What to Do When a Tree Falls on Your House

A Tree Just Fell on Your House — Here's What to Do

It's one of the worst things a homeowner can experience: the sound of cracking wood followed by a crash that shakes the entire house. Whether it happened during one of Charlotte's severe summer thunderstorms, a winter ice event, or even on a calm day because of hidden decay, a tree falling on your house is an emergency that requires immediate, clear-headed action.

Step 1: Get Everyone Out Safely

Your first priority is safety. Get everyone — family members, pets — out of the affected area of the house immediately. Even if the damage looks minor from inside, you don't know whether the roof structure has been compromised, whether the tree is still shifting, or whether additional branches are about to come down. If the tree has caused structural damage, exit the home entirely and wait outside at a safe distance.

If anyone is trapped or injured, call 911 immediately. Do not attempt to move debris off a person — you could cause further injury or shift the tree in an unpredictable way.

Step 2: Watch for Electrical Hazards

Trees that fall on houses often bring down power lines on the way down. If you see downed power lines on your property — anywhere — stay far away and call 911 and Duke Energy. A downed line can energize the ground around it, the tree, and any metal objects it's touching. Treat every downed wire as live and deadly. Don't walk through puddles near downed lines. Don't try to move the line or the tree. Just stay clear and call for help.

Step 3: Call Your Insurance Company

Contact your homeowner's insurance company as soon as it's safe to do so. Most policies cover tree damage from storms, wind, and other sudden events. Start the claims process immediately — after a major storm in Charlotte, insurance companies get flooded with calls and adjusters are scheduled out for days or weeks. The sooner you file, the sooner you get in the queue.

When you call, have this information ready if possible:

• Photos and videos of the damage from multiple angles
• Your policy number
• A description of what happened and when
• Whether anyone was injured
• Whether the home is still habitable

Step 4: Call a Professional Tree Service

Removing a tree from a house is not a DIY job under any circumstances. It requires specialized equipment, rigging techniques, and experience working in a situation where one wrong cut can cause the tree to shift and cause additional damage. This is exactly the kind of work our emergency tree service handles.

When you call a tree service, ask about:

• Their availability for emergency response
• Whether they carry liability insurance and workers' compensation
• Their experience with insurance work and documentation
• Whether they can tarp or board up the damaged area after tree removal to prevent further water damage

Step 5: Prevent Further Damage

Water damage from rain entering through the hole in your roof can quickly become worse than the original tree damage. If it's safe to do so, place tarps, buckets, or plastic sheeting to catch or redirect water away from the interior of your home. Your tree service or a roofing company can install temporary tarps on the roof once the tree is removed. Most insurance policies expect homeowners to take reasonable steps to prevent additional damage, and the cost of emergency tarping is typically covered.

Step 6: Document Everything

Take photos and videos from every possible angle before, during, and after the tree removal. Document the damage to the roof, interior, landscaping, and any other property that was affected. Save all receipts for emergency expenses — tarping, hotel stays if you had to evacuate, emergency tree removal. Your insurance adjuster will need all of this.

Understanding the Insurance Process

Most homeowner's insurance policies in Charlotte cover tree damage to structures caused by wind, storms, lightning, and the weight of ice or snow. This typically includes the cost of removing the tree from the structure and repairing the damage. However, policies vary, and there are often limits on tree removal costs. Your adjuster will inspect the damage, prepare an estimate, and work with you on the repair process.

One important note: insurance generally does not cover removing a tree that hasn't damaged a structure. If a tree falls in your yard and misses the house, the removal cost usually comes out of your pocket. This is another good reason for proactive tree maintenance — removing a hazardous tree before it falls is much cheaper than dealing with the aftermath.

After the Emergency

Once the immediate crisis is handled, take stock of the other trees on your property. A storm strong enough to take down one tree may have weakened others. Have a professional assessment done on your remaining trees to catch any new hazards before they become the next emergency.

24/7 Emergency Response

If a tree has fallen on your house or any structure on your property, call Orlando Tree at (704) 749-0642 immediately. We provide 24/7 emergency tree service throughout the Charlotte area and can have a crew on site as quickly as conditions allow. We'll remove the tree safely, help you document the damage for insurance, and secure your home against further damage.