A tree emergency is any situation where a tree or limb is actively threatening a person, a structure, a vehicle, or a road right now. A tree on your roof, a limb blocking your driveway, or a trunk that has split and is still standing all count. A tree that simply looks bad, has a few dead branches, or worries you every time the wind picks up usually does not, and it can wait for a normal appointment.
The hard part is telling the two apart when you are standing in your yard after a windstorm, phone in hand, not sure whether to call now or wait until morning. Below is a simple three-color triage you can use on the spot, plus what actually happens (and costs) once you call.
If a tree or limb is down right now and you are not sure what to do, call our emergency tree service at (208) 247-9766, available 24/7 including nights and weekends. For anything less urgent, the sections below will tell you what to expect and when a normal estimate is the better move.
Red: Call Right Now
These situations do not wait for daylight or a weekday. Call us or, if anyone is hurt or a power line is involved, call 911 first.
- A tree or large limb has fallen on your house, garage, or another structure
- A tree or limb is down across your driveway, a shared road, or a walkway people use to get in or out
- A large limb is hanging directly over a path, porch, or parking spot where someone could walk or park under it
- A trunk has split partway through but the tree is still standing, especially if it is leaning toward a structure (a crack in the trunk is not something to watch and wait on)
- A tree has fallen on a car with someone still needing to reach it safely
None of these need you to wait and see if they get worse. A cracked trunk that is still upright can go from stable to down with the next gust, and a limb hanging by a thread of bark over a walkway can drop with no warning at all.
If a power line is involved in any way, stop. Do not touch the tree, the limb, or anything it is resting on. Idaho Power treats every downed line as energized and asks you to stay at least 100 feet back. Call 911, then call Idaho Power. We will not send a crew to work near a line that is still live; that call has to go to the utility first. Our guide on what to do about a tree near power lines covers this in more detail.
Amber: Handle It Within a Few Days
These are real problems, but they can wait for a scheduled visit instead of an after-hours dispatch.
- A hanging limb up in the canopy that is not over anything you use daily (a back corner of the yard, an unused side gate)
- A smaller limb, say under 3-4 inches thick, broken and resting in the tree but not touching a structure or path
- A visible crack or split in a branch that has not fully separated and is not directly over anything
- A tree that lost a chunk of bark or a moderate limb in a storm but is otherwise standing straight
Give us a call or request a free on-site estimate within the next day or two. We will look at what is actually holding, what is not, and what order to take care of it in. The ISA’s tree hazard guidance makes a similar point: a damaged tree is not automatically a lost cause, and a professional look at what is actually structural versus cosmetic often changes the plan.
Green: Book a Normal Appointment
- Dead branches scattered in the yard after a windy night, with the tree itself intact
- A tree that has looked stressed or thin for a while, with no sudden change
- General trimming or shaping you have been putting off
- A tree you are just not sure about, no active damage, no lean that changes week to week
If your only concern is a tree that leans and has always leaned, read our guide on when a leaning tree is a problem versus normal growth before you call anyone in a panic. Most leaning trees are not emergencies.
Quick Reference Table
| Situation | Category | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Tree or limb on a house, garage, or car | Red | Call now |
| Limb or trunk blocking a driveway or road | Red | Call now |
| Split trunk, still standing | Red | Call now |
| Power line touching a tree or limb | Red | 911, then Idaho Power, stay 100 ft back |
| Hanging limb over a used walkway or parking spot | Red | Call now |
| Broken limb resting in the tree, not over anything | Amber | Call within a few days |
| Small crack, not fully separated | Amber | Call within a few days |
| Scattered dead branches, tree otherwise fine | Green | Normal appointment |
| Tree looks stressed, no sudden change | Green | Normal appointment |
Why After-Hours Tree Work Costs More
Getting a crew, a truck, and the right equipment out at 9 p.m. or on a Sunday costs more than sending the same crew out on a Tuesday afternoon. That is true of any trade that runs a genuine emergency line. We do not publish a flat after-hours surcharge because the real cost depends on the same things any tree job depends on: how big the tree is, what it fell on, how hard it is to reach, and whether it needs a crane or just chainsaws and rope.
For reference, limb removal off a structure typically runs $150-$850, and a full tree down on a structure typically runs $1,500-$4,000 or more, depending on size and access. Those are typical ranges, not quotes; the actual number depends on what is under the tree, how the wood is holding together, and how the crew has to get equipment to it. For a closer estimate based on your situation, use the tree removal cost calculator.
What Happens When You Call an Emergency Line
- You describe what happened: what fell, where, and whether it is touching a structure, a road, or a power line
- We ask about access: driveway width, gates, whether a truck can get close
- We tell you honestly whether this is a same-day dispatch or a next-available appointment
- If it is urgent, a crew comes out the same day to make the site safe first (get the tree or limb off whatever it is threatening), then plans the full cleanup
You do not need to have already called an insurance adjuster or gotten a second opinion before you call us. Safety comes first; paperwork can happen after. If you are trying to figure out whether a specific tree qualifies as a hazard rather than just an eyesore, our breakdown of how a tree gets classified as a hazard walks through what arborists actually look at.
Storms Make This Judgment Call Harder, Not Easier
After a windstorm, it is tempting to treat every downed branch as urgent because the yard looks like a disaster. Slow down and use the triage above. If you had significant wind damage across your property and are not sure where to start, our windstorm damage checklist walks through what to check first, room by room and tree by tree, before you decide what needs a call today versus a normal appointment.
One general safety note that holds regardless of season: treat any tree that is leaning on another tree, or any branch still under tension after a break, as unpredictable. Extension horticulture guidance on storm-damaged trees puts it plainly: anything that needs a chainsaw, climbing, or work near a leaning tree or structure is a job for a trained arborist, not a weekend project.
If your situation falls anywhere in the amber or green range and you would rather have a professional set of eyes on it than guess, request a free on-site estimate or call (208) 247-9766. No obligation either way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a leaning tree always an emergency?
No. Some trees have leaned the same amount for years and are perfectly stable, especially if the lean developed slowly as the tree grew toward light. A new lean that appeared suddenly, especially after a storm, or a lean paired with lifted soil or cracked roots at the base, is a different story and worth a same-day call.
What if I am not sure whether a limb is actually dangerous?
If it is hanging over something or someone uses regularly, treat it as urgent and call. If it is up in the canopy over an unused corner of the yard, it can typically wait a day or two for someone to look at it properly.
Do you charge extra for nighttime or weekend emergency calls?
We do not publish a flat surcharge. What you pay depends on the size of the tree, what it fell on, and how hard it is to access, the same factors that affect any tree job. We will tell you what to expect before a crew comes out.
What should I do if a tree fell on a power line?
Stay at least 100 feet away, keep everyone else back too, and do not touch the tree, the line, or anything resting on it. Call 911, then contact Idaho Power. Do not call a tree service to work near a line that is still live; that has to be handled by the utility first.
Can I just cut the hanging limb down myself to be safe?
Not if it is any real size or height. A limb under tension or caught partway in a fall can move unpredictably when cut, and a chainsaw up a ladder is one of the more dangerous DIY jobs a homeowner can attempt. For anything more than a small branch you can reach from the ground, call a professional.
How fast can you actually get someone out?
For a genuine emergency, same day. We are available 24/7, including nights and weekends, for situations that cannot wait. For amber or green situations, we will schedule a normal visit, usually within a few days.