Emergency Tree Service in Downeast Maine: What to Do in the First 24 Hours After a Storm

Nor’easters, heavy wet snow, and coastal winds can turn a normal night into a mess of broken limbs and downed trees. If you wake up to a tree on your roof or blocking your driveway, it’s easy to panic—but a calm, step-by-step approach makes all the difference.

This guide will walk you through what to do in the first 24 hours and when to call for emergency tree service in Downeast Maine.

Step 1: Check for Immediate Danger

Before anything else, make sure everyone is safe. Look for:

• Downed or sagging power lines near the tree or on the ground
• Trees or limbs resting on your house, camp, or outbuildings
• Blocked driveways or camp roads that prevent you from getting in or out

If you see any signs of power line involvement, stay away and contact your electric utility or emergency services. Do not try to move branches or lines yourself.

Step 2: Keep Your Distance from Damaged Trees

Storm-damaged trees can be unstable and unpredictable. They may be:

• Hung up on other trees
• Resting on roofs or sheds
• Under tension from bent trunks or limbs

Even if it looks safe, avoid walking under broken branches or climbing onto debris piles. Let a trained professional evaluate the situation.

Step 3: Take Photos (If It’s Safe)

If you can safely do so from a distance, take photos or short videos of:

• The tree or branch on your house, camp, or structure
• Blockages in your driveway or camp road
• Any visible damage to roofs, siding, fences, or outbuildings

These photos can help with insurance claims and also help your tree service understand what they’re walking into before they arrive.

Step 4: Call a Local Emergency Tree Service

Once everyone is safe and you’ve checked for power line hazards, it’s time to call a local tree service that offers storm cleanup and emergency tree work.

In Downeast Maine, Born Free Tree Care, LLC provides emergency tree service in:

• Ellsworth, Bar Harbor, and Mount Desert Island (MDI)
• Blue Hill and surrounding Hancock County towns
• Machias and nearby communities in Washington County

When you call or send a message, share:

• Your town and whether roads are passable
• What happened (tree on house, blocked driveway, large broken branches)
• Whether you think power lines might be involved
• If anyone is unable to get in or out of the property

Step 5: What to Expect When Emergency Tree Service Arrives

A professional, ISA Certified Arborist and licensed Maine utility arborist will start with safety:

• Confirming whether power lines are involved
• Checking whether structures are stable enough to work around
• Identifying tensioned or hung-up limbs that could move suddenly

From there, the priority is to:

• Make the area safe—especially around roofs, walkways, and driveways
• Clear enough access so you can get in and out
• Plan full cleanup and follow-up work once immediate danger is handled

Step 6: Cleanup Options After the Emergency

After the immediate danger is taken care of, you can decide how much cleanup you want. Options include:

• Cutting and stacking logs
• Chipping and removing brush
• Hauling away wood or leaving it cut to firewood length
• Scheduling stump grinding later, once things have settled down

For many homeowners and camp owners in Downeast Maine, it’s easiest to handle the emergency first and then schedule additional work once the weather and schedules calm down.

When a Storm Tree Problem Isn’t “Emergency” Anymore

Not every storm-damaged tree is an emergency, but many still need attention. After the first 24 hours, it’s a good idea to:

• Have an arborist inspect partially damaged trees
• Address hanging branches over driveways and parking areas
• Plan hazard tree removal for compromised trees before the next storm

Need Emergency Tree Service in Downeast Maine?

If a storm has left you with a tree on your house, blocking your driveway, or leaning in a worrying way, don’t try to handle it alone.

Born Free Tree Care, LLC provides storm cleanup and emergency tree service throughout Hancock and Washington County, including Ellsworth, Bar Harbor, MDI, Blue Hill, and Machias.

Next step: Visit the Contact page or call to share your location, what happened, and whether any power lines are involved. We’ll help you figure out the safest way forward.