Storm & Emergency Tree Removal: Anniston, AL
If a tree or limb is touching a power line, stay away and call your electric utility, or 911 if anyone is in danger. Alabama Extension advises treating every downed line as live and staying at least 33 feet from a tree that may be energized.[1]
Once everyone is safe and lines are clear, send a quote request to reach a local tree company about getting the tree off the house, car or driveway.
Safety rules from Alabama sources
- Alabama Power says no one should climb trees near power lines. Under OSHA and ANSI Z133 standards, an unqualified person should not work within 10 feet of overhead lines below 50,000 volts.[2]
- Alabama Extension warns that a line can be energized even when your power is out, for example by a neighbor's generator feeding back into the line.[1]
- Look at a damaged tree from several angles before you get close. Don't walk under hanging, broken limbs.
What to do while you wait
- Get people and pets out of rooms under the tree.
- Take photos of the tree and damage from several angles, before anything is moved, for your insurance company.
- Call your homeowner's insurer to ask what your policy covers. Coverage varies by policy, so ask them directly. See what the Alabama Department of Insurance says policies typically cover.
- Send the quote form, and say up front that it's storm damage and what the tree is resting on.
Who to call after a storm
- Downed or sagging power line: Alabama Power, 1-800-888-2726, or your local police or fire department. Assume the line is live, keep children and pets away, avoid standing water near it, and never remove tree limbs from it yourself.[3]
- Tree down on City right-of-way (the strip along the street): the City of Anniston's Tree Division, 256-231-7746. The City says residents and tree services may not cut those trees.[4]
- Tree on the house, car or blocking the driveway: request emergency removal. The Alabama Department of Insurance says policies typically pay for tree removal when the tree damaged covered property or blocks driveway access, usually up to a limit.[5] Details are on our tree damage & insurance page.
- Tree down across a fence: photograph the tree and the fence together before anything is moved. Once the tree is off, our sister fence guide covers who usually pays when a tree falls on a fence.
Cost
Same-day emergency work generally costs more than a scheduled removal. National guides list typical removals at $400 to $1,200 and complex jobs up to about $3,000.[6] Ask for the price before work starts unless it's a true emergency.
Sources
- Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Post-storm landscape safety (accessed Oct 16, 2026)
- Alabama Power, Residential Vegetation Management (accessed Oct 17, 2026)
- Alabama Power, Storm Prep and Safety (accessed Oct 17, 2026)
- City of Anniston, Public Works FAQ (accessed Oct 16, 2026)
- Alabama Department of Insurance, Storm Damage Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) (accessed Oct 16, 2026)
- HomeGuide, Tree removal cost (national) (accessed Oct 16, 2026)