What Temporary Safety Measures Can I Take Before Your Team Arrives for Emergency Tree Removal?

A Reality of Emergency Tree Removal

A storm just ripped through Dennistoun, and now there’s a tree leaning dangerously over your driveway. Or maybe a heavy branch has crashed onto your shed. You’ve called Benson’s Tree Surgery for emergency help, but what should you do right now while you wait?

Here’s a step-by-step guide to temporary safety measures for emergency tree removal. Simple, practical actions to protect your property (and your family) before our team arrives.

Benson's Tree Surgery cutting up a fallen branch with a chain saw and removing the waste from site with the van in the background.

1. Your Safety Comes First - No Exceptions!

Before we dive into tips, let’s be crystal clear: your safety is your responsibility. While we’ll always get to you as fast as possible (usually within a few hours in Glasgow), what you do while waiting matters. We answer some of your questions in our post Storm Damage Tree Removal Services.

We’ve seen too many homeowners take dangerous advice from online forums or well-meaning neighbours. What works for a small garden branch won’t help with a storm-damaged oak. If in doubt, don’t take the risk – wait for our professionals.

2. Secure the Area (But Don't Play Hero)

If a tree or branch has fallen, your first job is to keep people away. Sounds obvious, but panic makes us do strange things – like trying to drag branches off cars or fiddling with tangled power lines.

  • Do: Mark a clear boundary with tape, cones, or even garden chairs. If it’s dark, use hazard lights or torches to warn others.

  • Don’t: Get close to anything touching power lines. Scottish Power reports over 100 incidents yearly from DIY attempts – let them handle it.

3. Document the Damage (From a Safe Distance)

Insurance companies love photos – but they won’t cover a selfie with a dangling branch.

  • Use your phone to snap wide shots of the damage, plus close-ups of any cracks or splits in the tree.

  • Note the time and any weather conditions (e.g., “60mph winds at 8pm”). This helps with claims.

  • Screenshot weather reports from the BBC or metrological service.

Pro tip: If the tree’s from a neighbour’s property, take photos of the boundary too. Disputes happen, and evidence saves headaches later.

4. Temporary Fixes (Only If 100% Safe!)

Some situations can’t wait. If a branch is punching through a roof or blocking your only exit, here’s what you might attempt (but we recommend you leave it. Possessions can always be replaced, life can’t! If trapped call the emergency service to help you – 999):

  • Tarps: Use heavy-duty tarps (or even old carpets) to cover roof holes. Secure with bricks. Don’t do any climbing though. If you can’t safely reach it, leave it!

  • Path clearance: Kick small debris aside, but leave anything thicker than your wrist. Hidden tension in branches can spring back violently. (Any fallen tree is like a coiled spring and can easily cause serious injury)

Key rule: If you’re asking “Is this safe?“, it probably isn’t. Our Glasgow teams are fast. We’d rather you wait than risk injury.

5. What Absolutely Not to Do

Emergency adrenaline makes us overestimate our DIY skills. Here’s what we’ve seen go wrong:

  • Burning debris: A small fire can quickly get out of control and take fences, sheds and worse, homes. A professional service will clean up everything as part of the call-out.

  • Hacking at roots: Underground gas/water lines are common in any city like Glasgow. One nick could cost thousands and cause further injury. Let an expert assess first to reduce the risks.

  • DIY solutions: Online advice often misses critical safety factors. What works elsewhere may be dangerous here. There is always too little information to go on when following advice in a forum or guide – (even in this one!) That’s why we recommend you leave it for a professional Tree Surgeon to assist.

6. How Benson's Handles the Rest

After the call, we’ll arrange a time as soon as possible. Then, once we arrive, here’s what you can expect from our 24-hour emergency tree removal services in Glasgow:

  1. Immediate risk assessment: We’ll stabilise the tree with professional equipment

  2. Safe removal: No cowboy chopping – we use precision cuts to control the fall

  3. Full cleanup: Unlike some firms, we take all debris (even if it’s not ours)

Final Thought

Taking temporary safety measures for emergency tree removal isn’t about being a hero – it’s about staying safe until help arrives. Follow these steps, and you’ll bridge the gap between disaster and a professional fix.

Need us now? Call Benson’s at 07841 905145. We’re Glasgow’s trusted emergency tree service, day or night.