When a storm or Santa Ana wind brings down a tree or a large limb in Pomona, CA, the first job is safety: stay away from wires, get people and pets clear, and do not try to cut a loaded trunk yourself. If any line is involved, call Southern California Edison at 1-800-611-1911 or 911. Once the wires are dealt with, call us at (909) 479-2666. Call for storm damage and we will tell you how soon a crew can come and what we need to see.
First steps after a tree falls
- Check for wires. Assume any line touching a tree is live. Keep at least the length of a bus away.
- Get everyone out of the danger zone. Hanging limbs, called widowmakers, can fall without warning.
- Do not cut it yourself. A fallen trunk under tension can spring back violently when cut.
- Take photos. Your insurer will want pictures of the tree, the damage and the surroundings before cleanup.
- Call your insurer. Ask what they need and whether they want to see the damage first.
- Call us. Tell us what is down, where it landed and whether SCE has been out.
What we do on a storm call
We start by making the site safe, then remove the hazard, then clean up:
- Assess. We look at what is down, what is still hanging and how the rest of the tree is holding.
- Stabilize. Loaded limbs and leaning trunks are secured or lowered before anyone works under them.
- Lift off structures. Limbs on roofs, cars and fences are cut and lowered in pieces with ropes, not dragged.
- Clear access. Driveways, walks and doors are opened up first.
- Finish. The remaining stub or damaged tree is pruned back to sound wood or removed, and brush and wood are hauled.
Why Pomona trees fail in wind
The San Gabriel Valley gets strong, dry Santa Ana winds, mostly from fall through early spring, and occasional winter storms with heavy rain. The trees we see fail most often:
- Eucalyptus with long, heavy limbs and old wounds.
- Chinese elm and Brazilian pepper with weak, tight branch unions.
- Pines that are already declining from drought or beetles.
- Shallow-rooted trees in soggy soil after rain, which can uproot entirely.
- Topped trees, whose regrowth is weakly attached and snaps off.
The National Weather Service Los Angeles office issues wind advisories. When one is posted, move cars away from big trees and stay out of the yard during gusts.
City trees and power lines
If the tree that fell is a City street tree, or a City limb is hanging over the street, call Pomona's line for City trees and broken limbs at (909) 620-3759, or (909) 282-2835 after hours. The City handles its own trees, and we do not cut City trees without a permit. For anything touching a power line, call SCE first. Our power line guide explains who does what.
Working with insurance
We can provide a written description of the damage, photos and an itemized invoice for your claim. Homeowner policies often cover removing a tree that hit a covered structure, and sometimes not a tree that fell in the open yard. Coverage varies, so check your policy and talk to your agent. We do not make promises about what an insurer will pay.
After the storm: checking the rest of the yard
A storm that breaks one limb often stresses others. Once the urgent work is done, walk the yard or ask us to look at:
- Cracks at branch unions or in the trunk.
- Soil that has lifted or cracked on one side of a tree.
- Hanging or partly broken limbs high in the canopy.
- Trees that now lean more than before.
Our after-wind checklist walks through each one. A follow-up tree health assessment can tell you whether the rest of the tree is worth keeping.
Preventing the next call
Most storm failures we see were visible ahead of time: a crack, a dead limb, a heavy end over the roof. Thinning and end-weight reduction before wind season lowers the risk. Removing dead pines and declining eucalyptus near the house is often the most cost-effective step.
What to tell us when you call
To help us plan the right crew and equipment, tell us what kind of tree fell if you know, roughly how big it is, where it landed and what it is touching. Let us know if SCE has been out, if the street or a neighbor's property is involved, and whether anyone has started cutting. Photos sent by text or through the form help a lot. Call (909) 479-2666.
How storm work is priced
Storm jobs are priced like any other tree job, by the size of the tree, the access and how much rigging is needed, with extra time where a limb has to be lifted off a roof or car in small pieces. We give you the price before the crew starts cutting. If the work has to be split, for example making the roof safe today and removing the rest of the tree later, the estimate shows each stage separately.
We handle storm cleanup in Pomona and nearby cities, from foothill streets in Glendora and Upland to the open lots of Chino.
Common questions
What should I do first if a tree falls on my house?
Get everyone out of the area under the tree and away from any wires. If a line is involved, call SCE at 1-800-611-1911 or 911. Take photos of the damage and call your insurer. Then call us, and we will tell you how soon a crew can come to lift the tree off safely.
Will my insurance pay for storm tree removal?
It depends on your policy. Many homeowner policies help with removing a tree that damaged a covered structure, such as the house, garage or a fence, and may not cover a tree that fell in open yard. Check with your agent. We can provide photos, a written description and an itemized invoice.
The fallen tree is in the street. Who removes it?
If it is a City street tree or debris blocking the road, call Pomona's City trees and broken limbs line at (909) 620-3759, or (909) 282-2835 after hours. If your private tree fell into the street, call us, and we will clear it. Anything touching power lines goes to SCE first.