Follow this emergency plan if a tree falls on your house to safeguard your safety and the damage to your home. First and first, secure the safety of everyone in your home, including pets, and then follow the guidelines below to get your home back in order.

Immediately call 911 and call the electrical company if power lines are down.

When a tree falls on a house, it has the potential to knock down electrical power lines as well. This creates a hazardous situation with a higher risk of fire or severe electrical shock. No electricity and flashing lights are signs of a fallen power line.

From the outside, you may be able to see if a power line is entangled in the fallen tree. In certain cases, a downed line may still be working, but it still poses a risk, so switch off the electricity at your breaker box if you know or suspect that the tree took a line down with it.

Contact the appropriate authorities as well as your local electricity company. Get everyone out of the house and call a neighbor if you smell smoke. Electricity company technicians will be dispatched to repair the lines. Local law enforcement may be called in to stop traffic on your street, and the fire department may be called in as a preventive measure until safety is restored.

Prevent further immediate damage.

A falling tree can destroy glass, a hole in your roof or siding, and even brick and stone damage. There is also the danger of gas pipeline damage. Even though gas lines are underground, they may be damaged if a tree falls in the area where they enter your home. Turn off the gas at the meter as a precaution until you're confident the lines were not damaged. Near the meter is a shut-off valve. Turn the valve a quarter turn to the right with a wrench to turn off the gas.

Contact a competent contractor to tarp or board up smashed windows and any holes in the roof or sidewalls of your home. This technique will protect the interior of your home as well as your belongings from future weather damage. If you want to assist cover smashed windows, do so gently to avoid glass shards, but leave roof-tarping to the pros. Some parts of the roof may not be safe to walk on.

How to File a Claim for a Tree that Falls on Your House

A tree that falls on a house can cause significant (and expensive) damage. If this disaster strikes you, the following tips can help you make the most of your insurance coverage.

Obtain accurate documentation for homeowners insurance claims.

Take images or video of the damage, both inside and out, as soon as the immediate threat has passed. Keep your feet on the ground and let a roofing professional photograph the roof. Document any smashed windows, siding damage, structural damage, and property damage. 

Don't forget anything; the images you take now will be critical as evidence for your insurance claim.

Call your homeowners insurance agent to start the claims process.

You may be obliged to obtain repair quotations from two or three local contractors. Alternatively, a claims adjuster may be assigned to assess your property, depending on your insurance insurer. In this case, the adjuster will evaluate the extent of the damage as well as the related repair costs.

Consult your homeowners insurance policy to understand your financial obligation.

You will almost probably be required to pay a deductible, after which the insurance company will cover the remaining repair costs—up to a specified amount, depending on the precise terms of your policy. Depending on the amount of premiums and coverage limits, common deductibles range from $500 to $2,000, or even more. If, like most homeowners, you haven't read all of the fine print in your policy, read it now so you know what to expect.

If the tree fell on the house as a result of an "Act of Nature," such as a rainstorm, ice storm, or strong winds, your insurance would normally cover the repair expenses, less your deductible. Even if the fallen tree belongs to a neighbor or a town, your policy will pay in an "Act of Nature" case. Your claim, however, may be denied if you caused the tree to fall due to reckless action, such as attempting to cut it down without competent assistance.

Hold off on permanent repairs until you and your insurer agree on the amount of your claim.

Depending on your policy, your insurer may place limitations on some repairs, such as the cost of tree removal. If your costs exceed the amount approved, you may be held liable for the difference.

If your insurer's total offer does not cover the estimated cost of repairs, you have the right to file an appeal and have your claim re-evaluated. If this happens, provide contractor quotations that show the rates are higher than your insurer permits.

Keep track of expenses you incur related to the damage.

Keep your receipts if you had a contractor tarp your roof or board up windows since emergency damage control expenditures are almost always reimbursed. If your home is rendered uninhabitable, your insurance company may cover some of the costs of renting an apartment or staying in a hotel. However, don't assume that all of your expenses will be covered; consult with your agent to make certain.

Make your final payment only when satisfied with the contractor’s work.

Legitimate contractors usually want payment for materials before commencing work, but they should not request payment in advance for their labor to carry out the repairs. If the repairs are extensive and will take many weeks to complete, the contractor may reasonably seek partial payments on an agreed-upon timeline, but the entire payment should be made only once the repairs have been completed to your satisfaction.

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