What to Do When a Tree Falls on Your House

Ely Enterprise Tree Service · 3-minute read

Put Safety First

A tree falling on your house can create structural damage, electrical hazards, water intrusion, and unstable debris. Knowing what to do next can help protect your family and prevent additional damage.

1. Leave the Damaged Area

Move everyone away from the affected portion of the house. If the structure appears unstable, you smell gas, see smoke or sparks, or someone is injured, leave the home and call 911.

Do not walk beneath hanging branches or attempt to move the tree. Fallen trunks and limbs may shift without warning.

2. Stay Away From Utility Lines

Treat every downed or damaged utility line as energized. Never touch the tree, branch, vehicle, fence, or structure if it may be in contact with a power line.

Stay away and contact the utility company immediately.

3. Contact Your Insurance Company

Notify your homeowners insurance company as soon as it is safe. Explain what happened and ask what documentation and emergency work they require.

Coverage depends on the policy and circumstances. A standard policy often covers damage when a tree strikes an insured structure, but only the insurance company can determine what your policy covers.

Ely Enterprise works with insurance companies and can provide documentation related to the tree removal and emergency work we complete.

4. Document the Damage Safely

Take photographs and videos from a safe location before cleanup begins. Document the tree, visible structural damage, damaged belongings, and surrounding property.

Do not enter an unstable area simply to take pictures. Safety remains the first priority.

5. Call a Licensed and Insured Tree Service

Removing a tree from a house requires careful planning. The tree may be resting on the roof, tangled with utility lines, or under enough pressure to move suddenly when cut.

Attempting the work without proper training and equipment could cause injury or additional property damage. Ask any company you hire to provide proof that it is licensed and insured.

6. Protect the Roof From Additional Damage

Once the tree is safely removed, damaged sections of the roof may need temporary tarping to reduce additional rain and water damage until permanent repairs can be completed.

Ely Enterprise offers emergency roof tarping as part of our storm-response services when conditions allow the work to be performed safely.

7. Keep Your Records

Save photographs, estimates, invoices, claim numbers, and messages with the insurance company. Keep records of the emergency tree removal, debris cleanup, and temporary protective work.

Emergency Tree Removal in Upstate South Carolina

Ely Enterprise Tree Service provides 24/7 emergency tree removal, storm cleanup, emergency roof tarping, and debris removal throughout Greenville, Spartanburg, Greer, and surrounding Upstate communities.

We are locally owned, fully licensed and insured, and experienced with trees on houses and other structures. Owner Jeremiah Ely is personally involved on every job site.

If a tree has fallen on your home or property, call Ely Enterprise Tree Service at 864-417-0584 for immediate assistance.