A tree on a structure lets water in with every rainfall — we remove, tarp and secure in one visit, 24/7
When a tree punctures or rests against your roof, your home loses its primary weather barrier immediately. Every rainfall after that event drives water into your attic insulation, through your ceiling drywall, and down into your walls — creating conditions for mold growth that can appear in as little as 24 to 48 hours. What starts as a tree removal job becomes a far larger and more expensive restoration project if water is allowed to penetrate unchecked.
Beyond water damage, a tree resting against a structure is in a state of mechanical tension. As the wood dries or shifts in wind, secondary limbs and the main trunk can move unpredictably, widening the breach in your roof or collapsing additional sections of rafters and decking. Do not assume the tree is stable just because it appears to have settled.
If any part of the fallen tree is near or touching power lines, treat the entire area as energized. Stay back at least 30 feet and do not allow anyone — including neighbors — to approach. Call 911 and ComEd, then call us. We coordinate directly with utility crews.
Your homeowners insurance policy carries a duty-to-mitigate provision, which means you are expected to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage after a covered loss. Documenting the event and calling a licensed contractor promptly satisfies that obligation. Delay can give an insurer grounds to dispute additional damage that occurred after the initial event.
A blocked driveway or garage door is also an immediate life-safety concern — it can prevent emergency vehicle access and trap residents. Do not wait until morning. Call Allied Emergency Services right now at (800) 792-0212. Our Riverside-area crew will be there within the hour.
Riverside is one of the most architecturally and historically significant communities in all of Chicagoland. Designed by legendary landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted in 1869, the village is characterized by its curvilinear street layout, mature tree canopy along the Des Plaines River corridor, and a dense stock of Victorian, Prairie, and Craftsman-era homes — many of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Riverside Historic District encompasses virtually the entire community, which means the trees here are not incidental landscaping; they are an integral part of the village's character, its identity, and in many cases, its property values.
That same mature tree canopy, while beautiful, creates serious vulnerability during storm events. The large silver maples, cottonwoods, and elms that arch over Longcommon Road, Scottswood Road, and the residential streets near Riverside Lawn and the Olmsted-designed parks become significant hazards when weakened by drought stress, root disease, or the high-wind gusts that accompany Illinois severe weather. The Des Plaines River, which forms the western boundary of Riverside, also creates a localized weather environment — storm systems that track along river valleys tend to intensify slightly, and the low-lying terrain near the river can experience downdraft damage from thunderstorms at angles that amplify their destructive potential.
Riverside's residential density and narrow, tree-lined streets mean that when a large tree falls, it almost always affects more than one property — and the curvilinear road layout designed by Olmsted, while charming, can complicate equipment access compared to a standard grid community. Our crews have the training and equipment — including compact track loaders and trailer-mounted cranes — to work efficiently in tight residential spaces like those found throughout Riverside's historic core near the Riverside-Brookfield High School area and along the South Riverside neighborhoods bordering Brookfield.
Cook County, Illinois sits in one of the most active severe weather corridors in the Midwest. The greater Chicagoland area averages 50 or more days of thunderstorm activity per year, with the peak season running from April through September. Riverside's position in the southwest suburban ring places it directly in the path of storm systems that develop over Iowa and travel northeast along the Chicago lakefront convergence zone. Derecho events, straight-line wind damage, and hail-producing supercells are all documented threats for this area — and any one of them can bring down even a healthy, well-established tree onto a Riverside home in seconds.
Complete storm tree solutions — from the first chainsaw cut to the final piece of debris loaded on the truck.
When a storm drops a tree across your property — whether it lands on your roof, crushes a vehicle, takes out a fence, or simply blocks your driveway and garage — the immediate priority is safe, controlled removal. Our crews assess the full fall zone, identify any secondary hazards such as attached limbs still under tension in the canopy, and execute a systematic dismantling plan using chainsaws, rigging lines, and ground equipment. We do not take shortcuts that compromise safety or create new damage to your property.
A tree breaching your roof is a multi-dimensional emergency. The tree must come off without causing additional structural collapse. The open roof must be weatherproofed before rain enters. Any compromised windows, soffits, or wall sections must be secured. Allied handles all of this in a single coordinated response. After the tree is removed, our crew conducts a full exterior damage assessment and installs heavy-duty polyethylene tarps anchored with battens and secured fasteners, then boards any blown-out windows or openings. We do not leave until your home is weather-tight. Our detailed written report and photographs give your insurance adjuster the full picture.
Not all tree emergencies involve a tree that has already fallen. A large limb that has split but remains suspended in the canopy — what arborists call a "widow maker" or "hanger" — can weigh hundreds of pounds and drop without any additional warning. A partially uprooted tree leaning against your home or a neighbor's fence represents an imminent collapse hazard that grows worse with every hour. Our team is equipped to handle these high-complexity, high-risk situations using rigging systems, bucket trucks, and crane equipment when the job requires lifting large sections out of a confined space without allowing them to free-fall onto structures below.
Tree removal is only complete when the site is fully cleaned and the stump is addressed. A remaining stump is a tripping hazard, an attractive harborage for termites, carpenter ants, and other wood-boring insects, and a continuous source of nuisance root sprouts. Our stump grinding service reduces the stump to below-grade wood chips that can be raked level and over-seeded. All logs, branches, bark, and chip debris are collected and hauled away so your yard is returned to a clean, safe condition — not just the tree-removal equivalent of a messy breakup where someone else's stuff is still on your property.
Understanding the storm history of Cook County's southwest suburbs helps Riverside homeowners and property managers prepare for the real risks that face their trees and structures each year.
The primary threat window for Riverside runs from late May through mid-August, when atmospheric instability from warm, humid air masses colliding with cold fronts from the northwest produces supercell thunderstorms capable of generating winds exceeding 60 mph, large hail, and occasional tornadoes. The southwest suburban corridor — encompassing Riverside, Brookfield, Lyons, and La Grange — has recorded multiple significant wind damage events during this season in recent years. Trees already weakened by summer drought stress are particularly vulnerable during these events, as reduced turgor pressure in root tissue makes uprooting far more likely even at wind speeds that a well-watered tree might withstand.
The Midwest is one of the most derecho-prone regions in the world, and the Chicago metropolitan area has been struck by several significant derecho events over the past two decades. A derecho is a long-lived, fast-moving convective wind storm that can generate sustained winds of 60–100 mph over a corridor hundreds of miles long. Unlike a tornado, a derecho impacts a broad area simultaneously — meaning tree damage and power outages can affect all of Riverside and dozens of surrounding communities at once, overwhelming local tree service capacity. This is precisely why having a relationship with a regional emergency contractor like Allied — one with resources and crews across the greater Midwest — matters in the aftermath of a major derecho event.
Riverside's mature deciduous tree canopy is especially vulnerable during late-fall and early-spring ice storms, when still-leafed trees accumulate ice loads that their branch structures cannot support. A single inch of ice accumulation can add hundreds of pounds of weight to the crown of a large silver maple or pin oak. The Des Plaines River valley can trap cold, dense air that keeps surface temperatures below freezing longer than surrounding areas during freezing rain events, compounding ice accumulation. The result is catastrophic crown breakage — large primary limbs dropping onto homes, fences, and parked vehicles without any warning and often in the pre-dawn hours when residents are asleep.
Illinois spring weather is notoriously volatile. Rapid temperature swings, tornado watches, and overnight severe weather events are common from March through May as the jet stream shifts northward and Gulf moisture begins to surge north into the Midwest. These transitional-season storms can catch residents off guard after a quiet winter, and trees that appear healthy may have been weakened by frost-heave, root damage from cold-wet soils, or winter desiccation. Early spring green-up — when trees have put on fresh leaf growth but root systems haven't fully anchored for the season — is a particularly dangerous time for wind loading.
Every year, homeowners who attempt to chainsaw their own storm-fallen trees are seriously injured or killed — and storm-damaged trees are exponentially more dangerous than trees being intentionally felled. Here's why: a storm-damaged tree is not in its natural resting state. It has been subjected to violent, uncontrolled forces that have loaded its wood fibers with enormous tension. The trunk may look like it's just lying there, but sections of it may be holding hundreds or even thousands of pounds in spring tension — waiting to release the moment a chainsaw relieves pressure at the wrong point.
This phenomenon, known in the industry as "barber chair" or tension kickback, happens with terrifying speed. A trunk under compression can split vertically and swing outward faster than any human can react. Logs that appear stationary can roll unpredictably on a slope or when tension is released from one end. Ladder work over a damaged structure or near a suspended limb is another leading cause of serious injury — a limb that drops while someone is on a ladder rarely gives them time to step clear.
Professional emergency tree removal teams approach storm-damaged trees with a systematic assessment protocol. Our arborists and crew leads identify all tension zones in the fallen wood before a single cut is made. We use rigging lines and controlled lowering systems to move heavy sections without dropping them. When a tree is on a roof or structure, we work in coordination with the ground crew and spotters to ensure that every cut releases tension in a controlled direction — not toward the structure, not toward crew members, and not toward neighboring properties.
Crane and bucket truck work adds another layer of capability for the situations that ground-based crews simply cannot handle safely — large limbs suspended 40 or 60 feet overhead, trees that have root-balled and tipped at an angle that makes approach from any ground position dangerous, or removal from areas where there is no safe drop zone and sections must be lifted out rather than allowed to fall.
Utility coordination is a non-negotiable professional requirement when any part of the tree is near power infrastructure. ComEd and other utility providers have specific protocols for emergency tree removal near energized lines, and a licensed contractor knows how to initiate that coordination process and work within the utility's safety perimeter. An untrained homeowner who contacts a utility to de-energize a line for DIY removal faces unpredictable wait times and may be refused service entirely.
There's also the matter of documentation. Insurance companies expect removal work performed by licensed, insured contractors. If you perform DIY removal before an adjuster has had a chance to inspect, you may inadvertently eliminate evidence needed to support your claim. Allied photographs and documents every element of the scene before, during, and after removal — providing you with a professional record that protects your claim and your interests.
Finally, our one-visit approach means the tree is removed, the roof is tarped, openings are boarded, and your home is stabilized before we leave. That single integrated response prevents the gap that exists when you hire a tree company and a roofing company separately — and ensures your home doesn't sit exposed overnight while you wait for a second crew to arrive.
Understanding the insurance repair process helps Riverside homeowners move quickly and protect their claim.
Our crew arrives, assesses all hazards, and immediately begins making the property safe. The tree is removed in a controlled sequence. Emergency tarps are installed over any roof breach. Windows and openings are boarded. The scene is documented thoroughly with photographs of the tree, point of impact, all structural damage, and the surrounding site conditions. This is the most time-critical phase — every hour of delay costs more in secondary damage.
We produce a comprehensive written damage report that includes detailed photographs of all affected areas, measurements of impact zones, descriptions of structural compromise, and notation of any secondary damage discovered during the removal process. This documentation is formatted to be useful to your insurance adjuster and provides a baseline record of damage that cannot be disputed after the site has been cleaned up. We preserve evidence where possible and note anything that may not be visible from a standard exterior walkthrough.
Once you have notified your insurance company and opened a claim, Allied can communicate directly with your adjuster to ensure that all documented damage items are reviewed. We provide our written reports and photo packages to support the adjuster's inspection. It's important to note that we are licensed restoration contractors — we document damage and perform repairs. We do not adjust, negotiate, or settle claims on your behalf. That role belongs to your insurer or a licensed public adjuster if you choose to hire one.
With the emergency stabilization complete and the insurance process underway, we can move into full restoration work. This includes structural roof repair, new decking and shingles, siding repair or replacement, window installation, interior drywall and insulation repair if water intrusion occurred, and any other scope items approved by your insurer. Allied is a full-service restoration contractor — you do not need to manage multiple specialty vendors. We coordinate the complete repair from emergency response through final completion.
Before we consider a job complete, we conduct a comprehensive final walkthrough with the homeowner to review every repaired element, confirm all work matches the approved scope, and address any outstanding items. We stand behind our work with a written workmanship warranty. Our goal is not just to return your home to pre-storm condition — it's to give you confidence that the job was done correctly the first time, with licensed trades and quality materials throughout.
Verified customer reviews from the greater Chicagoland area.
"A storm came through at about 11 PM on a Tuesday and dropped a huge silver maple across our garage roof. We called Allied and they had a crew at our house in Riverside within 55 minutes. They cut the tree off the garage, tarped the damaged section, and were totally professional the entire time — even at midnight. Our insurance adjuster was impressed with the documentation they provided. I can't imagine dealing with this without them."
"We had a split co-dominant oak that was leaning against our Victorian home's second-story porch after a derecho event. Multiple other companies I called said they couldn't get crane equipment into our narrow street. Allied came out, assessed the situation, and figured out how to rig the sections out using a crane positioned on Longcommon Road. Zero additional damage to the porch. Absolutely top-tier professional work. Worth every penny."
"The Allied team showed up fast, worked safely, and left our yard cleaner than it was before the storm hit. The stump grinding and debris haul-off were included and they even raked the area smooth when they were done. Our insurance company had no issues with the claim because the documentation Allied provided was so thorough. We've recommended them to three neighbors already."
Reviews represent typical customer experiences. Individual results may vary.
Call (800) 792-0212 any time — day, night, weekends, or holidays. A real person answers every call. Tell us what happened and give us your Riverside address. We'll confirm availability and give you an ETA immediately.
We route the nearest available crew toward your location in Riverside as soon as we have your call. Our target arrival time is 60 minutes or less. You'll receive a confirmation and can expect a callback from the crew lead when they are en route.
Our crew lead conducts a full site assessment upon arrival — evaluating all hazards, identifying tension zones in the fallen tree, assessing structural damage, and confirming the safe work perimeter. No cutting begins until the plan is clear and all crew members are briefed.
We execute the removal in a controlled sequence, photographing all damage before, during, and after. Every affected area is documented. The tree is removed in sections, all debris is collected, and nothing is left behind that creates an additional hazard.
If any structure has been breached — roof, walls, windows — we install emergency tarps and boards before we leave. Your home is weather-sealed before the crew packs up. You receive a complete documentation package for your insurance company.
We coordinate directly with your insurer and transition seamlessly from emergency response into full restoration repair. You have one point of contact throughout the entire process — from the first phone call to the final walkthrough.
Our team responds within 1 hour — don't let damage get worse.
Allied Emergency Services provides emergency tree removal throughout Riverside and surrounding Cook County communities. We serve all Riverside neighborhoods including the Olmsted Historic District, Riverside Lawn, South Riverside, and the Des Plaines River corridor neighborhoods. We also serve:
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