Tree Falls on House: What to Do Step by Step
A Tree Just Fell on Your House: Here Is What to Do
A tree falling on your house is one of the most stressful situations a homeowner can face. Whether it happened during a storm or a calm afternoon, the first few decisions you make are critical for your safety, your home, and your insurance claim. This guide walks Jonesboro, AR homeowners through exactly what to do when a tree falls on their house, step by step.
Step 1: Get Everyone Out Safely
Your first priority is people, not property. If a tree has struck your home, there may be structural damage you cannot see. Ceilings, walls, and support beams may be compromised even if the visible damage looks minor.
Get everyone out of the area of impact immediately. If the tree has brought down power lines, stay well away from the lines and anything they are touching, including the tree itself, metal fences, and wet ground. A downed power line can energize the ground in a wide radius. Call 911 if there is any question about live wires.
Step 2: Call Your Utility Company
If the tree has hit your power lines, roof-mounted electrical conduit, or your meter box, contact Craighead Electric or your utility provider immediately. Do not attempt to move any part of the tree that is in contact with electrical lines. Utility crews will need to disconnect or de-energize the lines before any tree removal work can begin safely.
If gas lines are damaged and you smell gas, leave the area and call your gas provider or 911.
Step 3: Document Everything
Before anything gets moved or covered, document the damage thoroughly. Take photos and videos from every angle, including the tree itself, where it hit, the visible damage to the roof, walls, interior rooms, and any personal property that was damaged. This documentation is essential for your insurance claim.
Photograph the base of the tree as well, especially if it uprooted. Insurance adjusters may want to assess whether the tree was healthy or already dead before it fell, as this can affect your coverage.
Step 4: Call Your Insurance Company
Contact your homeowner’s insurance provider as soon as it is safe to do so. Most standard homeowner’s policies in Arkansas cover damage caused by fallen trees, including the cost of removing the tree from the structure. However, coverage details vary by policy, so reporting the incident quickly gets the claims process moving.
Your adjuster will likely want to see the damage before repairs begin. Ask your insurance company whether you can proceed with emergency tarping and tree removal to prevent further damage, or whether they need to inspect first. In most cases, insurers understand that emergency mitigation cannot wait for an adjuster visit.
For a deeper look at how coverage works in this state, read our guide on whether insurance covers tree removal in Arkansas.
Step 5: Call an Emergency Tree Service
Once the scene is safe from electrical hazards, you need a qualified emergency tree removal crew to get the tree off your home. This is not a job for a handyman, a neighbor with a chainsaw, or a DIY weekend project. Removing a tree from a structure requires careful sectional cutting, rigging, and crane work in some cases to avoid causing additional damage.
A licensed and certified tree removal service knows how to remove the tree in sections without collapsing weakened roof areas. They also carry the liability insurance needed to protect you if something goes wrong during removal.
When choosing an emergency tree service, ask about their response time, whether they handle insurance documentation, and whether they will tarp exposed areas after the tree is removed.
Step 6: Prevent Further Damage
After the tree is removed, your roof or walls may have open holes exposed to weather. Emergency tarping is a critical step to prevent rain, wind, and debris from causing secondary water damage inside your home. Most tree service companies can tarp the opening as part of the emergency removal, or they can recommend a contractor who handles storm damage repairs.
Water damage from an untarped roof can quickly escalate into mold, ruined insulation, damaged drywall, and compromised electrical systems. Getting a tarp up within hours of tree removal is not optional.
Step 7: Get a Structural Assessment
Even if the damage looks cosmetic, have a licensed contractor or structural engineer inspect the affected areas before making permanent repairs. A tree impact can shift framing, crack rafters, or damage load-bearing walls in ways that are not visible from the outside. It is better to discover hidden damage during inspection than after you have already patched the roof.
What About the Stump?
After the emergency is handled and your home is secured, you will still have a stump and root system to deal with. Stump grinding can be scheduled after the immediate crisis is resolved. Some homeowners handle this as part of the insurance claim, while others address it separately during their property cleanup.
Be Prepared Before It Happens
The best time to deal with a hazardous tree is before it falls. Regular tree trimming and periodic health assessments from a certified arborist help identify trees that pose a risk to your home. Removing a leaning, dead, or structurally compromised tree on your schedule is always safer and less expensive than an emergency removal after it has already caused damage.
Ridgeline Tree Care provides emergency tree removal and proactive tree care for homeowners throughout Jonesboro and Craighead County. If a tree has fallen on your house, call (870) 604-4053 for immediate response.