Get everyone out of the damaged part of the house, and call 911 if anyone is hurt or you smell gas. Stay away from any wires on or near the tree. Then call a tree crew and your insurer.
Need this done? See emergency Tree Service in Greenville, SC or call (864) 555-0142.
Do not go back inside to check the damage, and do not try to cut the tree yourself. A tree on a house is under tension, and the wrong cut can make it shift.
What do you do in the first few minutes?
Think about people first. Check that everyone and every pet is out of the rooms the tree hit. If someone is hurt, call 911. If you smell gas or hear a hissing sound, leave the house, and call the gas company and 911 from outside.
If water is coming in, or there are sparks or a burning smell, go outside and call 911. Do not stay in the house to deal with the damage yourself.
What about power lines?
Assume any wire on or near the tree is live. Stay well back, at least a car length, and keep children and pets away. Do not move a branch that is touching a wire, even if the wire looks dead.
Call your power company and tell them a tree is on a line. In Greenville that is often Duke Energy, but check your bill. Duke tells customers to call it to make a service line safe before tree work near it (Duke Energy). A tree crew cannot work near a live wire until the utility says it is safe.
Who do you call after that?
Call a tree crew that does emergency work, and describe what happened: how big the tree is, where it landed and whether any wires are involved. Ask when the crew can get there, and ask for a price range before work starts. Prices go up in an emergency, so a range on the phone helps. Read what emergency tree removal costs in Greenville.
Call your insurer as well. Many homeowners policies cover a tree that hits the house, subject to the policy. This is general information, not insurance advice, so check your own policy.
What should you photograph?
If it is safe, take photos from outside before anything moves: the tree, the damaged roof or wall, anything inside that got wet or broken, and any damage to cars or fences. Your insurer will ask for them. Keep any receipts for tarps, repairs or a hotel.
Do not stand under a limb that is hanging, or lean over the edge of the roof, to get a better shot.
Can you cover the roof?
A crew may tarp the roof once the tree is off, but not every company does it. Ask when you call. A tarp keeps rain out until a roofer can make repairs. Do not climb onto a damaged roof to do it yourself. A weakened roof can give way.
If you must protect belongings, move them to dry rooms away from the damage, as long as the ceiling above them is sound.
Why not cut the tree yourself?
Because the tree is holding weight. A trunk resting on a roof is bearing on the rafters, and a limb that looks small can be pinning a big piece. When one cut releases it, the tree can spring or roll, and the roof can drop. Chainsaw injuries are common after storms, and many happen to homeowners.
Wait for a crew with the right gear. They plan the cuts, lift each piece off with a crane or ropes and work down toward the house.
What if the tree fell on a neighbor's house?
Same steps. Make sure people are safe, stay away from wires and call. Whose tree it was affects who pays, so take photos of where the trunk stood and keep your own insurer in the loop. A neighbor's insurer may cover damage from your tree if it was dead and you had a warning. Talk to your insurer if that comes up.
What about after a big storm?
After Hurricane Helene in September 2024, fallen trees blocked streets across Greenville, and crews had far more calls than they could answer at once (SC Daily Gazette). If you are in a big storm, expect to wait. Make the house safe, protect what you can and keep calling.
Ready to call?
If a tree is on your house, call now and tell us what happened. If it is not an emergency, send the estimate form with what you are looking at. We will tell you what the job takes.
Need help with this?
See our emergency Tree Service page for how it works and typical prices, or call (864) 555-0142 and tell us what you’re looking at.