Your first instinct might be to grab a ladder or head into the attic to inspect the damage. Do not do this. A tree strike severely compromises the structural integrity of your roof trusses. The weight of the tree, combined with structural damage, means the roof could collapse at any second. Your safety is the absolute top priority.
Step 1: Evacuate and Secure the Area
If a tree has penetrated your roof, ceiling, or walls, grab your family and pets and evacuate the home immediately. Gather outside at a safe distance. If you smell smoke, see sparks, or notice that water is pouring directly into electrical outlets, call 911.
Do not try to move valuables out of the affected rooms. A massive Florida oak can weigh tens of thousands of pounds; the house framing could give way without warning.
Step 2: The Immediate Response Checklist
Once you are safely outside, you need to make three critical phone calls to secure the property and begin the recovery process.
1. Call the Power Company
Look to see if the falling tree took down any power lines with it. If wires are tangled in the branches or lying on your roof, assume they are fully energized and deadly. Call TECO, Duke Energy, or your local utility provider to shut the grid down.
2. Call for Emergency Tree Removal
You cannot patch the roof until the tree is gone. Contact Duffey Tree Care for emergency tree removal. Our crews are trained to lift trees off structures without causing further collapse.
3. Document the Damage
From a safe distance on the ground, take clear photos and videos of the tree on the house, the damaged roof, and the surrounding yard. Your insurance adjuster will need these to process your claim.
4. Call Your Insurance Agent
Report the incident immediately. Let them know you have already dispatched a professional tree service to mitigate further damage—most homeowner policies require you to act quickly to prevent secondary water damage.
Removing a tree from a house is vastly different from cutting down a tree in the yard. When a heavy trunk is resting on a crushed roof truss, it creates massive amounts of stored kinetic energy.
If an amateur tries to cut the trunk with a chainsaw, the release of tension can cause the tree to violently snap back, or worse, shift its weight and collapse the rest of the house. Safe storm-damaged tree removal requires heavy machinery, usually involving cranes or our heavy-duty 60HD+ Arbor Pro equipment, to lift the tree up and away from the structure safely.
Step 3: Tarping and Mitigation
Once Duffey Tree Care safely removes the tree and clears the heavy debris from your property, the immediate danger is over. However, your home is now exposed to the elements. Depending on your insurance requirements, you will need a roofing contractor to place a heavy-duty waterproof tarp over the hole to prevent rain from destroying your drywall, flooring, and furniture.
Need Emergency Tree Removal Right Now?
If a tree has fallen on your home, driveway, or power lines, Duffey Tree Care is ready to respond. We serve Tampa, Dover, Plant City, and all of Eastern Hillsborough County with fast, safe, and professional emergency clearing.
Do not wait. Secure your property and protect your home.
Call our emergency line at 813-381-4329.
Request Emergency Service