On September 2, 2026, an EF-2 tornado with 115 mph winds tracked through the Town of Fayette, and an EF-1 with 95 mph winds ran from Waterloo to Seneca Falls. The trees that fell were obvious. The harder problem is the trees that stayed up with cracked unions, loosened roots or broken limbs caught in the crown, waiting for the next wind or snow load.
Hazardous tree removal in Seneca County means working on trees that cannot be climbed or felled the normal way. Jason Tubbs looks at each one during a $50 on-site consultation, then lays out the safest method and the options for scope. Consultations are scheduled weekly with priority by severity, and anything that can’t wait goes through our emergency tiers.
What the September storms left behind
Wind of that strength twists trunks as much as it pushes them. Along the tornado paths, look for bark that has opened in long vertical seams, soil that has heaved up on one side of the trunk, and broken branches resting in the canopy. Beyond the storm tracks, Seneca County also has its slow hazards: ash killed by emerald ash borer, and beech in decline since beech leaf disease was detected here in 2023.
Signs worth a closer look
- A new lean, especially with cracked or mounded soil at the base.
- Hangers: broken limbs lodged in the crown above a driveway, path or roof.
- Splits where two main stems meet.
- Mushrooms, soft wood or missing bark near the base.
- A dead ash or a thin, banded-leaf beech next to a house or camp.
How a dangerous tree comes down safely
A compromised tree can’t be trusted to hold a climber or to fall where it is aimed. Where a crane can reach, it holds each section before the cut so the tree never swings free. Where it can’t, a bucket truck keeps the crew off the trunk, and rigging lowers pieces to the ground under control. Jason chooses the method on site in Waterloo, Interlaken or wherever the tree stands, and the plan explains why.
Trees tangled in NYSEG wires
NYSEG serves Seneca Falls, Waterloo, Ovid, Interlaken, Lodi and the surrounding towns. If a damaged tree is touching a line, stay well back, call 911 and NYSEG, and keep kids and pets away. Tubbs does not work on energized lines. Call us once the utility has made the line safe, and we will handle the tree.
Hazardous Tree Removal Questions From Seneca County
My tree survived the September tornado. Could it still be dangerous?
It could. Strong wind can crack a trunk or loosen roots without toppling the tree, and the damage often shows up later as a lean or a falling limb. If the tree is near your house, driveway or a neighbor’s property, have Jason look at it during a consultation. If it is clearly moving or cracking, use the emergency tiers instead.
Will my homeowner’s insurance pay to remove a storm-damaged tree in Fayette?
That depends on your policy and on what the tree hit, so check with your insurer directly. What we can provide is an itemized plan from the consultation that describes the tree, the damage and the work, which many people find useful when they talk to their insurance company.
The beech trees around our Lodi camp have strange striped leaves. Are they a hazard?
Banded, thickened leaves are a common sign of beech leaf disease, which was confirmed in Seneca County in 2023. A sick beech is not always dangerous right away, but declining trees shed dead limbs. Jason can look at the trees near the camp, roofline and paths, and tell you which ones are worth removing now.
Want the full picture? Read our hazardous tree removal guide, or see everything we do in Seneca County.