some contractors will ask you to sign over your insurance claim payment to them. Read carefully — these can lock you into specific contractors and limit your options.
- Throwing away the tree before adjuster sees it. Insurance adjusters sometimes want to see the tree before it's hauled off. Keep a section of trunk until cleared.
What If the Tree Fell in My Yard, Not on the House?
Important distinction: insurance typically does not cover tree removal when the tree falls only in your yard. No structure damage = no claim. You'll pay out of pocket for the removal ($400–$2,000 typically).
Exception: some policies have "tree removal coverage" for downed trees blocking driveways or walkways — usually capped at $500–$1,000. Worth checking your policy.
Call Us Anytime
24/7 emergency response across Knox County. (865) 348-3063.
Related: 24/7 Emergency Tree Removal Service · Storm Prep Checklist