Tree Fell on Your House? What to Do First

If a tree fell on your house, get everyone out of the damaged area, stay far away from any downed power lines, and call 911 if anyone is hurt or wires are down. Once everyone is safe, take photos of the damage, call your insurance company, and call a licensed crew for emergency tree removal.

A tree on your roof is scary, and it’s hard to think clearly in the moment. This guide walks you through exactly what to do when a tree fell on your house, in the right order, so you stay safe and protect your home and your insurance claim.

Step 1: Get Everyone Safe (First 5 Minutes)

When a tree fell on a house, the biggest danger often comes after the first crash. Damaged trees and broken limbs can shift, roofs can sag, and ceilings can collapse hours later.

• Leave the damaged rooms right away. Move people and pets to the far side of the house or outside, away from the tree.
• Don’t go upstairs or into the attic under the impact area. Ceilings can give way without warning.
• Shut off utilities if it’s safe. If you smell gas, leave the house immediately and call 911 from outside.
• Stay off the roof. Never try to climb up or cut the tree yourself.

Step 2: Watch for Power Lines

If a tree fell on your house during a storm, there’s a good chance it pulled down wires on the way.

• Treat every wire as live. Stay at least 35 feet away and keep kids and pets back.
• Call 911 and your electric utility to report downed lines.
• Don’t touch the tree if it’s touching a wire. Electricity can travel through wet wood and branches.

Tree crews can’t safely remove a tree that’s tangled in power lines until the utility makes the area safe.

Step 3: Document Everything for Insurance

Before anything is moved, take clear photos and video from a safe distance:

• The whole tree and where it landed
• Roof, gutters, siding, windows, and fences
• Interior damage like ceiling cracks, leaks, or broken glass
• Cars or other property under the tree
• The stump or broken trunk, which shows how and why it failed

Write down the date, the time, and the weather that day. This record makes your claim much easier.

Step 4: Call Your Insurance Company

Call your homeowners insurance company as soon as you can. In many cases, when a tree falls on your house and damages a covered structure, the policy helps pay for the damage and part of the tree removal. Coverage limits for tree removal vary by policy, so ask your agent:

Not sure what your policy pays for? Read our guide on whether homeowners insurance covers a fallen tree.

• Is the damage to my home covered?
• How much does my policy pay toward removing the tree?
• Can I start emergency work now to prevent more damage?

Most insurers want you to prevent further damage, like covering a hole in the roof with a tarp. Keep receipts for everything.

Step 5: Call for Emergency Tree Removal

A tree on a roof is one of the most dangerous jobs in tree work. The weight is uneven, the trunk may be under tension, and one wrong cut can cause more damage. That’s why it should be handled by a licensed, insured crew with the right rigging and equipment.

How emergency tree removal works when a tree fell on a house:

1. Make it safe. The crew checks for wires and decides how to take the weight off the roof.
2. Remove it in sections. Limbs and trunk pieces are cut and lowered with ropes, or lifted with a crane for large trees.
3. Tarp and protect. Once the tree is off, the roof can be tarped to stop leaks.
4. Clean up. Crews often come back to chip branches and haul logs away. Learn more about tree debris removal.

Call Tree Removal Denver at (983) 277-2893, day or night. We connect you with licensed, insured local crews for fast emergency help across Denver and the metro area.

How Much Does It Cost When a Tree Falls on a House?

Removing a tree that fell on a house costs more than a normal removal because the work is slower and riskier. In the Denver area, emergency removals for trees on homes often run about $1,500 to $3,000 or more, depending on:

• Tree size and how much of it is on the roof
• Whether a crane is needed
• Power lines nearby
• Night, weekend, or storm-surge timing
• Cleanup and haul-away

These are ranges only. For typical prices on standard jobs, see our tree removal cost FAQs.

What Not to Do

• Don’t climb on the roof or into the tree.
• Don’t use a chainsaw on a tree that’s resting on your house.
• Don’t hire the first person who knocks on your door after a storm. Ask for a license and proof of insurance.
• Don’t throw away damaged items before your insurance adjuster sees them.

How to Prevent a Tree From Falling on Your House

Many trees show warning signs long before they fall. (See our full guide to the signs your tree is dying.) Watch for:

• A new or growing lean toward your home
• Deep cracks or splits in the trunk
• Dead or hanging limbs over the roof
• Mushrooms or fungus at the base, or soft, rotting wood
• Dying ash trees, which turn brittle fast

If you see these signs, consider hazardous tree removal before the next windstorm or heavy spring snow. For trees that are already dead, see dead tree removal.

FAQs: When a Tree Fell on a House

Need Help Now?

If a tree fell on your house in Denver or the surrounding metro, call (983) 277-2893 for fast emergency tree removal. Estimates are free, and we connect you with licensed, insured local crews 24/7.

Need a different job done? See everything we cover for tree removal in Denver, from single trees to storm cleanup across the metro area.