Storm damage · Jonesboro, AR
Storm Damage Tree Cleanup in Jonesboro, AR
Tornadoes, straight-line winds and ice storms all hit Northeast Arkansas. When the storm passes, send a request to reach a local crew that clears fallen trees, hanging limbs and storm debris, and send photos so they know what they are walking into.
Requests go to independent local tree service providers. Tree Service Jonesboro is a free referral service.
Tree on a power line, or someone hurt? Call 911 first. Treat every downed line as live, and stay away from anything it touches, including the tree, a fence and standing water.
Storm damage tree cleanup covers trees on houses, garages and cars, broken and hanging limbs, uprooted trees and the brush and logs left behind. In Jonesboro, emergency removals average about $707, versus about $474 for a planned removal. Photograph the damage for your insurer before anything is moved, then get a written quote.
What storm cleanup includes
Trees on houses and cars
Lifted off in sections, by climbing, rigging or a crane, so the tree doesn’t do more damage on the way off.
Fallen and uprooted trees
Trunks across the yard, driveway or fence cut up, with logs hauled or stacked for firewood.
Limbs and debris
Broken limbs pulled from the canopy, brush chipped and the yard raked, so you can use it again.
Hanging, broken limbs (sometimes called widowmakers) are the hidden danger after wind and ice. They can drop days later. Keep people and pets out from under damaged trees until a crew has cleared them.
Local storm history
Why storm cleanup is a regular job around Jonesboro
- 1968 and 1973: deadly tornadoes damaged large parts of Jonesboro (Encyclopedia of Arkansas).
- January 2009 ice storm: one to two inches of ice or more in the Jonesboro area; parts of Jonesboro and Craighead County were without power for up to two weeks, and Craighead, Greene and Poinsett counties were in the federal disaster declaration.
- March 28, 2020: an EF3 tornado with peak winds near 140 mph tracked 12.5 miles from south Jonesboro to northeast of Brookland.
- May 22, 2024: a lunchtime storm with gusts near 70 mph pushed trees into houses across town.
- April 2, 2025: an EF3 tornado hit the western part of Lake City, east of Jonesboro.
Sources: Encyclopedia of Arkansas; Craighead County Emergency Management, 2009 ice storm report; NWS Memphis tornado survey; KAIT8; Lake City, Arkansas.
Ice storm damage is different
Ice doesn’t knock trees over the way wind does. It loads every branch until limbs snap, tops break out and whole crowns split. Ice-damaged trees can look fine from the ground and still have cracked unions high up. After an ice storm, ask the crew to look at the whole canopy, not just the limbs on the ground, and remove broken stubs so they don’t fall later.
Storm damage and insurance: what to do first
- Make it safeGet people out of damaged rooms. Report downed lines to 911 and your electric utility.
- Photograph everythingWide shots and close-ups of the tree, roof, inside damage, cars and fences, before anything is moved.
- Call your insurerAsk what they need and whether they want an adjuster to see the tree before it is removed.
- Get a written quoteItemized: removal from the structure, tarping if offered, hauling and cleanup.
- Keep every receiptTarps, hotel nights, tree work and repairs.
Homeowners policies often pay when a tree damages your house or another structure, usually with a limit on tree removal; Consumer Reports, citing the Insurance Information Institute, puts the typical cap at about $500 to $1,000. A tree that falls and hits nothing is usually not covered. A tree on your car is an auto insurance question: comprehensive coverage usually applies. More detail: does homeowners insurance cover tree removal?
Sources: Consumer Reports; Texas Department of Insurance. For help with a claim in Arkansas, the Arkansas Insurance Department’s Consumer Services line is 1-800-852-5494 (AID).
Watch for storm chasers
After big storms, out-of-town crews knock on doors. Some are legitimate. Be wary of cash-only deals, pressure to sign today and large payments up front. The Arkansas Attorney General’s office advises never paying a contractor in full until the work is finished. See storm chaser red flags.
What storm cleanup costs
Emergency tree removals in Jonesboro average about $707, compared with about $474 for a typical planned removal (Today’s Homeowner). Crane work, night call-outs and trees lying on roofs add cost; a tree lying in an open yard is often cheaper than the same tree standing. See the Jonesboro tree removal cost guide.
Request storm cleanup
Send the address, what the tree hit and a few photos. Tick “emergency” if it’s on the house or blocking the driveway.
Storm damage cleanup FAQ
Who removes a tree that fell on my house in a storm?
A tree service removes it from the structure, usually in sections. Call 911 first if a power line is involved. Photograph the damage and call your insurer before the tree is moved if you can do so safely.
Does insurance pay for storm tree cleanup?
Often, when the tree damaged your house or another structure, usually with a limit on removal costs. Trees that fall and hit nothing usually aren’t covered. Check your own policy.
How much does storm damage tree removal cost in Jonesboro?
Emergency removals in Jonesboro average about $707 (Today’s Homeowner). Crane jobs and trees on roofs cost more; fallen trees in open yards often cost less.
What should I do about hanging limbs after a storm?
Stay out from under them. Broken limbs caught in the canopy can drop days later. Have a crew remove them from above rather than pulling them down from the ground.
Related: emergency tree service, dead and hazardous tree removal, tree service in Lake City, tree service in Trumann.
Storm damage in your yard?
Send a request to reach a local crew for fallen trees, hanging limbs and storm debris. Send photos and ask for a written quote.