It happens every spring and summer in North Fulton. The sky turns dark, the tornado sirens wail, and straight-line winds tear through our neighborhoods. When a 10,000-pound oak tree crashes through your roof or blocks your driveway, you need more than just a guy with a chainsaw—you need professional emergency tree service.

💡 Fast Answer

If a tree falls on your house: First, ensure everyone is safe and evacuate if the structure is compromised. Second, stay far away from downed power lines. Third, call a professional 24/7 tree service equipped with cranes to safely lift the tree off your roof without causing further damage, and immediately document the scene for your insurance claim.

Immediate Steps to Take After a Tree Falls

In the chaotic moments immediately following a tree strike, safety must be your absolute priority. The structural integrity of your home may be severely compromised, and hidden dangers are everywhere.

  • Evacuate and Assess: If the tree broke through the roof and penetrated the living space, get your family out of the house immediately. Structural collapse is a real threat.
  • Check for Power Lines: Never assume a fallen wire is "dead." If the tree took down power lines, stay at least 30 feet away and call Georgia Power immediately. A tree service cannot touch the tree until the utility company has secured the grid.
  • Document the Damage: Once you are safe, take photos and videos of the fallen tree, the damage to your home, and the surrounding yard. Your homeowners insurance will need this evidence.
  • Call for Emergency Tree Service: You need an arborist who operates 24/7. Tarping a roof with a 5-ton log still sitting on it is impossible. The tree must be safely removed first.

Why Cranes Are Mandatory for House Strikes

If a tree is resting on your roof, you cannot simply start cutting it from the bottom. The tension and weight dynamics of a fallen tree are incredibly unpredictable. Cutting the wrong branch can cause the massive trunk to roll, slip, or crash further through your ceiling, causing tens of thousands of dollars in secondary damage.

Professional tree removal for storm damage requires a crane. A crane allows the arborist to lift the massive weight of the tree off the house before any cuts are made. This ensures no further weight is transferred to your already weakened roof trusses.

Navigating the Insurance Claim Process

Dealing with insurance adjusters is often the most stressful part of storm damage. Here is what you need to know about Georgia homeowners insurance and fallen trees:

  • If it hits a covered structure: (Like your house, detached garage, or fence), your insurance will typically cover the cost of the emergency tree removal, the crane fee, and the repairs to your home, minus your deductible.
  • If it falls in the yard: If the tree falls harmlessly in your yard and doesn't hit anything, insurance usually will not cover the removal cost. You will have to pay out of pocket to have it cut up and hauled away.
  • Whose tree was it? In Georgia, if your neighbor's healthy tree falls on your house due to a storm (an Act of God), your insurance is responsible for the damages, not your neighbor's. The only exception is if the tree was clearly dead and you put the neighbor on written notice before the storm.

Preventing Future Storm Damage

The best time to deal with storm damage is before the storm happens. If you have large pines leaning toward your home, or mature oaks with heavy, over-extended branches hanging over your roof, you should schedule an inspection with a Certified Arborist.

Proactive tree trimming to reduce wind resistance in the canopy, or the removal of dead "widow-maker" branches, can save your home from disaster when the next severe thunderstorm rolls through Milton or Sandy Springs.

Frequently Asked Questions

During major storm events, we dispatch our crews immediately based on triage. Trees that have penetrated a living space or are actively threatening human safety receive the highest priority.

Yes. Once the tree is safely lifted off the structure using a crane, our crews will securely tarp the hole in your roof to prevent rain from causing further water damage to your home's interior.

In most emergency scenarios where a house is struck, we work directly with your homeowners insurance company for payment. We provide all the necessary documentation, photos, and itemized invoices the adjuster needs.

Absolutely not. Fallen trees are under immense tension. Cutting a branch can release that tension violently, causing the tree to snap like a mouse trap, which can be fatal. Leave it to the professionals.

Yes. Storms don't respect regular business hours. We provide 24/7 emergency response throughout Alpharetta, Roswell, Johns Creek, and Cumming.

When disaster strikes, you need a team you can trust. Our Certified Arborists and heavy equipment operators are ready to respond to any tree emergency, day or night, ensuring your family and property are protected.