Storm tree service is urgent work to lift a fallen tree or limb off a house, porch, car or driveway and make what remains safe. Morristown has had trees fall on cars on South Street and Dumont Place in a 2018 storm, which is the kind of call this covers. These jobs often cost $1,000 to $6,000 or more because of rigging, cranes and storm demand.
Storms hit Morristown hard because so many big trees stand over houses, parked cars and busy sidewalks. A 2018 thunderstorm brought trees down on a pickup on South Street and nearly on a driver on Dumont Place, and limbs fell along Mount Kemble Avenue. Nor'easters, wet spring snow and ice storms cause the same kind of trouble. When something comes down, keep people and pets back, assume any wire touching the tree is live, and call the utility before anyone goes near it. Do not try to drive around a tree blocking a narrow street.
Once it is safe, a crew can take the weight off the roof or car, clear the driveway or walkway, and make the rest of the tree safe. On narrow Morristown streets, lifting a trunk off a house without causing more damage often means careful rigging from the top or a crane set up in the road. Some contractors can also put a temporary tarp over a damaged roof until a roofer can get there. Ask what the crew will remove now and what can wait for a scheduled visit.
After a widespread storm, crews across Morris County fill up quickly, and emergency pricing is usually higher than scheduled work. Photograph the damage before anything is moved, since your insurance company will likely ask for it, and get an itemized invoice. If a tree from the town strip or a neighbor's yard is involved, note that too. Be careful with anyone knocking on doors after a storm who wants full payment up front and cannot show a New Jersey tree care license or proof of insurance. A local crew will still be around to answer questions next week.
Signs you need emergency storm tree service
- A tree or heavy limb resting on the roof, porch or garage
- A trunk or limb on a parked car or across a shared driveway
- A split leader or hanging branch over the sidewalk or street
- A tree tipped with its root plate lifted, especially near soft ground by the Whippany River
- Wires tangled in a fallen tree on your property
Questions about emergency storm tree service
A tree from the curb strip fell on my car. Who do I call?
If wires are involved, call the utility first. Then contact the town about the tree and your insurer about the car. Take photos before anything is moved.
Should I cut the limb off my roof myself?
It is not a good idea. A limb resting on a roof is often under tension and can shift when cut. Leave it to a crew with rigging, especially on an older house with a fragile roof.
Does homeowners insurance cover storm tree removal?
Policies vary. Many cover removal when a tree damages a covered structure, while coverage for a tree that falls without hitting anything is often limited. Call your insurer and keep invoices.
Worth knowing in Morristown
In 2026 Morristown won a $758,735 NJDEP Natural Climate Solutions grant to plant about 180 street trees in the Second Ward and about 300 trees in Burnham Park.
morristowngreen.comA severe thunderstorm on July 14, 2016 brought down many trees and limbs at Fort Nonsense, closing the site until repairs were done.
nps.govThe town has an active Shade Tree Commission that runs an annual Arbor Day planting and a multi-year forest restoration at Jacob Ford Park.
morristown-nj.org