Cortland County storms tend to come in hard and fast. In June 2026, an EF-0 tornado touched down about three miles west-southwest of Cortland, and trees took most of the damage. Back in 1998, straight-line winds tore down big trees along Telephone, Knickerbocker and Cincinnatus roads. When it happens, the trees in Virgil, Harford and the valley towns end up on roofs, cars and roads.
Tubbs Tree Service handles the aftermath with two clear options. Jason Tubbs and the crew bring a crane, bucket truck, climbers and a knuckle boom truck to tackle trees others back away from. Everything starts with safety, then a plan for getting the tree off your property in controlled sections.
Two ways to get help after a storm
- Emergency Assessment, $300: we are on site the next business day to assess the damage and give you a quote.
- Emergency Response, $5,000 minimum: Tubbs sends the crew and equipment right away to bring the danger under control.
- Both fees count toward your final bill once the job is done.
- Request help on the emergency page or call (607) 375-7681.
If a tree is touching a power line
Stay well back and keep others away. Call 911, then call your electric utility. In Cortland County that could be National Grid or NYSEG, whichever serves your address, or the municipal utility in the Village of Marathon. Treat every wire as live. Once the utility has made the line safe, call Tubbs to deal with the tree.
The first hour, before the crew arrives
Get everyone out of rooms beneath a damaged section of roof. Take photos of the tree and damage from a safe spot, which helps when you talk to your insurer. If a road is blocked, report it to your town highway department or 911. Do not try to cut a tree that is under tension or resting on a structure: the wood can spring back hard and the load can shift.
After the storm passes
Storms leave hidden damage too: cracked unions, hanging limbs and roots that lifted out of soft ground. A tree that survived the wind may fail weeks later. After cleanup, a regular $50 consultation lets Jason look over the rest of your trees and prioritize anything that needs attention before the next storm.
Storm & Emergency Tree Service Questions From Cortland County
How fast can you get to my house in Virgil after a storm?
It depends on which tier you choose. With an Emergency Assessment ($300), we are on site the next business day to assess and quote. With Emergency Response ($5,000 minimum), a crew and equipment are dispatched immediately. Both fees are credited toward the job, so the choice comes down to how urgent the danger is.
Who do I call about a tree on the lines in the City of Cortland?
Call 911 first if anyone is in danger or wires are down. Then call your electric utility. In the city area that is often National Grid, while NYSEG serves many surrounding towns, so check your bill. We do not work on energized lines, but once the utility makes it safe, we can remove the tree.
Will insurance cover storm tree removal on my Cortland County property?
Coverage depends on your policy and on what the tree hit, so check with your insurer before assuming either way. Photos of the damage and our itemized documentation of the work can help you with that conversation. We can’t give insurance advice, but we can make the paperwork clear.
Want the full picture? Read our storm & emergency tree service guide, or see everything we do in Cortland County.