Tree Fell on Roof: What to Do First (NJ Emergency Guide)

Step 1: Get Everyone Out of the Impact Zone

Move every person and pet out of any room directly under the tree strike or adjacent to it. Roof trusses and ceiling joists can fail hours after the impact, especially if the tree continues to settle or if water gets in and saturates drywall. The FEMA Homeowner's Guide to Retrofitting documents that secondary structural failures often happen 2 to 24 hours after the initial impact, not at the moment of strike. Treat the affected rooms as off-limits until a roofer or structural engineer clears them.

If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately. Do not try to move someone trapped under debris unless there is an imminent fire or flood risk — wait for fire department or EMS extraction.

Step 2: Check for Power Lines

A tree that took down power lines on its way through your roof is a different kind of emergency. The OSHA minimum safe approach distance for energized lines under 50kV is 10 feet — but for residential homeowners with no electrical training, the rule is simpler: stay at least 35 feet away and assume every downed line is live until the utility company says otherwise. In NJ, that is PSE&G (1-800-436-PSEG), JCP&L (1-888-544-4877), or Atlantic City Electric (1-800-833-7476) depending on your area.

Do not let tree services, neighbors, or contractors near the tree until the utility de-energizes the line. We have walked away from jobs because the homeowner thought the line was "probably dead." It almost never is.

Step 3: Photograph and Video Everything

Before you move debris, before you let anyone touch the tree, before you make any phone call other than 911 — get your phone and document the damage from the ground. Walk the entire perimeter and capture:

• Wide shots of the whole house showing the tree position
• Close-ups of the impact point on the roof
• Any visible holes, displaced shingles, or damaged flashing
• Interior ceiling damage, fallen drywall, water staining
• Personal property damage (furniture, electronics, valuables)
• The tree itself — trunk size, root ball, condition (dead vs. live)
• Damaged gutters, downspouts, siding, fencing, and outbuildings

Take video too. A 60-second walkthrough captures more detail than 30 photos. Your phone timestamps everything automatically — that timestamp is what proves to the adjuster the damage matches the storm event. Our companion guide on storm damage roof repair in NJ covers documentation in more detail.

Step 4: Call Your Insurance Company

File the claim today. The Insurance Information Institute confirms that standard homeowners insurance covers tree damage to the home, attached structures (decks, garages), and personal property — minus your deductible. Most NJ policies require notice of loss within 30 to 60 days, but waiting even a week makes the claim harder to defend.

When you call, have ready: policy number, brief description of what happened, time and date of the event, and your photos. Ask the agent four things:

1. What is my deductible?
2. Does my policy include Loss of Use (Additional Living Expense)?
3. What is the debris removal limit?
4. When will an adjuster be assigned?

Write down the claim number. You will need it for every phone call and email going forward.

Step 5: Get an Emergency Tarp Installed Today

Every NJ homeowners policy contains a clause requiring the homeowner to take "reasonable measures" to prevent further damage. In tree-strike cases that means an emergency tarp on the impact opening within 24 hours. If rain comes through the opening overnight and your insurer later determines you could have prevented it, that secondary water damage may be excluded from the claim.

Tarp pricing in NJ runs $300 to $800 for a residential roof depending on the opening size. Insurance covers this. Save the receipt. Read our full breakdown of emergency roof repair in NJ for tarping standards and what good emergency work looks like.

Critical: do not let the tree removal company tarp the roof. They are not licensed roofers, the tarp will likely fail in the next storm, and any roof damage they cause becomes their liability — not insurance’s. Two trades, two phone calls.

Step 6: Schedule Tree Removal

Hire a licensed and insured arborist or tree service. In NJ that means a Licensed Tree Care Operator (LTCO) under the NJ Board of Tree Experts. Ask for proof of liability insurance and workers’ comp before they arrive. A residential tree-on-roof job in Essex County typically runs $1,500 to $5,000. Crane-assist removal — required for large oaks, multi-story homes, or tight access — runs $5,000 to $15,000+ but is what separates safe removal from dropping the rest of the tree through your living room.

Insurance covers tree removal up to a debris removal cap (commonly $500 to $1,000 per the III, sometimes higher with endorsements) when the tree damaged a covered structure. Removal of trees that fell harmlessly in the yard is usually not covered.