A tree just fell on your house. Here is what to do in the first hour

Stay calm and get everyone out of the damaged area

A tree coming through a roof is loud and frightening. The first priority is making sure every person and pet is out of the rooms below the impact. Structural damage can shift as rain adds weight, and ceilings can collapse later than you expect.

If you smell gas, leave the house immediately and call NW Natural's emergency line and 911 from a safe distance. Do not flip light switches or use anything that can spark.

Look for power lines before you go outside

Falling trees often bring service drops or distribution lines down with them. Assume every wire is energized. Stay at least 35 feet away, keep others back and call PGE's outage and emergency line right away.

Never try to move branches that are touching a line, and do not let anyone climb onto the roof. Tree crews cannot start work around energized conductors until the utility has made the site safe.

• Keep 35 feet from any wire, fence or puddle touching a line.
• Call PGE first when lines are involved, then call a tree crew.
• Tell our dispatcher about lines so we send a line-clearance trained crew.

Document the damage before anything moves

Once everyone is safe, take photos and video from several angles, inside and outside. Capture where the tree is resting, damage to the roof, gutters, windows and ceilings, and anything damaged on the ground. Timestamps matter to insurance adjusters.

Our crews photograph the scene again when they arrive and during removal, but your first photos show the damage before any work started.

Call your insurer and a 24/7 tree crew

Report the claim as soon as you can. Most homeowners' policies require you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, which usually means getting the tree off the structure and tarping openings quickly. Those emergency costs are commonly covered.

When you call our storm line, a dispatcher will ask for your address, where the tree is resting, whether lines are involved and whether anyone is hurt. That information decides which truck and crew we send.

What happens when the crew arrives

The crew lead walks the site, cones the area and works out how the tree is loaded. Cutting a trunk that is resting on a roof in the wrong order can release tension and cause more damage, so we often rig the tree to a crane or anchor tree before making any cuts.

Sections are lifted clear of the house, the opening is tarped and secured, and debris is moved away from walkways. You receive a written scope and photo set for your insurance claim, and full cleanup is scheduled for a dry day.

Preparing before the next storm

The easiest emergency is the one that never happens. Each fall, walk your property and note any large trees that could reach the house, garage or driveway. Look for dead limbs, cracks, fungal growth at the base and a new lean. These are the trees to have an arborist inspect before winter.

It also helps to save our storm line and your insurer's claim number in your phone now, take a few photos of your roof and trees in good condition for comparison, and know where your main gas and water shutoffs are located.

Avoid storm chasers

After large storms, out-of-area crews go door to door asking for cash up front. Before anyone works on your property, ask for an Oregon CCB license number and a certificate of insurance showing both liability and workers' compensation. A legitimate company will be glad to provide them.