Quick answer
Move everyone away from the damaged area, assume any nearby utility line is energized, and call 911 or the utility when there is immediate danger. Once the area is safe, document damage from a distance, contact your insurer, and call a professional emergency tree service. Do not climb onto the structure, cut loaded branches, or pull debris from power lines.
Immediate Steps After a Tree Falls
- Get people and pets away. Leave rooms beneath the impact area and move to a safe location without walking under damaged limbs.
- Call 911 for immediate danger. Fire, injuries, suspected gas damage, electrical hazards, or major structural movement require emergency authorities.
- Watch for a second failure. The fallen section may still be attached, and neighboring branches or stems may have been pulled out of position.
- Do not enter the debris. Power lines, sharp broken limbs, roofing material, and unstable wood can be hidden underneath.
- Call for professional tree response. Explain whether the tree is on a home, vehicle, fence, driveway, or utility line and whether access is blocked.
Do not make the situation worse while trying to help. A branch resting on a roof may be carrying weight in several directions. Cutting one end can cause the remaining section to roll, spring, drop, or shift deeper into the structure.
Treat Every Nearby Power Line as Energized
Georgia Power advises the public to stay away from downed or low-hanging lines and never remove a tree limb or object from a line. Electricity can travel through tree material, metal fences, vehicles, tools, standing water, and saturated ground.
If a tree is touching a line:
- Do not touch the tree, branch, fence, vehicle, or tool near it.
- Keep other people and pets away.
- Do not drive over the line or try to pull the tree clear.
- Call Georgia Power at 1-888-891-0938 or call 911 so the location can be secured.
Tree crews may need utility clearance before they can safely address the wood. Emergency tree service does not replace utility control of an electrical hazard.
Document the Damage and Contact Your Insurer
After emergency hazards are controlled, photograph the scene from a safe location. Capture wide views showing where the tree came from and where it landed, plus visible damage to the roof, siding, vehicle, fence, driveway, or outbuilding.
Contact your insurance company or agent as soon as practical. Ask about:
- Whether you should file a claim before removal begins
- What photographs or video they need
- Whether an adjuster must inspect the damage
- Emergency mitigation and temporary repair requirements
- Receipts and written estimates you should retain
- Your wind or hurricane deductible and coverage limits
Policies differ. Do not assume that tree removal, landscaping, structural repairs, or a neighbor's tree will be handled the same way under every policy. The separate guide to homeowners insurance and fallen trees in Georgia explains the questions to ask without trying to interpret an individual policy.
What Emergency Tree Removal May Involve
Emergency work begins with stabilizing the area and understanding where the tree's weight is supported. The crew may inspect from several angles, identify tensioned limbs, protect access areas, and coordinate with utility or emergency personnel.
Depending on the situation, removal may include:
- Controlled cutting of limbs resting on a roof or structure
- Rigging sections so they can be lowered away from damaged areas
- Crane support for large, unstable, or difficult-to-reach material
- Opening a blocked driveway or access route
- Removing remaining stems that cannot safely stand
- Chipping branches, hauling logs, and clearing hazardous debris
The tree crew's job is to remove or stabilize the tree hazard. Roofing, structural, electrical, and utility repairs may require separate qualified professionals after the tree is clear.
What to Do After the Tree Is Removed
Secure the Structure
Use qualified repair professionals for temporary coverings, structural assessment, electrical work, or other building repairs. Do not climb onto a wet or damaged roof to install a tarp yourself.
Keep Records
Retain photographs, written estimates, invoices, receipts, claim numbers, and communication with your insurer. If emergency work had to begin before an adjuster arrived, document why delay would have increased danger or damage.
Inspect Nearby Trees
The same wind and saturated soil may have damaged other trees that did not fall. Look from the ground for new leans, cracked soil, hanging limbs, split stems, and exposed roots. Arrange post-storm tree cleanup and evaluation rather than assuming the remaining canopy is unchanged.
Decide What to Do With the Stump
Emergency access and structural protection normally come before stump work. Once urgent repairs are under control, stump grinding can reclaim the area and make mowing, landscaping, or rebuilding easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should I call first when a tree falls on my house?
Call 911 first when there are injuries, fire, suspected gas damage, electrical hazards, or immediate structural danger. Contact Georgia Power for a downed line, then your insurer and an emergency tree service when it is safe.
Should I remove the tree before the insurance adjuster arrives?
Ask your insurer as soon as possible. When delay creates an active safety hazard or allows further damage, emergency mitigation may need to begin first. Photograph the scene and retain estimates, invoices, and receipts.
Can I cut branches off the roof myself?
Do not cut large, tensioned, elevated, or structure-supported branches yourself. A cut can change the load suddenly and cause the tree or roof to shift.
What if the tree blocks my driveway?
Keep away if utilities or unstable limbs are involved. An emergency tree crew can assess the safest way to open access while controlling remaining hazards.
Can a tree service repair the roof after removal?
Tree removal and structural repair are different services. A qualified roofer, contractor, electrician, or structural professional may be needed after the tree hazard is removed.