Tree on Your House After a Storm: What to Do First
A tree on the house is frightening, and the first hour matters. The priority is always people first, then preventing more damage, then documentation and cleanup.
Save this page before storm season so you have it when the power is out.
Key Takeaways
- People first; leave damaged rooms and call 911 if gas is involved.
- Treat every downed line as live.
- Photograph before cleanup for insurance.
- Never cut a loaded tree off a roof yourself.
1. Get Everyone Safe
Leave any room with a tree through the roof or ceiling. If you smell gas, leave the house and call 911 and the gas provider from outside.
2. Stay Away From Lines
Assume every downed or tree tangled line is live. Keep people and pets away and call the utility. Do not try to move branches off a line.
3. Photograph Everything
Before any cleanup, take wide and close photos of the tree, the damage, the roof and the inside. Your insurance adjuster will want them.
4. Call for Emergency Tree Removal
Do not try to cut a tree off a roof yourself. Wood under load can spring unpredictably and the structure may be weakened. A crew with rigging or a crane can lift the weight off safely so the roof can be tarped.