What to Do When a Tree Falls on Your House

A tree falling on a house is frightening, and the first minutes matter most for safety rather than property. The steps below focus on keeping people away from danger, notifying the right people, and handling the paperwork that usually follows.

Nothing here is a guide to cutting, moving, or climbing on a tree. Storm-damaged trees can shift or drop without warning, and they often involve electrical hazards that are not obvious from the ground.

Treat every part of the situation as potentially dangerous until a qualified professional says otherwise. Your job is to protect people, report hazards, and document what you see from a safe distance.

Get people clear and account for everyone

Move everyone out of the house and away from the tree, and avoid standing under damaged branches, sagging limbs, or anything the tree is touching.

If someone cannot leave safely, call emergency services rather than trying to reach them yourself.

• Keep children and pets well back and inside a neighbor’s home or a vehicle if conditions allow.
• Do not enter rooms where the structure, ceiling, or roof looks compromised.
• Watch for leaning trees, hanging limbs, and cracked trunks near the exit path.
• If anyone is injured, call emergency services immediately.

Treat power lines and utilities as live

Assume any downed or dangling line is energized, and keep yourself and others far away from it and from anything it contacts, including fences, gutters, and puddles. Do not touch the line, the tree, or nearby metal objects.

• Call the electric utility or emergency services from a safe location and follow their instructions.
• If you smell gas or hear a hissing sound, leave the area and call the gas utility or emergency services.
• If water is running where it should not be, contact your water provider.
• Keep the area clear until utility crews say it is safe.

Document the damage from a safe distance

Once people are safe and utilities have been notified, gather information for your insurance claim. Photographs and notes taken from a safe spot are usually enough at this stage.

• Take wide photos and short videos showing the tree, the house, and the surrounding area.
• Note the date and time, and write down anything you noticed before the tree fell.
• List damaged rooms, belongings, and vehicles without entering unsafe areas.
• Keep receipts for any emergency expenses, such as a hotel stay.

Contact your insurer early

Call your insurance company or agent as soon as you can. Policies differ on how they handle tree removal, debris disposal, and damage to the structure, so ask what your policy covers and what they need from you.

• Ask whether removal of the tree is covered and under what conditions.
• Ask who arranges and pays for debris hauling, and whether there is a limit.
• Find out how to submit photos and whether an adjuster will visit.
• Ask whether you need approval before any work begins.

Keep in mind that rules about permits, debris pickup, and who is responsible for a tree that came from a neighboring property vary by location. Check with your city or county, your insurer, or a qualified local professional about your specific situation.

Arrange for a qualified tree service

Removing a tree from a structure is hazardous work that usually requires specialized equipment and training.

Do not cut, climb, or attempt to pull the tree yourself, and do not hire someone who arrives uninvited and pressures you to pay upfront.

• Ask for proof of insurance and a written estimate before work starts.
• Ask how they will protect the house, utilities, and nearby property.
• Confirm who is responsible for permits and for removing debris.
• Get the scope of work in writing, including what happens to the stump and wood.

If you are searching for help in your area, you can start with the Emergency Tree Removal Directory homepage to find listings near you. Homeowners in some states may find regional pages useful, such as emergency tree removal tree services in South Carolina or emergency tree removal tree services in Oregon.

Next steps

Work through the list in order: confirm everyone is safe, keep clear of the tree and any lines, call the utility or emergency services when hazards are present, then contact your insurer.

Take photos when it is safe to do so, and wait for guidance from utility crews and a qualified tree professional before anyone approaches the tree.

If you need to find local help, use the directory to compare nearby providers, and check with your city or county and your insurer about permits, coverage, and debris disposal in your area.