What we do first
Storm damage calls come in two types: trees that are already down, and trees that are damaged but still standing and still a hazard. We handle both. The standing hazard is often the more urgent job.
- 01
Photograph everything before we touch it
We document the damage with time-stamped photos from multiple angles before any cutting starts. This is what an adjuster needs to process a claim, and most homeowners do not think to do this in the chaos after a storm.
- 02
Clear the immediate hazard
A tree on a roof, a limb over a power drop, or a trunk blocking the only road out gets dealt with first. Everything else waits until the hazard is gone.
- 03
Work through the rest systematically
Once the hazard is cleared we assess what is repairable versus what needs to come down. Damaged trees that are still standing often need to come out before the next storm finishes them.
- 04
Leave the site clean
Brush, limbs, and rounds leave with us or get cut to firewood length and stacked. You choose. No extra charge either way.
Documentation is the part most crews skip
Most tree crews show up, clear the tree, and leave. The adjuster arrives later to a clean yard with no record of what the damage looked like. That costs homeowners money because there is nothing to support the claim. We photograph before we cut, every time.
- BeforeTime-stamped photos of the fallen tree, the damage to structure or property, and the surrounding scene before any work starts.
- DuringPhotos of the rigging setup and access conditions if the job is complex — useful if the crew cost needs to be justified to an adjuster.
- AfterPhotos of the cleared site. Some adjusters want to see the stump to confirm what was there.
- Written scopeWe put the work in writing so you have a record of what was done and why, separate from the invoice.
We do not handle insurance claims directly. We provide the documentation. Your adjuster handles the claim. If you need to file, contact your homeowner’s insurance carrier first — most storm damage to structures caused by a fallen tree is covered under the dwelling portion of a standard policy.
What storm damage looks like around the lakes
Maine’s storm pattern is fairly predictable. Ice loading in late winter, wind events in spring, and the occasional nor’easter in any season are what put trees on roofs and roads around Sebago.
White pine failures
The pines around Sebago grow fast and tall, and ice loading snaps the tops or pulls shallow roots. A 70-foot pine that has dropped its top over a camp roof needs to come down in pieces. This is a rigging job, not a felling job, and the access down a camp road usually makes it harder than it looks from the road.
Most common call after ice eventsLimbs on power drops
A limb on the service drop to the house is not something to cut yourself. We secure the work area and coordinate with the utility if the line is live. The utility restores service; we remove what fell.
Call us before you touch anything near a wireTrees blocking the road
Camp roads and private drives with one way in and one way out get blocked every storm season. We clear access first so emergency vehicles can get through if needed, then deal with the rest of the tree.
Priority call — we move quickly on road blockagesStanding damaged trees
A tree that survived the storm but lost a major limb, developed a lean, or has a cracked crotch is the most dangerous kind of storm damage because it looks like it is fine. The next heavy snow or wind event finishes the job. We assess and remove before that happens.
Often more urgent than the tree already on the groundWhere we respond
The Sebago Lakes region and western Cumberland County. For storm damage on larger jobs, we travel further — call and ask.
What people ask after a storm
Does homeowner’s insurance cover storm damage tree removal?
It depends on what the tree hit. If a tree fell on a covered structure — your house, garage, or fence — the damage to the structure and typically the cost to remove the tree from the structure is covered under the dwelling portion of a standard homeowner’s policy.
If a tree fell in the yard and missed everything, most policies do not cover the removal cost. The tree has to have hit something covered for the removal to be a claim. Check your policy or call your agent — the language varies by carrier.
What documentation do I need for an insurance claim?
At minimum: photos of the damage before anything is moved or cut, a written estimate or invoice from the tree crew, and a record of when the storm occurred. If there is structural damage, your adjuster will want to see the damage before it is repaired.
We photograph everything before we start and provide a written scope of work. That is usually what adjusters ask for from the tree side of a claim.
How quickly can you respond after a storm?
For genuine hazards — a tree on a roof, a limb on a power line, a blocked road — we prioritize and move as fast as conditions allow. For non-emergency cleanup after a major storm event, we work through calls in order and will give you an honest timeline when you reach us.
The tree fell from my neighbor’s yard. Who is responsible?
Maine generally follows the rule that each property owner is responsible for damage on their own property, regardless of where the tree originated. If your neighbor’s tree fell on your house, your homeowner’s insurance typically handles your claim. The neighbor’s liability usually only applies if the tree was known to be dead or hazardous beforehand. Talk to your insurance carrier — they handle this more often than you might think.
Can you reach my camp down a dirt road?
Usually yes. Tight camp roads are normal in this area and our equipment is sized for it. If the access is genuinely impassable, we will tell you at the estimate rather than after we have started.
Send us a photo — we will respond the same day
A picture of the tree and the damage is usually enough to give you a ballpark before anyone comes out. Call or text.