Can I get FEMA or government help with storm tree cleanup?

After a big storm, the rumor that "FEMA will pay for it" spreads faster than the crews do. It is mostly wrong, and believing it costs people weeks of waiting for help that was never coming. Federal help is real but narrow: it is switched on only by a presidential disaster declaration, it goes to essential needs insurance did not cover, and a tree on the lawn is not one of them.

Does FEMA pay for tree removal?

Almost never for a tree that fell in the yard. FEMA's Individual Assistance program, when it is turned on, pays for a specific list: temporary housing, essential repairs to make a home safe, sanitary, and livable, and some other serious needs, only to the extent insurance did not cover them. A tree on the grass does not make a home unsafe, so it is not on the list. A tree on the house is different. If removing it is necessary to make the home livable and your insurance fell short or you had none, the removal can be part of an award, though the per-household cap is low. Debris on private property is generally not covered unless it blocks access or threatens health and safety. The plain summary: if the tree hit your house and insurance handled it, expect nothing more from FEMA; if you had no insurance or a large gap, apply.

How do I know if my area has a disaster declaration?

Look it up rather than trusting word of mouth. FEMA lists every declaration on fema.gov, and disasterassistance.gov lets you enter your address and see whether you can apply. Two things trip people up. A state of emergency declared by the governor is not a federal declaration; it frees up state resources but does not open FEMA's checkbook. And a federal declaration can include Public Assistance (money for governments to repair roads and clear debris) without Individual Assistance for households, or cover some counties and not others. Many damaging storms never get a declaration at all. For those storms, the coverage that matters is on does insurance cover storm tree damage?

Will the city pick up storm debris from my curb?

In a declared disaster, usually yes, and this is the government help most homeowners actually receive. The city or county announces curbside vegetative debris pickup, often reimbursed by FEMA, and grapple trucks work street by street. It is free, but the rules matter. You must cut the tree into manageable lengths and stack it at the curb, not in the street or against a fence or mailbox. Crews will not enter your yard, will not take a whole trunk, and may not take stumps. The first pass can take weeks, so watch for the schedule and the cut-off date. If a tree service does the cutting, tell them to stack at the curb instead of hauling, which keeps the price near the low end of $200–$500 for a fallen medium tree; what hauling normally includes is on can I keep the wood? What does tree removal include?

What is an SBA disaster loan?

The US Small Business Administration, despite the name, is the main federal lender to homeowners after a declared disaster. Homeowners can borrow up to $500,000 to repair the home and up to $100,000 for personal property, for losses insurance did not cover. Rates are low and terms run up to 30 years. You have to qualify, but there is no cost to apply and no obligation to accept. FEMA often refers you to the SBA before deciding on a grant; an SBA denial can send your application back to FEMA. Tree removal and yard cleanup count as uninsured losses, which makes this the one program that helps with a tree that hit nothing.

How do I apply for FEMA assistance?

At disasterassistance.gov, through the FEMA app, or by phone. Have your address, Social Security number, insurance information, a description of the damage, and bank details for direct deposit. Photograph everything before cleanup. File with your insurer first; FEMA is a payer of last resort and will ask for the insurer's decision letter. Apply even if you think you will not qualify, because the application also opens the door to the SBA loan and some state programs. Meanwhile, a tree on the house gets tarped and removed now at the prices on how much does emergency tree removal cost?, because no program pays more for a house that got wetter while you waited. Watch for anyone who charges to file for you or claims to be a FEMA inspector and asks for money; FEMA never charges. The rest of the post-storm scam list is on how do I avoid tree removal scams after a storm?

Not yet independently reviewed. This page is general information about federal and local programs, not legal or financial advice. Program rules change; confirm current terms at disasterassistance.gov.