A Tree Fell on My House: What to Do in the First Hour

Storms in the Tennessee Valley don't ask permission. If a tree has come down on your home, garage, or vehicle, the next hour matters more than the next week — both for safety and for how smoothly your insurance claim will go. Here's exactly what to do, in order.

Step 1: Get everyone out and accounted for

Trees that have fallen on a structure can shift, settle, or bring more of the roof down without warning. Get everyone out of the house, away from the impacted area, and into a safe spot — ideally a neighbor's house or a covered porch on the opposite side of the property. Account for pets too.

Step 2: Stay away from downed power lines

If the tree is touching a power line, or a line is down anywhere on the property, treat every line as live. Stay back at least 35 feet and keep others away. Call EPB (or your utility provider) immediately. Do not touch the tree, the line, or anything in contact with either.

Step 3: Call 911 if anyone is injured or trapped

Don't try to move a tree off someone yourself. Trees are heavier than they look and shifting them without leverage can make injuries worse.

Step 4: Shut off utilities if you can do so safely

If you smell gas, leave the house and call the gas company from a safe distance. If you can safely reach your main electrical panel and the structural damage is significant, shut off the main breaker. Don't enter compromised areas of the house to do this.

Step 5: Document the damage

Before anything is moved, take photos and short videos from multiple angles:

• Wide shots showing the tree and the structure
• Close shots of damage to the roof, walls, windows
• Interior shots of any rooms affected
• Photos of damaged personal property
• The base of the tree where it came out of the ground, if applicable

This documentation is what your insurance adjuster will use to settle the claim.

Step 6: Call your insurance company

Most homeowners policies cover damage from fallen trees, including:

• Repair of the damaged structure
• Removal of the tree from the structure (usually up to a per-tree limit)
• Sometimes additional living expenses if the home is uninhabitable

Open a claim right away. Your adjuster will tell you what's covered and may request specific documentation.

Step 7: Call a qualified emergency tree service

This is where being careful matters. After major storms, out-of-town “tree services” flood into the area and knock on doors. Before agreeing to anything:

• Verify general liability and workers' comp insurance
• Get the scope in writing
• Avoid paying large cash deposits up front
• Confirm whether they'll coordinate with your insurance adjuster

A reputable local tree service can usually get the tree off the structure quickly and stabilize the site so a roofer or contractor can begin repairs.

What not to do

• Don't climb on the tree or the roof yourself.
• Don't try to cut up the tree while it's still in contact with the structure — trees under tension can spring back violently.
• Don't sign a “blank check” assignment of benefits to the first contractor who shows up.
• Don't dispose of damaged property until your insurance adjuster has seen it.

After the immediate emergency

Once the tree is off, document the cleared site, save every receipt and invoice, and keep notes from every phone call with your insurance company. Restoration is a process — tree removal, roof tarp, structural repair, interior repair, replanting — and good records make every step of it easier.