A Tree Fell on Your Roof: What to Do in the First 24 Hours

Step 1: Get everyone to safety

Move everyone, including pets, out of any room under or near the damage. A tree that has broken through the roof can still shift, and ceilings below it may be holding water or debris.

If the tree broke through the roof or part of the house looks unsafe, leave that area completely. Do not go back in to collect belongings until the structure has been checked.

If anyone is hurt, call 911 before anything else.

Step 2: Treat every downed line as live

Assume any power line touching the tree, the house or the ground is live. Keep everyone well away from it and call 911 or your electric utility.

If you smell gas, leave the house and call from outside. Do not touch switches or appliances on the way out.

The tree cannot be moved safely until the utility has made the lines safe.

Step 3: Stay off the roof and leave the tree alone

Do not climb onto the roof or try to cut the tree off yourself. A fallen tree can be holding up part of the structure, and cutting it can make it shift or drop further into the house.

Removing the tree is a job for a tree removal crew with the right equipment. Securing and repairing the roof underneath it is the work our crews do.

Step 4: Photograph the damage from a safe spot

Good records make your insurance claim stronger. Take photos and video from the ground and from safe rooms inside, before anything is moved or cleaned up.

• Wide shots that show the whole tree and where it landed
• Closer shots of the roof, gutters, siding and windows it hit
• Inside damage, such as ceiling cracks, water stains and wet insulation
• Damaged belongings, with a simple written list

Our guide on how to document roof storm damage for insurance covers what to photograph and what records to keep.

Step 5: Protect the inside of the house

Once it is safe, move furniture, electronics and valuables away from the damaged area. Put buckets under drips and lay towels down to limit water damage.

Stay out from under sagging ceilings. A bulging ceiling can be holding water and may come down without warning.

Step 6: Call your insurance company

Report the damage to your insurer as soon as you can. Policies require prompt notice, and some insurers expect a claim within a day or two.

Write down your claim number, the adjuster's name and every call you make. Keep that log with your photos.

Our insurance claims help page explains how the claim process usually runs. We meet your insurance adjuster on site so the storm damage is documented properly.

Step 7: Get the roof secured

An open roof lets in rain and snow every hour it stays open. Emergency tarping and board-up close the opening until the permanent repair can be done.

Our emergency repairs team handles tarping, board-up and temporary protection after storm damage. Our article on emergency roof tarping explains what a proper temporary cover involves.

Keep every receipt for emergency work. Most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage.

What homeowners insurance usually covers

Damage to your house from a tree that fell in a storm is generally treated as storm damage. What your policy pays depends on your coverage, your deductible and why the tree came down.

A tree that fell because it was dead or neglected may be handled differently from one brought down by wind. Removal of the tree itself can also be covered differently from the damage to the house.

Read your policy and ask your agent how your insurer treats fallen trees. Our storm damage team helps you get the full scope documented before the adjuster writes the estimate.

How the roof is repaired after a tree hits it

A tree can damage far more than the shingles you can see. A proper repair starts with a full inspection of what sits under the impact area.

• Framing: rafters and trusses under the impact point are checked for cracks or breaks
• Decking: broken or water-soaked roof decking is replaced
• Roofing: underlayment, flashing and shingles are rebuilt to match the rest of the roof
• Siding and gutters: storm-damaged siding and crushed gutters are repaired, and our gutter repair service handles bent or torn runs

Our crews repair the roof, decking, siding, gutters and framing after tree damage. Interior drywall and finishes are usually handled by an interior contractor once the outside is sealed.

How to lower the risk of the next tree

Trees and large limbs that hang over the roof are the ones most likely to cause damage in a windstorm. Keep branches trimmed back from the roof and gutters.

Have trees close to the house checked by an arborist if they look dead, leaning or damaged. Tree care is outside our services, but a healthy tree line protects the roof we install.

Get the damage secured and repaired

Buckshot Exteriors is family-owned, has served homeowners since 1979, and has offices in Madison, Wisconsin and Centerville, Iowa. Our 24-hour storm line takes emergency calls, our on-site inspection is free, and we meet your insurance adjuster on site.

Call (608) 909-9109 for emergency help or a free residential roofing inspection, or send us a message if the damage is not urgent. If you are still waiting on the tree crew, the steps above keep your family safe and your claim strong.