Storm
A tree on the house: the first hour
The short version
Get everyone out from under the damage and away from the tree. Call 911 if anyone is hurt or the house is shifting, and call the utility if a line is down. Do not go on the roof or touch a limb near a wire; call a tree service and a roofer next.
The sound is not like the movies. It is a crack, then a long scrape along the shingles, then a thump you feel through the floor. When a tree or a large limb lands on a house, the first hour is not a cleanup project. It is a sequence: people, power, structure, water.
Move people before anything else
Start with the rooms under the impact. Get everyone out, including pets, and move to a part of the house away from the tree. Do not stop for belongings.
Once people are clear, step outside and look from a distance. Stay away from the tree itself. A trunk resting on the roof can shift, roll, or drop another limb without warning, and so can a broken limb still caught in the canopy.
Do not go onto the roof or lean a ladder against a gutter to get a better view. Do not touch a limb near a power line, even if the line looks dead.
The two calls that come first
Call 911 if anyone is hurt or trapped, or if the house is showing structural distress: a bowing wall, a sagging ceiling, new cracks above a doorway, or a door that suddenly will not close. Say that a tree has hit the house and whether anyone is still inside.
Call the utility if a line is down, a limb is resting on a wire, or the service drop has pulled away. Assume every line is live and keep everyone back. If you smell gas or hear a hiss, leave and call the gas utility or 911 from outside. Do not flip switches or use a phone inside on the way out.
Three questions that set the priority
Before you start calling tree companies, answer these three questions. They will tell you how much urgency to put in your voice.
- Is the tree still attached to the ground? A tree that has fallen cleanly is one kind of job. One with a lifted root plate, still standing at an angle, may keep moving. Keep the yard clear.
- Is anything under tension? A limb pinned against a roof or wall is carrying weight. Cutting it in the wrong place can release that load into the house or into the person holding the saw. This is why chainsaw work under a fallen tree is a professional job, not a neighborly one.
- Is water getting in right now? If rain is still falling or forecast, the opening in the roof matters as much as the tree. A dry house can wait for a careful removal. A wet house needs the opening covered and the interior protected.
What the damage usually looks like
Most tree-on-house calls fall into a few patterns. The pattern tells you who to call first.
| What you see | What it can mean | First move |
|---|---|---|
| A limb resting on the roof, no water inside | Shingles may be lifted or punctured; the roof deck may be intact | Keep off the roof. Call a tree service, then have a roofer inspect. |
| A limb through the roof into the attic | The deck is open to weather | Contain drips from below. Call a tree service and a roofer. |
| A trunk leaning against a wall | The wall may be carrying part of the tree's weight | Keep everyone out of those rooms. Call 911 if the wall is cracking or bowing. |
| A root plate lifted out of the soil | The tree may continue to settle or roll | Clear the yard. Call a tree service for an assessment. |
| A limb on a fence, shed, or car | Damage is real but the house is not involved | Photograph it and schedule removal. |
| A tree or limb on a power line | The line and everything touching it may be live | Call the utility or 911. Do not touch or move anything. |
The order of calls
Once people are safe, the usual order is tree service, roofer, then water restoration if the house is wet. The tree crew removes the weight and the hazard. The roofer closes the roof. The restoration crew dries anything that got soaked.
When you call a tree service, say what the tree is resting on, whether it is still attached at the root, and whether any wire is involved. Ask whether they handle storm work and whether they can remove the portion on the house without dragging the rest of the tree across the roof.
If you are already in it
The desk is open 7am–10pm ET, seven days a week. Call (877) 454-8068 and describe what is happening. The call is free; the independent professional sets their own charges.
Water is the second event
The tree gets the attention. The rain does the lasting damage. Once the roof is open, water runs into the attic, through insulation, and down the inside of exterior walls. It shows up as a ceiling stain an hour later or a soft spot in the drywall a week later.
Put buckets under active drips and move furniture and electronics out of the way. Do not stand on a chair to poke a bulging ceiling; it can come down all at once. Clear the room and let a professional release it.
If water is running near an outlet, switch, or light fixture, do not touch it. Shut off the circuit only if you can reach the panel on a dry path; otherwise call an electrician.
What to photograph from the ground
Take pictures before anything is moved, but stay on the ground. Wide shots of the tree and the house, the point where the tree meets the roof, and any damage visible from outside are the ones an insurer will want. Photograph gutters, downspouts, siding, and windows on the affected side.
Inside, photograph ceiling stains, cracked drywall, wet insulation, and any water on the floor. Include something for scale, such as a broom handle or a tape measure. Note the date and time, and whether it was raining when the tree came down.
What not to do in the first hour
- Do not climb onto the roof, even to spread a tarp. A roof that has just taken a hit may have soft spots you cannot see.
- Do not run a chainsaw on a limb that is under tension or resting on a structure.
- Do not tie a rope to a vehicle and try to pull the tree off the house. That is how walls and people get hurt.
- Do not stand under the tree to inspect the trunk or take a closer photo.
- Do not enter a room with a sagging ceiling or a bowed wall.
- Do not sign anything from a door-knocking crew before you have spoken with your insurer and read the scope of work.
If the tree is leaning but still standing
A tree that leans after a storm is not necessarily about to fall. A lean that developed over years is different from one that appeared overnight. Look at the ground at the base: a lifted root plate, soil cracked away from the trunk, or a fresh crack in the trunk are reasons to keep the area clear and call for an assessment.
Do not prop the tree with boards, pull it upright with a strap, or pile dirt over the roots to hide the problem. A tree service can tell you whether the tree can be reduced, cabled, or removed. Until then, keep children, pets, and vehicles out of the drop zone.
What to tell the desk
Lead with the details that change the answer:
- Your address and the nearest cross street.
- What the tree is resting on: roof, wall, fence, vehicle, or ground.
- Whether the tree is still rooted, uprooted, or broken partway up.
- Whether a power line is involved or close.
- Whether anyone is hurt or the house is unsafe to occupy.
- Whether it is raining or rain is coming.
- How a crew can reach the tree: driveway, gate, slope, or narrow yard.
If the house is dry, say so; the call is urgent but not a scramble.
The insurance conversation
Call your insurer early, before debris is hauled away. Ask what they want first: photos, an estimate, or an adjuster visit. Keep every receipt for emergency work, tarps, and temporary lodging. Do not throw away damaged property until the adjuster has seen it or told you to.
Be careful with a contractor who offers to handle the claim for you or asks you to sign a document that assigns your insurance benefits. You can hire help without signing away the decision.
After the tree is off
Have the roof inspected, including the attic side of the deck, before you assume a few missing shingles are the whole story. Check gutters, downspouts, siding, window frames, and the chimney on that side for fresh damage.
Inside, watch for new ceiling stains after the next rain. Wet insulation that is not dried or removed can stay damp long after the surface looks fine; a restoration crew can check it with a meter.
The bottom line
People first, then power, then the structure, then the water. A tree on a house is a job for a crew with the right equipment and a plan, not a project for a homeowner with a ladder and a fresh chain. Keep everyone clear, make the two emergency calls if they apply, and let the removal and the repair happen in the right order.