A Tree Came Down on Your House in a Storm: What to Do in the First Hour

Storms move fast across the lake, and so does the damage. A tree that was standing fine that morning can be across your roof, your car, your boat, or your driveway by evening, and it usually happens at the worst possible time, in the dark, mid-storm, with the power already out. If it happens to you, here's what actually matters in that first hour.

Safety before anything else

Do not approach a downed tree if there are any power lines involved, tangled in the branches, pinned underneath, or even just running near it. A line doesn't have to be visibly sparking to be live, and a wet tree and wet ground both conduct electricity well. If lines are anywhere near the tree, stay clear of the whole area and treat it as dangerous until the power company or emergency services confirm otherwise.

Get everyone out of the affected part of the house if the tree has come through the roof, a wall, or a window, even if the damage looks contained. A tree resting on a compromised roof structure can shift, and a room that looks intact from one angle may have structural damage you can't see from inside it. Move to a part of the house the tree didn't touch, or outside if you're not sure, until someone has actually looked at the structure.

What to do once everyone's safe

• Take photos and video of the damage from multiple angles before anything is moved, for your insurance claim.
• Do not attempt to cut or move large limbs or the trunk yourself, especially anything under tension or leaning against the structure.
• Call your insurance company to start the claim and ask what documentation they need.
• Call us. We handle emergency tree services 24/7, including trees on homes, cars, boats, driveways, and yes, a neighbor's property too if it came from your tree or landed on it.

What happens when you call

We'll send someone out to you as soon as possible, usually within the day. Storm response work is a different job than a scheduled removal: it's often a boom truck reaching over a damaged roofline, a tarp going up over an exposed section to stop further water damage while repairs are arranged, and careful cutting to relieve pressure on a structure without making the damage worse by moving debris the wrong way. Cleanup is part of the job too, not just the cutting, since a yard full of storm debris is its own hazard.

It doesn't have to be your tree, or your house

We handle storm damage on driveways, boats parked under trees, and situations where a tree from one property comes down onto a neighbor's, which happens more than people expect around here given how many properties share a treeline down toward the water. If a storm has left you with a downed tree anywhere on your property, or your neighbor's, don't wait for regular hours. Emergency service is available around the clock across Camden County and Morgan County, including Camdenton, Osage Beach, Lake Ozark, Sunrise Beach, Laurie, and Gravois Mills.

Why call an emergency crew instead of handling it yourself

A tree resting on a roof, a car, or a boat is under load in ways that aren't always obvious from the ground. Limbs can be under tension, bark can be holding weight it shouldn't, and cutting into that without knowing what you're doing can send a piece of the tree, or the structure it's resting on, moving in a direction you didn't expect. That's true even for a limb that looks small. Our crews are trained to Tree Care Industry Association standards specifically for this kind of work, and we carry general liability and workman's compensation insurance, which matters when the job involves a compromised roof, a damaged vehicle, or debris resting against power lines.

One reviewer, Becky Herfkens, put it plainly after calling us for storm work: "Best tree service around. We have used them twice, very professional, nicest guys, will definitely use again, highly recommend! Did an awesome job!" We've been doing this kind of work around the lake since 1999, and storm response is a routine part of the job, not an occasional one, given how fast weather moves through here.

Storms don't wait for a convenient time, and neither do we. If a tree comes down on your home, your car, your boat, your driveway, or a neighbor's property, get everyone clear of it, stay away from anything near power lines, photograph the damage for your insurance company, and call us. We'll get someone out to you as soon as we can, usually the same day.