24/7 Emergency Tree Removal & Tree Service in St. Louis, MO
Thompson Tree Care provides 24/7 emergency tree removal and tree service across St. Louis, MO, including nights, weekends and holidays. If a tree is on your house, car, driveway or power line right now, call (314) 712-3035. We assess the hazard first, and the estimate is free.
- Licensed & Insured
- 24/7 Emergency
- Free Estimates
- Licensed & Insured
- Free Estimates
- 24/7 Emergency Service
- Senior & Veteran Discounts
- Serving St. Louis Since 2014
What Counts as a Tree Emergency?
A tree emergency is any tree or limb that is on, or about to fall on, something that matters: your house, a car, your driveway or street, a power line, or people. If the tree is resting on a structure, blocking the only way in or out, touching a wire, or split and hanging, call Thompson Tree Care at (314) 712-3035 at any hour. The situations below are the ones we treat as emergencies:
- Tree on your house, garage or roof: Weight on a roof or wall can cause water intrusion, structural damage and electrical hazards. Trees on structures are the first jobs our crews handle.
- Tree on a car or fence: A trunk pinning a vehicle or flattening a fence line can shift when it is disturbed. Leave it for a crew with rigging.
- Tree blocking a driveway or road: If a fallen tree traps you at home or creates a traffic hazard, we send a crew to cut it back and clear the way.
- Tree or limb on power lines: Do not go near it. Call 911 or the utility first, then us once the power is confirmed off. The steps are below.
- Split tree or hanging limb: A trunk that has split at a fork, or a broken limb hanging in the crown, can drop without warning. Crews call these “widow-makers” for a reason.
- Tree leaning after a storm: A tree that was straight yesterday and leans today, especially with soil heaved up at the base, may have a failing root system.
What is not an emergency?
A tree that fell in an open part of the yard and touched nothing, a dead tree that is standing and stable, or a limb that simply needs trimming can usually be scheduled. A tree that is cracked or leaning but has not fallen is a dangerous tree removal job, and we answer that line 24/7 too when it cannot wait.
How Does Our 24/7 Emergency Response Work?
When you call Thompson Tree Care for an emergency in St. Louis, MO, here is what happens. First, we answer the phone — not a voicemail, not an answering service. Owner Jodie Thompson or a senior crew member takes your call, assesses the urgency, and dispatches the closest available crew to your location. Most emergency calls receive a response within 1 to 3 hours.
Upon arrival, our crew performs a rapid safety assessment. We identify downed power lines, structural damage, and any immediate threats. If utility lines are involved, we coordinate with Ameren or the appropriate utility provider. Once the area is secured, we begin systematic removal of the fallen or damaged tree using chainsaws, rigging equipment, and crane assistance when needed.
We understand that emergencies are stressful and often happen at the worst possible time. That is why we provide upfront pricing even in emergency situations — no surprise bills. If insurance is involved, we provide detailed documentation including photographs and itemized invoices to support your claim.
What Should I Do Right Now?
Get away from the tree, call 911 if anyone is hurt or a line is down, call Ameren Missouri if wires are involved, then call Thompson Tree Care at (314) 712-3035. Photograph the damage from a safe distance before anything is moved. Work through these steps in order:
- Get out from under it. Move people and pets away from the tree and out of any room directly beneath the damage. A cracked tree can keep settling, and limbs under tension can spring when they shift.
- Call 911 if someone is hurt, a wire is sparking or down across a road, or there is smoke or fire. Emergency responders come first. Tell the dispatcher a tree is involved and whether it is touching lines.
- Call the utility if the tree is on or near a wire. In most of the St. Louis area that is Ameren Missouri; on the Illinois side it is Ameren Illinois. Treat every line as live, even one that looks dead, and stay at least 35 feet back (the common utility guideline).
- Call Thompson Tree Care at (314) 712-3035. We answer 24/7. Tell us what the tree is on, whether wires are involved and whether anyone is hurt. We cut only after a line is confirmed de-energized.
- Photograph the damage from a safe distance. Shoot the whole tree and what it hit, close-ups of each damaged spot, and the broken end or root plate. Take photos before anything is moved, because adjusters want them.
- Call your insurance company. Report the claim and write down the claim number. Keep our estimate and invoice with your photos.
Do not climb onto a damaged roof, do not cut a tree that is on a structure or tangled in wires, and do not stand under a hanging limb to look at it. If the tree has gone through the roof, leave the opening to the crew unless you can cover it safely from inside. For what comes after the first hours, such as cleanup of several trees and the insurance paperwork, see storm damage tree removal.
What Does Emergency Tree Removal Cost?
Emergency tree removal costs more than a scheduled removal because of the urgency, after-hours labor and added hazard. Our St. Louis tree removal cost guide puts standard residential removals at $300 to $2,500 and notes that emergency service often carries a premium of roughly 1.5x to 2x standard rates. Your exact price depends on the tree, access and hazard, and the estimate from Thompson Tree Care is free and given before work starts.
The guide’s standard (non-emergency) ranges by tree size:
- Small trees under 30 feet: $300 to $700
- Medium trees, 30 to 60 feet: $700 to $1,500
- Large trees over 60 feet: $1,500 to $2,500 or more
What makes an emergency job cost more or less?
- What the tree is resting on. A trunk on a roof or against a house needs rigging to lower it in sections, which takes more time than a tree lying in the open.
- Size. A large oak or sycamore means heavier pieces and possibly a crane.
- Access. A narrow gate, a fenced backyard or a tight driveway limits equipment and adds labor.
- Time of day. Nights, weekends and holidays are after-hours work and can raise the price.
If insurance applies, the removal is often bundled into the overall damage claim; read does insurance cover tree removal in Missouri before you call your agent. We also offer senior and veteran discounts.
Which Areas Do You Reach for Emergencies?
Thompson Tree Care takes emergency calls across a 30-mile radius of our base in south St. Louis County, from St. Louis City to O’Fallon in St. Charles County and Belleville across the river in Illinois. Response time depends on your location and how many calls are open, so we say 1 to 3 hours is typical and longer after major storms. Our town pages cover each area in detail:
- Emergency tree work on St. Louis City lots — the City of St. Louis, neighborhood by neighborhood.
- Emergency tree service in Kirkwood, MO — central St. Louis County.
- Emergency tree service in Chesterfield, MO — west St. Louis County.
- Emergency tree service in Florissant, MO — north St. Louis County.
- Emergency tree service in O’Fallon, MO — St. Charles County.
- Emergency tree service in Belleville, IL — the Illinois side, in St. Clair County.
Not on the list but inside the radius? Call (314) 712-3035 and we will confirm.
Fallen Tree Removal: Who Handles It and Who Pays?
Thompson Tree Care removes fallen trees in St. Louis: we cut the trunk into sections, lift it off the house, car, fence or driveway, chip the limbs and haul the debris. Who pays depends on where the tree came from and what it hit. What follows is general information, not legal advice, and your policy and your city’s rules control.
How does fallen tree removal work?
A crew sizes up the tree, checks for wires and decides how to take it apart. Trunks resting on a structure are usually lowered in sections with rigging so the weight never drops on the roof. Once the structure is clear, the pieces are cut, the brush is chipped and the wood is hauled unless you want to keep firewood. If the stump is in the way, we can follow up with stump grinding. For a standard job when nothing is on fire or on a wire, see tree removal.
If my neighbor’s tree falls on my property, who is responsible?
In many cases a tree knocked down by a storm is treated as an act of nature, and the person whose property it landed on files with their own homeowner’s insurance, whoever owned the tree. If the tree was visibly dead or diseased and the owner had been warned, the owner may be responsible instead. Rules and policies differ, so ask your insurer, and if there is a dispute, ask an attorney. Our article on insurance coverage for tree removal in Missouri explains what policies usually cover.
Why Do Tree Emergencies Spike in St. Louis?
St. Louis sits in the path of severe thunderstorms, derechos and the occasional tornado. From spring through early fall, straight-line winds, hail and heavy rain saturate the ground and weaken root systems, and winter ice adds its own load. The derecho of July 2006 is one local reminder of how quickly trees become hazards.
Our tree trimming service and tree cabling and bracing reduce that risk before a storm. When the storm has already passed and you need cleanup, a damage assessment and paperwork for your insurer, that is our storm damage tree removal service. If the tree has not fallen yet but is cracked, leaning harder than it used to, or hanging a broken limb over the house, call for dangerous tree removal in St. Louis.
Last Updated: October 2026
Frequently Asked Questions About Emergency Tree Removal
Thompson Tree Care typically responds to emergency calls within 1 to 3 hours depending on location and current call volume. During major storm events, response times may be longer due to high demand, but we prioritize calls based on severity — trees on structures and blocked roads are handled first.
Standard residential tree removal in St. Louis runs about $300 to $2,500, and emergency work often carries a premium of roughly 1.5x to 2x those rates because of the urgency, after-hours labor and added hazard. The exact price depends on the size of the tree, access to it and what it is resting on. Thompson Tree Care gives a free estimate and upfront pricing before work begins.
Often not. A tree that came down in an open part of the yard without touching a house, car, driveway or wire can usually be scheduled, though it is still not safe to cut yourself. If it blocks your way out, rests against another tree or sits near a power line, treat it as an emergency and call (314) 712-3035 at any hour.
It depends on why the tree fell, so this is general information and not legal advice. A healthy tree brought down by a storm is often handled through the insurance of the person whose property it landed on, while a tree the owner knew was dead or dying may put responsibility on the owner. Photograph everything, call your insurer, and ask them how your policy treats it.
Yes. Our 30-mile service radius includes Belleville, IL and the Metro East side. Call (314) 712-3035 and give us the address. If a power line is involved, the utility on the Illinois side is typically Ameren Illinois, and on the Missouri side it is Ameren Missouri.
Tell us the address, what the tree is on or blocking, whether any wires are touching it, whether anyone is hurt, and whether a gate or narrow driveway limits access. A few photos taken from a safe distance help too. We use that to decide which crew and equipment to send and what to handle first.
Other Services You May Need
Storm Damage Tree Removal
- Post-storm hazard cleanup
- Fallen & split tree removal
- Insurance claim documentation
Dangerous Tree Removal
- Expert rigging techniques
- Near structures & power lines
- Safety-first approach
Tree Removal
- Safe removal of any size tree
- Hazardous tree specialists
- Complete cleanup & hauling