A tree on a structure lets water in with every rainfall — we remove, tarp and secure in one visit, 24/7
When a tree strikes your Des Plaines home, garage, or fence, the clock starts immediately. The most urgent threat is water intrusion: a punctured roof deck, broken rafters, or torn siding creates open penetrations that allow rain to pour in with every passing storm. Even a brief rain event after a tree strike can saturate insulation, soak drywall, warp flooring, and create the perfect conditions for mold to begin colonizing within 24–48 hours. The structural damage from water can quickly dwarf the initial tree damage in terms of repair cost.
Beyond water, a tree that is partially suspended — resting on your structure with root ball lifted or trunk under tension — poses serious secondary collapse risk. As wood fibers continue to shift, as wind buffets the crown, or as temperature changes affect the wood, additional movement can cause sudden, unpredictable collapse. This is not a situation for homeowners or untrained workers to be near. Additionally, if the tree or any of its limbs are contacting power lines, you have an active electrocution hazard. Never approach downed wires — we coordinate directly with ComEd and other utilities before cutting begins.
Your homeowners insurance policy likely includes a duty-to-mitigate clause, meaning you are expected to take prompt, reasonable action to prevent additional damage after a covered loss. Waiting days to address a tree on your structure can give an insurer grounds to contest coverage for subsequent water or structural damage. Blocked driveways and egress pathways are also serious safety issues — especially if emergency vehicles need access to your property. Call Allied Emergency Services now at (800) 792-0212 — our Des Plaines crews are staged and ready to respond within the hour.
Des Plaines is a vibrant city of approximately 60,000 residents in Cook County, situated in the northwest suburbs of Chicago along the Des Plaines River. The city's varied landscape — including significant tree canopy cover in residential neighborhoods, mature parkway trees along arterials like Elmhurst Road and Lee Street, and riparian vegetation along the river corridor — creates a uniquely challenging environment when severe storms move through. Many of Des Plaines' most beloved residential areas, including Chestnut Manor, Prairie Lakes, and the neighborhoods surrounding Mystic Waters Family Aquatic Center, are lined with mature oak, elm, silver maple, and Norway maple trees that can reach towering heights over 60–80 feet. These trees are beautiful in calm weather and can become dangerous projectiles in a severe Illinois thunderstorm.
Des Plaines is bordered by O'Hare International Airport to the south, which creates unique wind patterns — departing and arriving aircraft, combined with the relatively flat terrain of the northwest suburbs, can funnel and amplify straight-line wind events that strike the city with little warning. The city's proximity to the Chicago area's notorious storm corridor means residents near Luther Village, along Rand Road, near Maine West High School, and in the Orchard Place and Brickyard neighborhoods should be especially prepared for rapid-onset severe weather from spring through fall. The Des Plaines River itself can also generate localized fog and moisture conditions that accelerate decay in root systems, making seemingly healthy trees more susceptible to toppling during high wind events.
Residents in the older established sections of Des Plaines — including blocks near Des Plaines City Hall, the historic downtown along Miner Street, and neighborhoods feeding into D62 and D207 school districts — often have the oldest and largest trees, some with root systems compromised by decades of freeze-thaw cycles, utility line proximity, and compaction from urban development. These aging trees are the most likely to fail catastrophically during a storm. Allied Emergency Services has extensive experience working in densely populated suburban environments like Des Plaines, where close lot spacing, overhead utilities, and limited staging areas require precise, professional technique — not a neighbor with a chainsaw.
From a single fallen limb to a massive oak through your living room — Allied handles every scenario with professional equipment and a trained crew.
When a severe storm drops a tree across your yard, driveway, vehicle, or fence, our crew arrives with the rigging, saws, and equipment needed to remove it safely and efficiently. Storm-damaged trees are among the most dangerous to remove because they are often under unpredictable tension — a trunk that appears stable can spring violently when a cut releases stored energy. Our trained crew identifies tension points, selects proper cut sequences, and uses rigging to control how each section falls, preventing additional damage to your property.
A tree through your roof is the most urgent scenario we handle. Every minute the structure remains open, additional water, wind, and wildlife intrusion risk increases. Our tree-on-structure response is a coordinated, single-visit operation: we remove the tree using controlled sectional dismantling to minimize additional impact on damaged framing, then immediately deploy a heavy-duty reinforced tarp over the affected roof area and board up any open window or wall penetrations. Before we leave your property, your structure is protected from the elements.
Not every tree emergency involves a complete fall. Often the most dangerous situation is a large limb that has split from the trunk — known as a "hanger" or "widow maker" — and is suspended in the canopy, held only by strips of bark or wedged against other branches. These limbs can come down without warning, at any time, potentially striking anyone below. Split trunks with co-dominant stems are similarly precarious, especially after ice loading or high winds partially separate the union. For these high-complexity situations, we deploy bucket trucks and cranes to safely reach, rig, and lower hazardous material in a controlled manner.
After the emergency tree removal is complete, you are left with a stump, a root system, and often significant debris scattered across your property. Allied Emergency Services provides complete post-removal cleanup services so your yard is not just safe — it is clean and ready for the next phase. Stump grinding mechanically removes the stump down below grade, eliminating the trip hazard, the insect attraction, and the visual reminder of the storm. All chips, grindings, branches, and debris are loaded and hauled from the property, leaving nothing behind. Your landscaping crew, turf restoration team, or new tree planting can begin immediately after our work is complete.
Des Plaines and the northern Cook County suburbs sit in one of the most severe weather-prone corridors in the Midwest. Understanding the local storm history helps homeowners stay prepared.
The meteorological sweet spot for severe thunderstorms in the Chicago metro area runs from April through June, when warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico collides with cooler Canadian air masses along frontal boundaries that frequently stall over northern Illinois. Des Plaines, positioned at the convergence of Cook and Lake Counties, regularly sees multi-cell thunderstorm clusters that produce damaging straight-line winds exceeding 60–70 mph, large hail, and torrential rainfall. These spring events are responsible for the majority of tree-on-structure calls the region sees each year, as saturated soils reduce root anchorage precisely when wind loads are highest. Homeowners in neighborhoods like Orchard Place and near Lake Opeka should be especially vigilant during spring storm watches.
Derecho events — long-lived, fast-moving windstorm complexes — periodically sweep across northern Illinois and the Chicago suburbs in summer months, bringing sustained damaging winds over a wide swath of territory. The August 2020 derecho that devastated Iowa continued to produce severe wind damage across Illinois suburbs including the northwest Cook County communities. Microbursts, which are intense downdraft columns from thunderstorm cells, are particularly dangerous because they produce localized wind speeds that can rival weak tornadoes, snapping mature trees at mid-trunk and creating extremely hazardous debris fields. Des Plaines' relatively flat terrain and urban tree canopy provide both beauty and vulnerability during these events.
As the growing season transitions to fall, trees that have not yet fully dropped their leaves are uniquely vulnerable to early-season ice and wind events. A tree in full leaf with an ice coating can carry extraordinary loads — estimates suggest a single large mature maple can accumulate hundreds of pounds of ice on its crown during a significant ice storm. Combined with fall winds, this loading causes spectacular structural failures. The October 2019 snowstorm and various November ice events in recent years have generated significant tree damage across the northern Chicago suburbs, with Des Plaines communities along the river corridor being particularly affected due to moisture availability for ice formation.
Des Plaines averages over 30 inches of snowfall annually, and years with heavy wet snow events — particularly late-season storms in March — regularly produce major tree damage. Wet snow accumulates on branches far more readily than dry powder, and a single heavy snowfall can deposit enough weight to collapse entire crowns of poorly structured trees or snap major limbs over streets, driveways, and rooflines. Illinois winters also produce freeze-thaw cycles that infiltrate tree bark cracks, expand on freezing, and progressively weaken wood fiber over years — setting up trees for catastrophic failure during the very next storm season. This cyclical damage pattern means that even trees that "look fine" may be structurally compromised and primed for failure.
After a storm, it is completely understandable that a homeowner's first instinct is to grab a chainsaw and start cutting. The tree is sitting on your house, your driveway is blocked, and you want the situation resolved immediately. However, storm-damaged tree removal is consistently ranked among the most dangerous activities a homeowner can attempt, and the risk factors multiply dramatically when the tree has been compromised by storm forces.
The single greatest hazard is stored tension. When a tree falls partially — especially when it is resting on a structure, vehicle, or fence — the trunk and major limbs are under enormous compressive and tensile stress. An inexperienced cut in the wrong location can cause the tree to roll, spring, or swing violently in an unexpected direction at lethal speed. Professional arborists are trained to read this tension, identify the forces at work, and sequence cuts to release tension safely and predictably. Even experienced loggers working with standing timber sometimes misjudge these forces — and storm-damaged trees are far more unpredictable than standing ones.
Ladder work compounds every risk. Many homeowners attempt to reach limbs or trunk sections by climbing a ladder while operating a chainsaw, in conditions that may include slippery surfaces, unstable footing, and limited visibility from a debris-covered yard. Falls from ladders while operating power tools are among the leading causes of serious homeowner injuries in storm aftermath situations. Professional crews use bucket trucks, climbing harnesses, and rigging systems specifically designed for this type of work — not a household ladder from the garage.
Utility hazards require coordination, not guesswork. If a tree or any of its limbs are near, contacting, or have brought down utility lines, no cutting should begin until the relevant utility has confirmed de-energization. What looks like a dead wire may be an active conductor. Our crews contact utilities, obtain clearance, and maintain awareness of all electrical hazards before saw blades ever start.
Beyond safety, professional removal provides critical business advantages. Our crews take insurance-grade photographs before, during, and after every job. This documentation is essential for your homeowners insurance process — showing the original condition, the scope of damage, and the work performed. A DIY removal that moves or destroys evidence before documentation is complete can complicate the insurance process significantly.
Finally, only a licensed restoration contractor can properly complete the handoff from tree removal to structural repair. After the tree is removed, we assess the structural damage, immediately deploy emergency tarping to protect the roof deck from additional water intrusion, board up open wall and window penetrations, and coordinate with restoration professionals for the full repair process. This seamless, one-visit approach is simply not possible when you split the work between a homeowner's chainsaw and whoever you can find on short notice. Call Allied Emergency Services at (800) 792-0212 and let professionals handle this safely from start to finish.
Storm tree damage that affects a structure is typically a covered loss under standard homeowners policies. Here is how Allied Emergency Services supports you through every phase of the restoration process.
From the moment you call, our dispatch team logs your location and situation and begins routing the nearest available crew toward your Des Plaines property. Upon arrival, our team leader conducts a rapid safety assessment — identifying utility hazards, secondary collapse risk, and the safest approach sequence. We establish a safety perimeter, contact utilities if lines are involved, and begin the controlled removal process without delay. Once the tree is removed, emergency roof tarping and board-up are completed before the crew departs, ensuring your structure is protected from immediate weather threats regardless of what comes next.
Professional, comprehensive damage documentation is one of the most valuable things Allied Emergency Services provides, and it begins the moment our crew arrives on your Des Plaines property — before a single cut is made. We photograph and document the fallen tree, its impact point, the structural damage to your roof, walls, windows, or any other affected areas, and the position of all debris. This photographic and written record is prepared to insurance-company standards and captures evidence that could be partially lost once the tree is removed and debris is cleared. Good documentation is the foundation of a smooth insurance process.
After your claim is opened with your insurance company, Allied Emergency Services provides your adjuster with the documentation package we created on-site. We are experienced in communicating with insurance adjusters, supplementing for work that was necessary but may not have been initially scoped, and ensuring that all legitimate damage items are properly represented in the claim file. We work within your insurance process — your adjuster makes coverage decisions; we provide the professional documentation and repair expertise. If your adjuster needs to inspect the property, we coordinate scheduling and make ourselves available to walk through the damage scope with them.
Once your insurance claim is in process and approvals are moving forward, Allied Emergency Services transitions from emergency response to full structural restoration. For roof damage, this means removal of damaged decking and framing, installation of properly engineered replacement materials, and new roofing that meets or exceeds current Illinois building codes and manufacturer specifications. For siding, fascia, soffit, or structural wall damage, we bring the same licensed, professional approach. We work with materials that match your existing home's aesthetic and meet the standards required by your municipality. Des Plaines building permit requirements are followed for all work requiring permits, and inspections are coordinated with Cook County building officials as needed.
Before we consider any project complete, a project supervisor conducts a comprehensive final walkthrough with the homeowner. We inspect every repaired surface, verify that all temporary protective measures have been removed and replaced with permanent repairs, confirm that the property is clean and debris-free, and ensure the homeowner is fully satisfied with the quality and completeness of the work. We provide documentation of completed repairs for your insurance company and for your records. Our goal is not just to restore your property to its pre-storm condition — it is to leave your Des Plaines home in a state where you feel confident and secure going into the next storm season.
Reviews represent typical customer experiences.
"A massive silver maple came down on our garage roof during the overnight storm — I woke up at 5 AM to the sound of the impact. I called Allied at 5:30 and they had a crew at our house near Prairie Lakes by 7:00. They removed the tree, tarped the roof, and had everything cleaned up before noon. I couldn't believe how professional and fast they were under pressure. The insurance documentation they provided made the whole claims process smooth."
"We had a large limb hanging by a thread over our sunroom after a derecho last summer — I could hear it creaking every time the wind picked up and was terrified it would come through the glass ceiling. Allied came out the same afternoon, got a bucket truck in our narrow side yard, and safely rigged and lowered that limb without touching the sunroom at all. The crew was incredibly skilled. Worth every dollar for the peace of mind."
"After an ice storm snapped three large branches onto our fence and partially into the neighbor's yard, Allied coordinated the entire removal including working with the neighbor and documenting both properties for insurance. They ground the stumps, hauled everything away, and the yard looked better than before the storm. Two weeks later our insurance check covered the full bill. Allied made a terrible situation completely manageable — highly recommend them to anyone in Des Plaines."
Dial (800) 792-0212 any hour of the day or night. Our live dispatcher answers immediately — no voicemail, no callback queue during business hours only. We gather your location, describe your situation, and begin routing the nearest crew to your Des Plaines address while you are still on the phone.
Our northwest suburban crews are positioned for rapid response to Des Plaines and neighboring communities. For active life-safety emergencies — tree on a structure, blocked emergency access, utility involvement — we target a 60-minute response. You receive a crew ETA and a direct contact number for the crew leader heading your way.
Upon arrival, our crew leader walks the property, identifies all hazards including utility lines, secondary collapse risk, and ground conditions, and briefs the team on the safest approach sequence. We establish a safety perimeter and notify you of our plan before any cutting begins. If utilities are involved, we make those coordination calls before proceeding.
Before the first cut, our crew photographs the scene extensively — the fallen tree, impact points, all visible structural damage, debris field, and surrounding area. This documentation is insurance-grade and forms the evidentiary foundation of your claim file. We capture what is there now, before removal permanently changes the scene.
The tree is removed using controlled sectional dismantling, rigging, and proper cut sequencing. If the tree is on a structure, we immediately follow removal with professional roof tarping and board-up. The goal is to leave your property structurally protected — not just tree-free — before our crew departs.
All debris is chipped, collected, and hauled from the property. The crew leader conducts a final walkthrough with you, provides the documentation package, and walks you through the process of notifying your insurance company and opening a claim. We are your partner through restoration — not just a one-call tree removal company.
Our target response time for Des Plaines emergency tree calls is 60 minutes or less. We maintain crews staged throughout the Greater Chicagoland area, and Des Plaines is served from our northwest suburban dispatch zone. For active life-safety situations — tree on a structure, blocked egress, utility contact — we prioritize those calls at the front of the dispatch queue. Call (800) 792-0212 and our dispatcher will confirm current ETA based on crew position and call volume.
If anyone is injured, call 911 first. Once everyone is confirmed safe and you are in a secure location away from the damaged area, call Allied Emergency Services at (800) 792-0212. We handle tree removal AND immediate structural protection — tarping and board-up — in one visit. After calling us, notify your homeowners insurance company to begin the claim process. Do not attempt to move the tree yourself or go under any structure that has been struck — the risk of secondary collapse is real and serious.
In most standard homeowners policies, tree removal is covered when a tree falls and damages an insured structure. Coverage typically includes both the tree removal and repair of the structural damage. Allied Emergency Services documents all damage thoroughly and provides that documentation to support your insurance company's review. We are restoration contractors — we repair damage and document it professionally. We do not adjust or negotiate insurance claims on your behalf.
Do NOT approach it. Stay well back, keep others and pets away, and call 911 and ComEd to report the downed or contacted power line. Only after the utility confirms the line is de-energized and safe can tree work begin. Allied Emergency Services coordinates directly with utilities before performing any tree removal near electrical infrastructure. We will not start cutting until utility clearance is confirmed — this is non-negotiable for crew and public safety.
Yes — always. This single-visit approach is one of the most important things that sets Allied apart from a standard tree service. When a tree creates open roof or wall penetrations, every rainfall drives water deeper into your home. Our trucks carry professional-grade reinforced tarps, lumber, and boarding materials so we can complete emergency tarping and board-up in the same visit as tree removal. Your structure is secured before we leave.
Allied provides full-service cleanup as part of every emergency tree removal. After the tree is safely removed, our crew chips and hauls all branches, limbs, and debris from the property. Stump grinding can be performed the same day or scheduled as a follow-up, depending on equipment availability. We haul away all material — your property is left clean, safe, and ready for whatever comes next.
Our team responds within 1 hour — don't let damage get worse.
Allied Emergency Services provides 24/7 emergency tree removal throughout Des Plaines and all surrounding Cook County communities. We serve every neighborhood in Des Plaines including Chestnut Manor, Prairie Lakes, Orchard Place, Brickyard, the areas surrounding Lake Opeka, the Rand Road corridor, Graceland Memorial Park neighborhoods, communities near Oakton Community College, the River Road commercial corridor, the downtown Miner Street area, Riverview neighborhood, and all residential streets throughout the city's 15-square-mile footprint. No job is too remote within the city limits — if you are in Des Plaines ZIP codes 60016, 60017, 60018, or 60019, we are coming to you.
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