Long Island gets hit from two directions: tropical storms in late summer and fall, and nor’easters from October through April. Our sandy soil makes it worse. When the ground is soaked, trees here tend to uproot whole instead of just dropping limbs. Tropical Storm Isaias in August 2020 cut power to more than 400,000 PSEG Long Island customers, mostly because of trees.
When it happens to you, the question after “is everyone OK?” is always the same: who’s paying for this? Here’s how it usually breaks down.
First hour: what to do before you think about money
- Get people out of any room the tree hit. Don’t go back in until someone has checked the structure.
- Assume every wire is live. Stay at least 30 feet away and keep kids and pets back. Call PSEG Long Island’s 24/7 downed-wire line at 1-800-490-0075, or 911 if there’s fire or someone is in danger.
- Photograph everything before anything moves: the tree, the root plate, the damage, the roof from the ground, the inside of the house. Wide shots and close-ups, with timestamps.
- Call your insurance company and get a claim number.
- Prevent further damage if you can do it safely, such as a tarp or moving belongings. Policies expect “reasonable steps,” and emergency tarping is usually covered.
- Then call a licensed tree contractor. Ask for their Nassau or Suffolk County Home Improvement license number and proof of insurance, even in an emergency.
Who pays: the quick table
| What happened | Who usually pays for the tree work |
|---|---|
| Tree on the street power lines | PSEG makes the lines safe. Debris left on your property is typically yours to clean up. |
| Tree on the wire from the pole to your house (the “service drop”) | You, for the tree. PSEG handles its equipment, and damage to your meter or mast may need your electrician. |
| Tree fell on your house, garage, shed or fence | Your homeowners insurance, after the deductible, usually with a tree-removal cap |
| Tree fell in the yard and hit nothing | You, in most cases |
| Tree blocking your driveway (hit nothing) | Some policies pay a small amount. Check your policy language. |
| Neighbor’s healthy tree fell on your house | Your own insurance |
| Neighbor’s tree that was obviously dead fell on your house | Your insurance first, and it may pursue the neighbor for negligence |
| Town street tree fell | Call your town highway department |
What PSEG Long Island will and won’t do
PSEG’s job is the electric system. If crews have to cut a tree to restore power, they cut what’s needed to get the lines back up and leave the wood. PSEG says removing the tree and debris afterward is the property owner’s responsibility.
Two practical notes:
- Don’t let anyone cut a tree that’s still on wires before PSEG says it’s safe, including the service line to your house. Wet wood and ground can conduct electricity.
- If your mast or meter pan was ripped off the house, PSEG may do a temporary repair, but permanent repair of customer-owned equipment is on you, and that usually means a licensed electrician before PSEG reconnects.
What homeowners insurance usually covers
Standard policies treat trees as part of a covered-structure claim:
- Tree hits the house, garage, fence or shed: the damage to the structure is covered, and removing the tree from the structure usually is too, subject to your deductible.
- Removal caps are common. Many policies pay about $500–$1,000 per tree for removal, and some cap tree payouts for a single storm around $2,500–$5,000 no matter how many trees came down.
- Tree falls and hits nothing: usually not covered, even if the storm was a covered event.
- Stump grinding and landscaping replacement are rarely covered.
Read your declarations page and the “trees, shrubs and other plants” section, or ask your agent directly: “What’s my limit for debris and tree removal per tree and per occurrence?”
When it’s your neighbor’s tree
New York generally follows the “act of God” rule. If a healthy tree falls in a storm, each owner’s own insurance covers their own damage, regardless of whose tree it was. The picture changes if the tree was visibly dead, dying or dangerous and the owner knew it. Then the owner may be liable for negligence, and your insurer may go after them (subrogation).
That’s one more reason to document hazardous trees in writing before a storm, whether they’re yours or a neighbor’s. A dated email with photos (“the big oak on our property line has a hollow trunk”) can matter later. For anything beyond a simple claim, talk to your insurer or an attorney. This isn’t legal advice.
What emergency removal costs
Storm removals on Long Island usually run $500–$3,000 per tree. Cranes add $500–$1,500 or more, and after-hours work often carries a premium. After a big storm, demand spikes and so do prices. Remember:
- The emergency visit can be just “get it off the house and make it safe.” Stump grinding and full cleanup can be scheduled later at regular rates.
- Get an itemized invoice that separates removal from the structure, debris hauling, tarping and stump work. Insurers pay line by line.
Avoid the storm chasers
After every big storm, out-of-area crews go door to door. Warning signs:
- Asking for large cash deposits up front
- No Nassau or Suffolk County Home Improvement license number
- No certificate of insurance, or one they can’t have the insurer send you directly
- Pressure to sign an “assignment of benefits” giving them control of your claim
- Offering to cut a tree still touching wires
Before the next storm
- Walk your yard in late summer: dead limbs, new leans, cracks, mushrooms at the base, heaving soil.
- Have big trees near the house checked and thinned. Crown thinning lets wind pass through.
- Photograph your trees and yard now. It helps prove pre-storm condition.
- Know where your shutoffs are, and save PSEG’s number in your phone.
Need it done? See emergency & storm tree removal on Long Island. Local rules: Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Islip, Babylon.
