What to do when a windstorm drops a tree on your house

Portland windstorms drop trees on houses, cars, and across driveways every year. Here's exactly what to do in the first 24 hours.

Step 1 (immediately): Safety check

Are people inside? Check everyone in the house. Watch for downed power lines (call 911 + utility immediately if any). Avoid the affected area until structural assessment.

Step 2 (first hour): Call us + insurance

Call us for emergency dispatch. Call your insurance company to open a claim. Both can happen simultaneously.

Step 3 (waiting for arrival): Document everything

Photos from every angle. Photos of damage to roof, gutters, siding. Photos of what's still standing. Insurance loves photos.

Step 4 (our arrival): Emergency stabilization

Our first job is making things safe — remove the immediate hazard, tarp the damaged area to prevent water intrusion, secure any structural concerns. Removal of fallen tree happens after stabilization.

Step 5 (next 1-2 days): Full removal + temp repairs

Cut tree into manageable sections. Remove from house, yard. Tarp roof permanently until proper roofing repair scheduled. Handle insurance documentation throughout.

Step 6 (next 1-4 weeks): Claim + repair coordination

We provide our portion of insurance documentation (tree removal estimate + completed work). Your homeowner's insurance handles the roof/structural repair. We coordinate with their adjuster as needed.

What insurance typically covers

Tree removal: yes, when the tree damaged covered property.

Roof + structural repair: yes, with your deductible.

Cleanup + debris removal: yes.

NOT typically covered: tree that fell without hitting anything (no damage = no claim).

The first hour is for safety + documentation. The rest is for professionals.

24/7 emergency dispatch. Call us anytime — we have crews available.