24/7 Emergency Response

A Tree Fell on Your House — Here's What to Do

Stay calm and get clear of the affected area. Read the first 15 minutes below, then call us — our emergency line is staffed 24/7 across the Rockford and Lake Geneva Stateline area.

Call 815-742-5689 Now Request Help

Emergency response 24/7 during storm events. We document for your insurance and coordinate with your adjuster.

Get Emergency Help

Tell us what happened and we'll respond fast.

Emergency Procedure

The First 15 Minutes

In order. Don't skip steps — each one is here because we've seen what happens when it's missed.

1
Account for everyone
Make sure every person and pet is out of the affected area. If anyone is hurt or trapped, call 911 immediately — that comes before everything else on this list.
2
Check for downed power lines
Look at the roof, the tree, and the yard for any utility lines. If you see one — even a service line to the house — assume it is live and keep everyone at least 35 feet back. In Illinois call ComEd at 1-800-334-7661; in Wisconsin call We Energies at 1-800-662-4797 or Alliant Energy at 1-800-862-6222 before doing anything else.
3
Check for a gas smell
If you smell gas, evacuate and call 911 plus your gas utility from outside. Only shut the supply off at the meter if you can reach it safely. Do not flip light switches or start vehicles near the structure.
4
Stay out of the impact zone
A tree still attached to other limbs or partially supported can shift further without warning. Do not walk under it and do not try to retrieve belongings from a damaged room yet.
5
Photograph everything
Take wide shots of the tree on the house, close-ups of the damage, and the base of the tree where it broke or uprooted. Do this before anyone moves anything — these photos protect your insurance claim.
6
Call Tree Care Enterprises at 815-742-5689
Our 24/7 emergency crew arrives with the equipment to make the property safe — controlled removal of the tree off the structure, tarping any roof penetration, and documentation for your insurance claim. We have served the Stateline area since 1978.

Things You Should Not Do

These mistakes turn a fixable situation into a dangerous one. We see them every storm season.

Do not touch a tree near power lines

If any part of the tree is touching a utility line, it can be energized along its entire length — wet wood conducts. People are killed by this every storm season. Call the utility and wait for them to de-energize the line.

Do not try to cut the tree yourself

A tree on a house is under tension and compression you can't read from the ground. Cutting the wrong piece releases that stored energy unpredictably — kickback, crushed limbs, and being thrown by the tree are the common DIY injuries.

Do not climb on the roof to inspect

A roof hit by a tree often has hidden damage to trusses and decking. What you can see may be a fraction of the structural compromise. Don't add weight to it before a professional assessment.

Do not move the tree before photos

Insurance adjusters need the original scene. Even moving small branches can complicate a claim. Photograph it comprehensively first, then let our crew document it again on arrival.

Do not wait until morning

Water coming through a punctured roof can cause more damage in eight overnight hours than the tree did on impact, and mold starts within 24 hours. We tarp same-night — call now.

Do not assume the claim will be denied

Most fallen-tree-on-house claims are covered. The myths ("I should have removed it sooner," "it was the neighbor's tree") usually don't apply. File the claim and let the adjuster decide — many homeowners under-claim and pay out of pocket needlessly.

Insurance Claims

Working With Your Insurance Company

Storm damage claims are stressful. We provide the documentation your insurer needs to process the claim quickly and fairly.

Make Safe

We arrive, document, remove the tree from the structure, and tarp any roof penetration. Photos and a written incident report go to your adjuster.

File the Claim

Call your homeowners insurance and open a claim. They assign an adjuster — usually within 24 hours during active storm events.

Adjuster Walk-Through

The adjuster inspects the damage. We provide a written estimate at this stage so it aligns with theirs and prevents surprises later.

Removal & Cleanup

Once the claim is approved (or you authorize emergency work up front), we complete the removal, haul off debris, and grind the stump.

Other Storm & Hazard Situations

We handle the full range of storm and hazard tree work across the Stateline area.

24/7 Emergency Tree Service

Downed trees, hazardous limbs, and storm cleanup — round-the-clock crews.

Tree Removal

Safe removal of large, damaged, or dangerous trees by certified arborists.

Cabling & Structural Support

Save a storm-stressed tree with cabling and bracing instead of removal.

FAQ

Tree-on-House Emergency FAQs

Common questions from homeowners after a tree comes down on the house.

Call 815-742-5689

What's the very first thing I should do if a tree fell on my house?

Get everyone out of the affected area, then call 911 if anyone is hurt or trapped or if there are downed power lines or a gas smell. If the situation is stable, call Tree Care Enterprises at 815-742-5689 — we dispatch 24/7 across the Rockford and Lake Geneva Stateline area. Don't wait until morning if the roof is compromised; overnight water damage can multiply the repair cost.

Should I call my insurance company or the tree service first?

Call us first to make the property safe and document it. The priority is stopping ongoing damage — water through a punctured roof, an electrical hazard, or a shifting tree. We perform emergency stabilization, photograph everything, and provide a written report for your adjuster. Most homeowners policies let you take immediate action to prevent further damage as long as it's documented. After the property is safe, open your claim.

Will my homeowners insurance cover removing a tree that fell on my house?

Almost always, yes. Standard homeowners policies cover both the damage to the structure and the removal cost when a tree falls on a covered structure due to a covered peril such as a storm, wind, or snow load. Tree-removal coverage is often a set amount (commonly $500–$1,000), with the structural damage covered separately under your dwelling coverage. A tree that falls without hitting anything covered is generally not reimbursed.

How fast can you get to my property?

For active emergencies across the Stateline area — Rockford, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Roscoe, Rockton, Belvidere in Illinois and Lake Geneva, Walworth, and Fontana in Wisconsin — we mobilize a crew as fast as conditions safely allow, and we keep an emergency line staffed 24/7 at 815-742-5689. For stable, non-active situations we typically schedule you within 24 hours.

Is it safe to stay in my house if a tree fell on it?

It depends where the tree hit. If it struck a low corner, hasn't punched significantly through the roof, and there are no downed wires or gas smell, the rest of the house is usually safe to occupy briefly. If the tree compromised structural framing, hit a load-bearing wall, or broke through to the interior, evacuate and don't re-enter until an adjuster and, if needed, a structural engineer have cleared the building. When in doubt, stay out.

What if the tree that fell was on my neighbor's property?

In both Illinois and Wisconsin, the property where the tree falls is generally responsible for the damage and removal — regardless of whose tree it was — unless you can show the neighbor knew the tree was hazardous and ignored it. In practice you file under your own homeowners policy, your insurer handles the damage and removal, and they may pursue the neighbor's insurer afterward. Document everything anyway, including any prior conversations about the tree's condition.

Tree on Your House Right Now? Call.

24/7 emergency response across the Rockford and Lake Geneva Stateline area. We make the property safe, document for your insurance, and complete the removal — trusted since 1978.

815-742-5689