If a tree falls on your house, get everyone out of the damaged area right away and check for injuries, downed power lines and gas leaks. Call 911 if anyone is hurt or there are utility hazards, then contact your insurer and a tree service once everyone is safe.
A tree on a roof can shift without warning, so the first priority is people, not property. The steps below can help you handle the next few hours.
First, Get Everyone Safe
Move everyone, including pets, away from the part of the house where the tree landed. Don’t go back into damaged rooms, and don’t climb onto the roof to look. Ceilings and roof framing may be weaker than they appear.
If the damage is serious, it may be safer to leave the house altogether until someone can check it.
Check for Utility Hazards
Look for downed or sagging power lines from a safe distance. If a line is down or touching the tree, stay far away and call 911 and your electric utility. In the Joplin area, Liberty Utilities’ emergency line is 1-800-206-2300.
If you smell gas, leave the house and call for help from outside and well away from the building. If water is leaking from damaged pipes, shutting off the main water valve may help, but only if you can reach it safely.
Document the Damage and Contact Your Insurer
Once everyone is safe, take photos and video of the tree and the damage from several angles, inside and out. These records can help with an insurance claim.
Call your insurance company as soon as you can. Coverage depends on your policy and the cause of the damage, so ask what they need from you and whether they want to see the damage before the tree is removed. If the tree is causing ongoing danger or more damage, let them know.
Temporary steps, such as covering an open roof with a tarp, may be needed to prevent further damage. Leave any work on the roof to professionals.
Getting the Tree Off the House
Removing a tree from a roof is one of the more complicated jobs in tree work. The tree may be under tension, and the wrong cut can cause it to shift and do more damage. It usually has to be taken off in pieces and lifted or lowered in a controlled way.
This isn’t a job for homeowners or untrained helpers. A crew that handles emergency tree work can assess the situation, plan how to remove the tree safely and clear the debris so repairs can begin. If the rest of the tree is still standing and damaged, it may also need emergency tree removal.
Start with safety and your insurer. After that, a local tree service can look at the damage and explain how the tree can be taken off your Missouri home safely.
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