Every storm season our emergency line rings with the same shaken voice: 'A tree just came through the roof — what do I do?' It is a frightening moment, but the steps are clear, and doing them in the right order protects your family first, then your home, then your insurance claim. Here is exactly what to do, from a crew that responds to these calls across Charlotte all year.
The 7 Steps, In Order
- 1Get everyone out of the impacted rooms immediately. A tree that has come through the structure can shift, and ceilings weakened by impact and water can follow. If the damage is severe, leave the house entirely.
- 2Call 911 if anyone is hurt, if you smell gas, or if power lines are involved. A line tangled in a fallen tree can energize the whole tree and the wet ground around it. Stay far away and let Duke Energy de-energize it first.
- 3Do not walk on the roof or under hanging limbs. The most dangerous part of a fallen tree is often the limbs still suspended under tension — they can release without warning.
- 4Photograph everything before anything is moved. Wide shots of the tree and house, close-ups of the impact point, interior damage, and the base of the tree. Your insurance adjuster will want all of it.
- 5Call your homeowner's insurance company and open a claim. Most policies cover tree removal off the structure and the repairs. Ask about emergency mitigation coverage — it usually pays for tarping and board-up.
- 6Call a licensed, insured emergency tree service. Removing a tree from a structure is rigging work, not chainsaw work — done wrong, it causes a second round of damage. Verify insurance before anyone climbs on your roof.
- 7Get the roof tarped as soon as the tree is off. Most secondary damage comes from rain entering over the following days, and insurers expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent it.
24/7 emergency response across the Charlotte metro
Who Pays When a Tree Falls on a House in North Carolina?
The general rule surprises people: it does not matter whose tree it was — your homeowner's insurance covers damage to your house, even if the tree came from your neighbor's yard. The exception is negligence: if the neighbor's tree was visibly dead or hazardous and you can show they knew (this is why written notice and dated photos matter), their liability coverage may be pursued instead. Healthy tree felled by an act of nature? Each owner's policy handles their own property.
Insurance typically covers removing the tree from the structure and the repairs, subject to your deductible and policy limits for debris removal. A tree that fell in the yard without hitting anything is often not covered, or covered at a much lower limit — another reason to remove hazard trees before they fall.
Document for Your Claim
We provide written documentation of the removal — photos, scope of work, and invoice — formatted for insurance claims. Tell us you have an open claim when you call and we will coordinate with your adjuster's requirements.
How an Emergency Removal Off a Structure Actually Works
We never drag a tree off a roof. The crew assesses which parts of the tree are loading the structure, then dismantles it in sections from the outside in — each piece rigged, lifted, and lowered away from the house, sometimes with crane support for heavy trunks. The goal is zero additional damage during removal. Done correctly, a typical residential removal off a structure takes a few hours; the roof gets tarped immediately after.
Beware of Storm Chasers
After every major storm, out-of-town crews canvass Charlotte neighborhoods taking cash deposits for work that is done badly or never. Before hiring anyone: ask for proof of liability insurance and workers' compensation, a local address and references, and a written scope. A legitimate local company will provide all three without hesitation.
Review Duke Energy's storm safety guidance, including what to do if a tree contacts a power line.