Quick answer: If a tree falls on your house, get everyone out of the affected rooms, call 911 if anyone is hurt or if wires are down, and stay clear of the tree. Then photograph the damage from a safe distance, call your insurer and call an emergency tree removal crew. Do not try to cut the tree yourself.
The first hour is about safety, not cleanup. This guide gives the order to do things in. If you need a crew now, call (720) 383-6040 or see emergency tree removal in Denver.
What should you do, step by step?
- Get everyone out. Leave the rooms under the tree and keep children and pets away. A tree on a roof can shift.
- Call 911 if there is danger to life. That means injuries, fire, a smell of gas, or wires that are down or sparking.
- Report power lines. If the tree has brought down or is touching a line, stay away and call Xcel Energy on 1-800-895-1999. See who to call for a tree on a power line.
- Photograph the damage. Take wide shots and close-ups from a safe distance, before anything is moved.
- Call your insurer. Open a claim and ask what they need before the tree is removed.
- Call a tree crew. A tree on a structure has to be lifted off in sections, often with a crane.
- Prevent further damage. Once the tree is off, have the hole covered. Keep the receipts.
Who should you call?
| Situation | Call |
|---|---|
| Injury, fire, gas smell, sparking wires | 911 |
| Downed or damaged power line | Xcel Energy, 1-800-895-1999 |
| Gas smell or damaged gas meter | 911, then Xcel Energy, 800-895-2999 |
| Tree blocking a public street | Denver 311 |
| Damage to your home | Your insurance company |
| Tree on the house, car or driveway | Emergency tree removal, (720) 383-6040 |
Xcel Energy’s storm safety guidance is to assume every line is energized, even one on the ground, and never to touch or move it.
What should you not do?
- Do not climb on the roof or go into the attic under the tree
- Do not cut branches that are bent or pinned. Wood under tension can spring back
- Do not touch the tree if it is anywhere near wires
- Do not move the tree before you have photographs
Will insurance pay for it?
Usually, when the tree has damaged an insured structure. The details are in does homeowners insurance cover tree removal? If the tree came from next door, read a neighbor’s tree fell on your property: who pays?
What happens when the crew arrives?
The crew assesses how the tree is resting, secures it, then removes it piece by piece so the weight comes off the building without causing more damage. What that costs is covered in emergency tree removal cost in Denver. For broken limbs that are not on a structure, see storm damage tree cleanup.
Tree on house FAQs
Should I remove the tree before the insurance adjuster comes?
Photograph everything first and tell your insurer what is happening. Emergency work to make the home safe and stop further damage is normally expected, but ask your insurer what it needs before the tree is moved.
Is it safe to stay in the house after a tree falls on it?
Stay out of the rooms under and next to the tree until it has been removed and the structure has been checked. If the roof or a wall has been opened up, or utilities are affected, arrange to stay elsewhere.
Can I cut up a fallen tree myself?
Not when it is resting on a building, a vehicle or wires. The trunk and limbs are under load and can move suddenly when cut. A small tree lying flat in an open yard is a different matter.
