Home › Storm Damage & Emergency Work
After the Storm: Trees on Houses, Cars and Wires
Nor'easters, wet snow and summer thunderstorms bring down limbs all over Greater Lowell. Get everyone safe, keep clear of wires, and then line up the cleanup. Call (978) 698-4783 or send the form. A person reads every request and replies with what happens next.
- Free for homeowners
- Insurance checked first
- Not an emergency service
Ask About Tree Service in Your Area
Tell us what came down, what it hit and whether any wires are involved. A person reads it and replies with what happens next.
Please add your name, a 10-digit phone number and a valid email.
Your request didn't go through on our end. Please call (978) 698-4783 so it isn't lost.
Too many requests have come from this connection in a short time. Please call (978) 698-4783 and we'll take it from there.
We couldn't finish the spam check. Wait a moment and send it again, or call (978) 698-4783.
First things first
Wires decide the order of everything
Assume every downed wire is live. National Grid tells customers to treat all downed wires as energized after a storm, to keep at least 30 feet away, and to call 911 or 1-800-465-1212 (National Grid power line safety). That includes branches and trees touching a wire.
The utility makes the wires safe; the cleanup is yours. National Grid says homeowners are responsible for removing broken or damaged trees and limbs after a storm, including limbs its crews move off the lines, and that it does not remove damaged trees from homes or businesses (National Grid storm tree safety). It adds that tree work near power lines calls for crews trained to work within 10 feet of electrical hazards.
A tree from the road. If the tree that came down stood in the public way or on its edge, it is a public shade tree, and the tree warden handles it (M.G.L. c.87 §3). The law doesn't stop the removal of trees that endanger people traveling the road (c.87 §5).
Hiring after a storm
Moving fast without getting burned
After a big storm every tree company is busy, and it's tempting to hire whoever can come first. A few checks take minutes:
- Insurance. Ask for a current certificate of liability insurance that covers tree work. A tree lifted off a roof can do more damage on the way down.
- Workers' compensation. Massachusetts employers must carry it (M.G.L. c.152 §25A), and you can confirm a company's coverage on the state's lookup (check coverage).
- A written agreement. Even for an urgent job, write down what is being removed, from where, and what happens to the wood and brush. The state's advice for home improvement work is to pay no more than one-third of the total before the work starts (homeowner resources), a sensible standard for any contractor.
If you plan to make an insurance claim, photograph the damage before anything is moved.
Last verified November 2026. New England Tree Service is a referral service, not an emergency service. We don't send crews or remove trees.
FAQ
Storm damage questions
A tree is resting on the wires. What do I do?
Stay at least 30 feet away, keep everyone else away, and call 911 or National Grid at 1-800-465-1212. National Grid says to treat every downed wire as live, and to call that number if you are not sure whether a wire caught in a tree is electric. No tree crew should touch it until the utility has made it safe.
Will National Grid take the tree off my house?
No. National Grid says it does not remove damaged trees from homes or businesses, and that customers are responsible for removing broken trees and limbs after a storm, including limbs it moves off its equipment.
Can New England Tree Service send a crew tonight?
We are not an emergency service. We review it and reply by the next business day. If anyone is hurt, or the house may be unsafe, call 911.
A town tree fell on my property. Who cleans it up?
Call your town's tree warden or public works department; trees in the public way are public shade trees under state law, under the tree warden's care. Each town page lists who to call.
What does it cost me to use New England Tree Service?
Nothing. The request and the referral are free; the tree company prices the work.
Town guides
Local rules for storm cleanup by town
Each town page covers the town's tree warden and road trees, any scenic roads, the local wetland bylaw, and where brush and wood can go. Towns with a local guide so far: Greater Lowell, MA (Lowell, Chelmsford, Billerica, Tewksbury, Dracut and Westford). We add towns across New England as we can cover them properly.