Storm Damage
Tree Removal
Fallen trees, broken limbs, storm debris. We respond 24/7 across 18 towns in Middlesex County. On-site in under an hour for emergencies.
When a Storm
Takes Down a Tree
Massachusetts gets hit. Nor’easters, microbursts, ice storms, summer thunderstorms with straight-line winds — every season brings something that puts trees on houses, across driveways, and through power lines. When it happens, you need someone who answers the phone at 2 AM and shows up with the right equipment, not a voicemail box.
McDonald Tree Service has been the storm damage crew for Middlesex County since 1995. We have worked through every major storm event in the last three decades — the ice storm of 2008, Superstorm Sandy, the October 2011 snowstorm, and dozens of nor’easters in between. We know what to do, we have the equipment to do it, and we do not panic. That matters when there’s an 80-foot oak sitting on your roof at midnight.
After the emergency is handled, we do the full job: complete tree removal, stump grinding, debris cleanup, and insurance documentation. One call, one crew, from first response to final cleanup. No need to coordinate three different companies.
What We
Handle
Tree fallen on house or garage
Tree blocking driveway or road
Large branches on vehicles
Uprooted trees leaning on structures
Split trunks from wind or ice
Hanging branches threatening property
Trees on power lines (we coordinate with Eversource)
Post-storm hazard tree assessment
How We
Respond
01
Call (978) 375-2272
Keith answers the phone — day or night, weekday or holiday. Tell us what happened and we will mobilize a crew immediately for emergencies, or schedule a same-day visit for urgent situations.
02
Rapid On-Site Response
For emergencies in our 18-town service area, we are typically on-site within 1 hour. We assess the situation, secure the scene, and determine the right equipment for the job.
03
Make It Safe First
Priority one is removing the immediate threat — getting the tree off your house, clearing the road, or stabilizing a dangerous lean. Full cleanup follows once the emergency is handled.
04
Complete Removal & Cleanup
We remove the entire tree, chip and haul all debris, and grind the stump if needed. We document everything with photos for your insurance claim.
05
Insurance Documentation
We provide detailed invoices with before-and-after photos that make your insurance claim straightforward. We work with adjusters regularly and know what they need.
What It
Costs
$500 – $5,000+ — depending on tree size, what it fell on, and equipment required.
Small to medium tree on a driveway or yard: $500–$1,200. Medium tree on a fence, shed, or vehicle: $800–$1,500. Large tree on a house or requiring crane assistance: $1,500–$5,000+. We do not inflate prices during storms. The same crew doing the same work gets the same pricing year-round.
We do not charge extra for nights, weekends, or holidays. Emergency response is part of what we do, not a premium add-on. Read our detailed emergency tree service cost guide for complete pricing information.
Working With
Your Insurance
We work with insurance adjusters regularly and know exactly what they need. For every storm damage job, we provide: photos of the damage before work begins, documentation of the tree location relative to the damaged structure, itemized invoices breaking down removal, cleanup, and stump grinding costs, and completion photos showing the finished work.
What insurance typically covers: Tree removal when the tree damages a covered structure (house, garage, fence). Most Massachusetts policies cover $500–$1,000 per tree for removal. Vehicle damage is covered under comprehensive auto insurance.
What insurance usually does NOT cover: A tree that falls in your yard without hitting anything. This is the most common gap homeowners discover after a storm. If a healthy tree blows over in the yard and misses everything, you are likely paying out of pocket for removal.
Storm Response
Service Areas
We provide 24/7 storm damage response across all 18 towns in our service area. Click your town for local tree service details and response times.
FAQ
How much does storm damage tree removal cost?
Storm damage removal typically costs $500–$3,000+ depending on tree size, what it fell on, and the complexity of the situation. Emergency response does cost 25–50% more than scheduled work due to after-hours mobilization and hazardous conditions. We do not charge extra for nights, weekends, or holidays. Read our full emergency tree service cost guide for detailed pricing.
Does homeowner insurance cover storm damage tree removal?
Usually yes, when the tree damages a covered structure (house, garage, fence, vehicle). Most Massachusetts policies cover removal costs of $500–$1,000 per tree under dwelling or other-structures coverage. A tree that falls in the yard without hitting anything is usually NOT covered — that is the most common gap. We provide insurance-ready documentation for every job.
How fast can you respond to storm damage?
For true emergencies (tree on a house, blocking emergency access), we are typically on-site within 1 hour for our 18-town service area. Towns closest to our Billerica base — Chelmsford, Tewksbury, Wilmington — are often under 30 minutes. During major storm events with high call volume, we triage by severity and respond to life-safety situations first.
What should I do if a tree falls on my house?
First, make sure everyone is safe and evacuate if structural damage is severe. If power lines are involved, call Eversource at 1-800-592-2000 and stay away — assume all downed wires are live. Call your insurance company to start a claim. Then call us at (978) 375-2272. Do not try to remove the tree yourself — downed trees under tension can shift unpredictably.
Do you remove trees tangled in power lines?
We coordinate with Eversource for any tree involving power lines. Eversource must de-energize the lines before we can safely work on the tree. We handle this coordination — you make one call to us and we take care of the rest. Never touch a tree that is in contact with power lines.
Should I get my other trees assessed after a storm?
Yes. Storms that take down one tree often damage others that are still standing. Cracked branches, split trunks, shifted root systems, and hanging limbs are all post-storm hazards that may not be obvious from the ground. We offer free post-storm property assessments to identify trees that were weakened and may fail in the next storm.
Tree down
right now?
Call us. We answer 24/7, 365 days a year. On-site in under an hour for emergencies in our 18-town service area.
24/7 Emergency Response