Seneca County saw how quickly a storm can change a property on September 2, 2026, when an EF-2 tornado hit Fayette and an EF-1 tracked from Waterloo to Seneca Falls. Strong wind events also hit the wider NYSEG Ithaca Division, which includes Seneca, in January 2024, bringing down poles, wires and tree limbs.
Seneca is the farthest county Tubbs Tree Service covers from our base in Spencer, so we keep emergency service simple and honest. There are two tiers with clear terms, and we won’t promise anything faster than what they say. Both fees are credited toward the job, and the same crane, bucket truck and rigging we use for planned removals come with the crew.
The two emergency options
- Emergency Assessment, $300: Jason is on site the next business day to assess the damage and quote the work.
- Emergency Response, $5,000 minimum: the crew and equipment roll immediately so the hazard can be brought down and made safe.
- Either fee is credited toward the job when the work goes ahead.
- Problems that are not urgent go to the regular $50 consultation, scheduled weekly by severity.
First steps if a tree is on a wire
Treat every downed wire as live. Stay back, keep others away, and call 911 and NYSEG, which serves Seneca Falls, Waterloo, Ovid, Interlaken, Lodi and the towns around them. We don’t touch energized lines. Once NYSEG has made the line safe, call us at (607) 375-7681 or request help at /emergency-tree-service/.
Keeping a record while you wait
Once everyone is safe, take photos of the tree, the damage and the surrounding area from several angles before anything is moved. Note the date and time. If you plan to file a claim, check with your insurer about what they need. Keep people and vehicles out from under hanging limbs, and don’t try to cut a tree that is under tension or resting on a structure. That is when chainsaw injuries happen.
Picking the right tier
If a tree is resting on your roof, blocking the only driveway out, or hanging over a room people use, Emergency Response is the one to consider. If the tree is down but stable, or a big limb is cracked but not moving, an Emergency Assessment gives you an expert look and a plan the next business day. When in doubt, call and describe what you see.
Storm & Emergency Tree Service Questions From Seneca County
A tree is lying on the wires at my house in Waterloo. What should I do?
Stay away from the tree and the wires, and keep everyone else back. Call 911 and NYSEG right away. Do not try to move branches or cut anything. Once NYSEG has made the line safe, call Tubbs to remove the tree and clean up.
Which emergency option fits a tree leaning on my roof in Seneca Falls?
A tree resting on a roof can shift and cause more damage, so Emergency Response is usually the right fit. The crew and equipment are dispatched immediately to take the weight off safely, often with a crane lifting sections clear of the house. The $5,000 minimum is credited toward the full job.
Seneca is your farthest county. Will emergency help take longer here?
The tiers are the same in Seneca as everywhere we work. Emergency Assessment means on site the next business day. Emergency Response means a crew and equipment are dispatched immediately. We won’t promise a faster time than that, and we’d rather be honest with you up front.
Want the full picture? Read our storm & emergency tree service guide, or see everything we do in Seneca County.