After thunderstorms, tornadoes and ice
Emergency Storm Tree Service in Shreveport, LA
Fallen and hanging trees taken off houses and driveways carefully, with the dangerous ones first.
- Every estimate done in person around Shreveport and nearby towns
- The written quote lists what is and is not included
- Debris and stump handling decided in advance
When the Storm Puts a Tree on the House
Emergency storm tree service in Shreveport is mostly a spring and summer job, with a few winter ice events mixed in. Severe thunderstorms here bring damaging straight-line winds, hail and sometimes tornadoes, and tropical systems reach this far north too. When Hurricane Laura passed east of the city on August 27, 2020, already weakened to a tropical storm, a tree fell on a Shreveport house and injured a person inside, another landed on a vehicle, and a large tree was blown down on the Centenary College campus. In April 2019, an EF3 tornado in Ruston killed two people when a large tree fell on their house. A tree on a structure is not a do-it-yourself job.
What to do first
Get everyone out of rooms where a tree has come through the roof. Stay well away from any downed or sagging wire, and assume it is live; call SWEPCO or your utility to report it, and 911 if anyone is hurt or a line is sparking. Take photos of the tree and the damage for your insurance company before anything is moved. Then call us at (318) 309-7506 with your address and a description: where the tree is resting, whether wires are involved, and whether the house is open to the weather.
How a tree comes off a house
A tree resting on a roof is loaded in ways that are hard to see. Cutting the wrong piece first can drop the weight further into the house or make the trunk roll. We look at where the tree is bearing, then take it off in sections from the top, often with ropes rigged to a sound tree or with a crane lifting pieces clear. The goal is to get the weight off without adding damage. Once it is off, the roofer or a tarp crew can secure the opening.
Which trees fail
After storms here, the trees we see on the ground are often water oaks, pecans, Bradford pears and tall pines, many with old decay at the base or roots weakened by saturated soil. LSU AgCenter lists water oak, pecan and Bradford pear among Louisiana's least wind-resistant trees, and notes that shallow roots in waterlogged soil raise the risk of whole trees tipping over. Pines also snap mid-trunk in strong gusts. Ice and sleet storms, which are less common here but do happen, overload pines and broad hardwood crowns alike.
After the urgent part
Once the house, cars and driveway are clear, the rest of the cleanup can be scheduled: finishing the removal, grinding stumps, and checking the trees that stayed up. Storm-damaged pines are worth watching, because southern pine beetles favor pines stressed by wind and tornadoes. LSU AgCenter also notes that picking up debris that has already fallen does not require a license in Louisiana, but cutting standing or hanging trees does, so be cautious with anyone who knocks on doors after a storm.
What This Service Includes
Storm work runs from the dangerous part to the cleanup.
Trees on roofs and structures
Sections cut and lifted off with ropes or a crane so the house takes no further damage.
Hanging and split limbs
Broken limbs caught in the crown, often called hangers, brought down before they fall on their own.
Blocked driveways and access
Trees across drives, carports and gates cut and moved so you can get in and out.
Uprooted and leaning trees
Trees tipped by wind and wet soil assessed and removed, with the root plate dealt with.
Storm-damage checks
A look at the trees still standing for cracks, lifted roots and broken tops.
Typical Emergency Tree Costs
| Job | Published range |
|---|---|
| Tree on a house (GoTreeQuotes, national) | $1,500 to $6,350 |
| Tree on a fence (GoTreeQuotes average) | about $1,875 |
| Fallen tree in the yard (GoTreeQuotes average) | about $1,320 |
| Emergency removal (Lawn Love, national) | $450 to $3,000 |
| Same or next-day work (HomeGuide) | 2 to 3 times standard rates |
| Crane, for very tall trees (HomeAdvisor) | $250 to $600 per day |
National ranges from GoTreeQuotes, Lawn Love, HomeGuide and HomeAdvisor, not local prices. Homeowners insurance often covers removing a tree that hits a covered structure; check your policy. Your written estimate is the price.
Step by Step
1. Call with the details
Tell us where the tree is, what it hit and whether any wires are involved.
2. Rig and protect
Wires are left to the utility; we assess how the tree is loaded and secure what we can.
3. Remove the weight
The tree comes off in sections from the top, rigged or craned clear of the house.
4. Finish and clean up
Remaining wood, brush and stump handled as agreed in writing.
Emergency Storm Tree Service Questions
Does homeowners insurance pay for tree removal after a storm?
Often, when a tree falls on a covered structure such as the house, garage or fence, policies typically cover removing it, subject to limits and your deductible. A tree that falls without hitting anything is often not covered. Photograph everything before work starts and check with your insurer.
Can I call any time to report a fallen tree?
Yes, you can call (318) 309-7506 any time to leave the details. We work through storm calls in order of danger, starting with trees on occupied homes and blocked exits.
The tree fell on a power line. What should I do?
Stay away from it and keep others back. Call SWEPCO or your utility to report it, and 911 if there is fire or injury. We can remove the tree after the utility has made the line safe.
My neighbor's tree fell on my house. Who pays?
In many cases your own homeowners policy handles damage to your house regardless of whose tree it was, though if the tree was obviously dead or neglected your insurer may pursue the neighbor. Talk to your insurance company before arguing it out over the fence.
Is it worth saving a storm-damaged tree?
Sometimes. A tree that lost a few limbs but has a sound trunk and roots can often be pruned and kept. One that has split down the trunk, lost most of its crown or lifted its root plate usually needs to come down.
Will the city haul off storm debris in Shreveport?
For everyday cleanup, Shreveport collects limbs and brush from residents on request through 318-673-6300 or the city's Report a Concern form, with pieces no more than 8 inches thick or 6 feet long and one pile no larger than 15 by 6 by 6 feet. The city does not pick up after contractors, and it does not take stumps or roots. After big storms it sometimes runs a special collection: after the June 16, 2023 windstorm it estimated about 100,000 cubic yards of wood waste and hired a debris contractor to make two passes. If we do the cutting, the written quote says whether we haul the wood or leave it.
Emergency Storm Tree Service Service Areas
- Tree Service in Shreveport, LA
- Tree Service in Bossier City, LA
- Tree Service in Benton, LA
- Tree Service in Haughton, LA
- Tree Service in Red Chute, LA
- Tree Service in Eastwood, LA
- Tree Service in Plain Dealing, LA
- Tree Service in Blanchard, LA
- Tree Service in Greenwood, LA
- Tree Service in Keithville, LA
- Tree Service in Mooringsport, LA
- Tree Service in Oil City, LA
- Tree Service in Vivian, LA
- Tree Service in Belcher, LA
- Tree Service in Gilliam, LA
- Tree Service in Hosston, LA
- Tree Service in Stonewall, LA
- Tree Service in Waskom, TX
- Tree Service in Doyline, LA
- Tree Service in Minden, LA
- Tree Service in Dixie Inn, LA
Get an Emergency Storm Tree Service Estimate
Call any time with storm damage details.