Step 1: Safety. Get everyone out of the affected area
Before anything else, ensure everyone in the household is safely away from the affected area. A tree that has fallen on a roof may be unstable. Roof structures damaged by impact may collapse further. Power lines may be down or compromised. Do NOT try to inspect damage from inside the affected rooms. Exit the home through unaffected doors. Move pets to a safe area. Don't go back inside until structural integrity is verified. If you smell gas, hear hissing, or suspect a gas line is damaged, leave the area entirely and call your utility company from a safe location.
Step 2: Call 911 if anyone is injured or trapped
If anyone is hurt or potentially trapped, call 911 immediately. Fire departments handle initial structural stabilization for major collapses. Do not attempt rescue work yourself — moving debris incorrectly can cause further collapse. If everyone is safe and uninjured, you don't need 911 — proceed to Step 3.
Step 3: Address downed power lines — call the utility company
If power lines are involved (down, sparking, touching the tree, or visibly damaged), call your power utility immediately: Oncor for most DFW: 888-313-4747. TXU, Reliant, and other retail electric providers handle billing — the power lines themselves are Oncor's responsibility. Stay at least 35 feet from any downed line until utility crews arrive and confirm safety. Never assume a line is dead. The most dangerous emergency situations we respond to involve homeowners who tried to move debris before utility lockout. Tree on house with downed lines: utility company first, arborist second.
Step 4: Call a credentialed emergency tree service
Call an ISA Certified, fully insured tree service — not just anyone with a chainsaw. The work involves climbing onto a compromised roof, rigging large limbs down without further damage, and coordinating with insurance documentation. We respond 24/7 across DFW at (817) 670-4404. Typical response time during active storm events: 1-3 hours. For tree-on-structure situations, we typically arrive within 1 hour during business hours, 2-4 hours overnight. Before the crew arrives, take photos from multiple angles — overall scene, tree position on house, any visible interior damage. These photos are valuable for insurance.
Step 5: Call your homeowners insurance — but don't authorize repairs yet
Most homeowners insurance policies cover tree damage to insured structures. The standard coverage: removal of the tree portion ON the structure, structural damage repair, and content damage from water intrusion. Some policies have separate limits for tree removal vs structural repair. What to do: call your insurance carrier to open a claim. Take their claim number. Ask whether you need to wait for an adjuster before authorizing repairs, or whether they'll cover emergency stabilization (most do). What NOT to do: don't sign anything from any contractor before your insurance adjuster has assessed the damage. Don't authorize permanent repairs before the adjuster arrives. Emergency stabilization (tarping, immediate hazard mitigation) is usually OK and reimbursable, but get verbal confirmation from the insurance company first.
Step 6: Emergency stabilization and tarping
Once safety is addressed and insurance is notified, the next priority is preventing further damage from weather. Our emergency crews bring tarps and weatherproofing materials. We seal compromised roof areas with reinforced tarp systems anchored to undamaged roof or framing, removing weight from compromised structural members where safely possible, and documenting damage with photos and written notes for the insurance file. Cost for stabilization-only response (no tree removal yet): typically $400-$1,200 depending on extent. This is almost always covered by insurance under the "prevent further damage" provision standard in most policies.
Step 7: Tree removal and structural repair coordination
Tree removal from a damaged structure is delicate work. Improper rigging can collapse weakened roof structures, damage interior finishes, or strike utilities. We use crane-assisted removal whenever access allows — the crane lifts heavy sections off the roof rather than dropping them. Our crews coordinate timing with the insurance adjuster's visit and with the structural contractor who will handle the actual roof and framing repair. The whole sequence — emergency stabilization, tree removal, structural repair, interior restoration — typically takes 2-8 weeks depending on damage extent. We bill insurance directly when possible and provide all documentation needed for claims.
Step 8: Document everything and keep receipts
From the first photo on, document everything. Every conversation with the insurance carrier (note date, time, person, what was said). Every receipt for emergency expenses (hotels if displaced, dining if kitchen is unusable, emergency supplies). Every contractor estimate. Every change in damage over time. Insurance disputes are won and lost on documentation. We provide written, detailed estimates and post-work documentation for every emergency job — make sure any contractor you hire does the same.
Prevention: structural assessment before the next storm
After the immediate emergency is resolved, schedule a structural assessment of your remaining trees. Many homeowners find that the tree that fell was showing structural warning signs we could have identified — codominant stems with included bark, basal decay, lean, root issues — that would have prompted preventive work BEFORE the storm. We offer post-storm structural assessments at no charge. Identifying the next problem tree before it becomes the next emergency is the cheapest insurance you can buy. Call (817) 670-4404 for emergency response 24/7 or for routine structural assessment.