What to do in the first hour
Stay away from any tree or limb that is touching or near a power line, and call your electric utility, not a tree company, for anything involving the line itself. If a tree is resting on your roof or wall but has not fully fallen, stay out of that room and keep everyone away from underneath it, since a partially fallen tree can shift or finish falling without warning.
Take photos of the damage before anything is moved or cut, from a safe distance. Photos matter for the insurance step below, and they are easy to forget once you are focused on getting the tree off your house.
Why ice is the bigger risk here
The December 2000 ice storm is still the benchmark storm event for this part of the state. It knocked out power to about 5,000 Choctaw Electric customers, left some southeast Oklahoma locations without service for more than a week, and caused over a million dollars in tree damage across seven state parks in the region (National Weather Service Tulsa storm data, December 2000). Statewide property damage from that one storm was estimated near $170 million.
Ice adds weight the tree's branches were never built to hold, which is why shallow-rooted trees like post oak, sweetgum and pine are the ones that usually come down first.
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Take the free checkInsurance and emergency cost
Homeowners insurance generally covers tree removal when the tree damaged a covered structure, like your roof, garage or fence, or when it is blocking your only driveway access, often up to a limit around $500 to $1,000 for the removal itself, separate from structure repair (insurance.com, Allstate, consensus 2026 guidance). It typically will not cover removing a tree that fell without causing damage, and it can deny a claim if you already knew the tree was a hazard and did nothing about it.
Emergency, after-storm tree removal usually costs 2 to 3 times a normal removal because of the urgency and after-hours work (HomeAdvisor 2026). Getting a tree off your house fast is still almost always cheaper than letting water damage spread while you wait for a lower price.
After the crew leaves
Once the downed tree is cleared, walk the area again in daylight and check for smaller hazards the first look might have missed, like a cracked branch still hanging in a neighboring tree, exposed roots near a walkway, or new gaps in a fence line that pets or livestock could get through. Storm cleanup often happens fast in the moment, so a second check a day or two later is worth the few minutes it takes.
Questions
A tree fell on my house during a storm. What do I do first?
Keep everyone out of the room under the tree, take photos from a safe distance, and call your insurance company and a local tree pro. If the tree is touching a power line, call the utility first.
Will my insurance pay for storm tree removal?
Usually only if the tree damaged a covered structure or is blocking your driveway, often up to a limit around $500 to $1,000. A tree that fell without causing damage usually is not covered.
Why does emergency tree removal cost more?
It is urgent, often after hours, and requires more careful cutting to avoid making damage worse. HomeAdvisor's 2026 figures put emergency removal at roughly 2 to 3 times a normal job.
How fast can a tree be removed after a storm hits Hugo?
That depends on how many other homes were hit and how far the crew has to travel. Ask when you request a match, since storm demand across the whole area affects how quickly a crew can get to you.