One of the most stressful calls we get goes something like this: "There's a tree on my house — what do I do?" Whether it's a single limb through a window or a full oak across the roof, the next few hours matter. The right moves protect your family, preserve your insurance claim, and get you back to normal faster.

This is the step-by-step guide we walk Jacksonville homeowners through after a tree strikes a home — built from years of emergency calls across Duval, Clay, and St. Johns counties.

Step 1: Get Everyone to Safety First

Before you touch anything or take a single photo, account for everyone in the home and get them clear of the impact area. A few non-negotiables:

• Assume any wire touching the tree is live — even if the power is out on your block.
• Stay away from sagging ceilings, leaning walls, and shifting limbs.
• If there's any structural concern, evacuate to a neighbor's home until a professional can assess the damage.
• Keep pets contained — they often react to the noise and confusion by bolting outside through broken doors or windows.

Step 2: Call 911 If There's Any Hazard

Call 911 immediately if you see:

• Downed power lines, anywhere on or near the property
• A gas smell or hissing sound
• Major structural collapse, partial roof failure, or anyone trapped
• Fire or sparks

JEA will be dispatched for power lines. Jacksonville Fire and Rescue handles structural and gas hazards. Do not attempt to move debris near power lines yourself — it isn't worth the risk.

Step 3: Photograph Everything Before Anything Is Moved

Your insurance claim depends heavily on this step. Take photos and video of:

• The tree itself, from multiple angles, including the trunk and root ball if visible
• Every point of impact on the home — roof, siding, gutters, windows, fence
• Interior damage, including water intrusion, ceiling damage, and any belongings affected
• Wide shots showing the property as a whole
• Close-ups of any visible decay, fungal conks, or hollow areas on the fallen tree (this can support claims that the tree failure was storm-related, not a maintenance issue)

More photos than you think you need is the right amount. Save them to cloud storage immediately.

Step 4: Contact Your Insurance Carrier

Call your homeowner's insurance carrier as soon as the scene is safe. Most policies cover tree-on-house damage caused by storms, but coverage varies based on:

• Whether the tree came from your property or a neighbor's
• Whether the tree was healthy or showed prior signs of decay
• Your specific policy's wind, named-storm, and hurricane deductibles
• Whether the structure itself was damaged (typically covered) versus just landscape cleanup (often not)

Ask your carrier specifically about emergency tarping coverage. Most policies will pay for emergency tarp work to prevent further damage while you wait on a full claim adjuster.

Step 5: Get Emergency Tarping in Place

If the roof is breached, water intrusion will turn a tree strike into a much larger insurance claim within hours. A proper emergency tarp:

• Covers the breach and overlaps the ridge or surrounding undamaged roof
• Is anchored securely without creating additional roof penetrations beyond what's necessary
• Buys you days or weeks until full repairs can be scheduled

We can deploy emergency tarps as part of our storm response work, and we coordinate directly with your insurance adjuster when needed.

Step 6: Call a Tree Service With the Right Equipment

This is where the wrong choice creates a second emergency. Removing a tree from a house is fundamentally different from a routine removal. The work requires:

• Crane access for large trees on residential roofs
• Proper rigging to lift sections off the structure rather than dragging them, which causes additional damage
• Insurance. Both general liability and workers' comp — verify before they start work, not after
• Documentation for your insurance claim, including the condition of the tree and removal process
• Coordination with adjusters if you've already opened a claim

A small crew with a pickup truck and a chainsaw can do more damage to your home than the tree already did. The cost difference between a properly equipped storm-response team and a budget crew is almost always covered by insurance — and the difference in outcome is enormous.

Step 7: Don't Sign Anything Under Pressure

After major storms, Jacksonville sees a surge of out-of-town contractors who appear at damaged homes within hours. Some are legitimate. Many are not. A few common warning signs:

• Pressure to sign an "Assignment of Benefits" (AOB) on the spot — this transfers your insurance rights to the contractor and is the source of many post-storm legal disputes
• Demands for large up-front cash payments
• Unmarked vehicles, no local address, no verifiable Florida licensing
• Quotes given verbally rather than in writing

It's always reasonable to say, "I'd like a written estimate and time to review it." Reputable companies expect this.

Step 8: Track Every Expense

Keep a folder (digital or paper) with every receipt, quote, and communication related to the incident. This includes:

• Emergency lodging or temporary repairs
• Replacement of damaged personal property
• Mileage and meals if you've been displaced
• Communications with the insurance carrier and any contractors

Many of these are reimbursable under your policy, but only if documented.

What About the Yard Cleanup?

Once the tree is off the structure, the remaining cleanup (stump removal, debris hauling, branch chipping) is often handled separately. Some insurance policies cover this; many cover only the portion related to the structure. We'll typically provide separate line items so you can submit only what's covered.

The Bottom Line

A tree on your house is a serious event, but with the right sequence of steps it doesn't have to become a long-running headache. Safety first, documentation second, the right professionals third. Skip any of those steps and the recovery gets harder.

We provide 24/7 emergency tree removal across Jacksonville, Orange Park, Fleming Island, Ponte Vedra, and the Beaches. If a tree comes down on your home, call as soon as the scene is safe — we can have a crew on-site quickly and coordinate with your insurance from the first call.

— Tom Jackson, Jax Tree Removal