Tree Fell on Your Roof in Blount County? Do This First

By Vern Freymuth, Commercial Operations Manager, RC Roofing LLC · Published November 4, 2026 · Updated November 4, 2026

If a tree fell on your roof in Blount County, get everyone out of the damaged rooms first. Stay clear of downed wires and call 911 if lines touch the house. Next, call your insurer, take photos, and book a tree crew and a roofer for an emergency tarp.

This guide covers the first hour, the first day and the first week. It draws on National Weather Service, Triple-I and Tennessee insurance regulator guidance. It also explains how RC Roofing documents damage and covers the opening.

Need a tarp now? Call (865) 336-2374 for 24/7 emergency tarping from RC Roofing. Our main office is at 1121 E Broadway Ave, Maryville, TN 37804, open weekdays 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

What should you do first when a tree falls on your roof?

Get people and pets out of the rooms under the impact, and stay away from sagging ceilings or cracked beams. Look for wires on the tree or house from a safe distance. If you smell gas, leave and call 911 from outside, because safety comes before photos or cleanup.

A tree on a roof is a load problem, not just a hole. The trunk can keep pressing on rafters and ceiling joists. Rain can then soak insulation and drywall in a few hours.

Once everyone is safe, call your insurance company to open a claim. Call a tree service to lift the tree off. Then call a roofer to tarp the opening the same day if possible.

Who do you call about downed power lines in Blount County?

Call 911 first if a line touches the tree, roof or ground near your home, then call your electric provider. Blount County homes may be served by Maryville Electric, Alcoa Electric or Fort Loudoun Electric Cooperative. Your power bill shows which one serves you.

The National Weather Service gives simple advice after high winds: do not go near downed power lines. Treat every wire as live. A line can carry current even when your lights are off.

Fort Loudoun Electric Cooperative serves Blount, Loudon and Monroe counties, per its TVA local power company profile. Maryville Electric and Alcoa Electric serve customers in and around those cities. Keep your account number handy when you report an outage.

What should you avoid near a downed line?

Do not touch the tree if a wire rests on it. Do not drive over a line or step in standing water near it. Keep children and pets indoors or well away from the yard.

When is it safe to go back inside after a tree hits the house?

Go back in only after the storm has passed and no wires touch the house. The National Weather Service says to stay out of damaged buildings. Bowed ceilings, new cracks, stuck doors or water near light fixtures mean a pro should check the framing first.

Turn off power to wet rooms at the breaker if you can reach it safely. Move valuables and papers away from leaks. Put buckets and towels under drips to limit floor damage.

Do not climb onto the roof to look. Wet shingles, broken decking and a loaded trunk make roofs unstable. You can see a lot from the ground or from a window.

What does the first hour, first day and first week look like?

The first hour is about safety and calls, and the first day is about stopping water and logging damage. The first week covers the adjuster visit, estimates and picking a contractor. The table below lists key tasks for each window, so save it to your phone before storm season.

Not every claim follows this pace. Large storms can slow adjuster visits and tree crews. Keep logging dates, names and costs while you wait.

Who pays when a tree falls on your house in Tennessee?

In many cases your own homeowners policy responds first, no matter whose tree it was. The Insurance Information Institute says standard policies generally cover a house hit by a tree downed by wind or hail. Your policy terms, deductible and adjuster still decide the final result.

Triple-I explains that a neighbor's tree is usually still a claim on your own policy. Your insurer may then seek repayment from the neighbor's insurer, often when the tree was dead or poorly kept. Read the full Triple-I guide on fallen trees.

Tree removal often has its own limit. The standard HO-3 sample policy caps debris removal at $1,000 per loss and $500 per tree. Your policy may use different limits, so ask your agent.

How common are wind and storm claims?

Wind and hail caused 42.5% of homeowners insurance losses in 2023, per Triple-I data from ISO. Severe convective storms caused $51 billion in insured U.S. losses in 2025, per a 2026 Triple-I release.

RC Roofing does not decide or promise claim results. We document damage and share facts with you and your adjuster. Our guide to filing a Tennessee roofing insurance claim walks through each step.

How do you document tree damage for an insurance claim?

Take photos and video before anything moves, if it is safe to do so. Shoot wide views of the tree on the house, then close views of each break, ceiling and wet floor. Note the date, time and weather, and save every image to cloud storage that day.

The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance urges owners to file as soon as possible. Its 2026 storm guidance says to document damage with photos or video. It also says to keep notes on who you spoke with and when.

Keep damaged items until the adjuster says you can toss them. Save receipts for tarps, tree work, hotel stays and supplies. A single folder, paper or digital, keeps the claim organized.

How does RC Roofing help with documentation?

RC Roofing inspects the roof and records damage with dated photos. We then build an itemized estimate from those findings. If you ask, we can meet your adjuster on site to walk the roof together.

Why does an emergency tarp matter after a tree strike?

An open roof lets rain soak decking, insulation, drywall and floors, which grows the repair. A tarp seals the opening until a full repair can be planned. Standard policies also expect owners to take reasonable steps to stop further damage after a loss.

The HO-3 sample form lists those duties in plain terms. It says to protect the property from further damage. It also says to make reasonable repairs and keep a record of repair costs.

RC Roofing offers 24/7 emergency roof tarping across our service area. The tree must come off first so the crew can work safely. We then secure the tarp over the damaged area and photograph the work.

Should you remove the tree from the roof yourself?

No, because a tree on a roof stores a lot of weight and tension. Cutting the wrong limb can drop the trunk deeper into the house or throw the saw back at you. Hire an insured tree service with the right lifting gear, and let them clear the tree before roof work starts.

Ask the tree service to keep cut pieces on the ground near the house. Your adjuster may want to see the size of the trunk. Take photos of the cut sections and the stump, too.

Once the tree is off, a roofer can see the full damage. Broken rafters or decking may need framing work before shingles or metal go back on.

Why do wooded Blount County homes see so much tree damage?

Many Blount County homes sit close to mature trees, including homes in Townsend, Walland and wooded parts of Maryville. Townsend borders Great Smoky Mountains National Park, per the Blount Partnership. Tall trees near a roof raise the risk when strong storms move through East Tennessee.

RC Roofing has served East Tennessee since 2004 and completed more than 10,000 roofing jobs. Most of that work is in Blount County. We also run a second office on Laurel Valley Rd in Townsend.

See our storm damage roof repair in Maryville page for repair options. Mountain-side owners can view storm damage roof repair in Townsend.

Can you lower the risk before the next storm?

Have a tree service check large trees that lean toward the house. Remove dead limbs over the roof line. Triple-I notes that damage from poor tree upkeep is not covered, so regular care matters.

How do you avoid storm-chasing contractors after a tree strike?

TDCI warns owners to be careful with roof and storm repair pitches at the door or by phone. Check any contractor's license at verify.tn.gov before you sign. Ask for proof of insurance and local references, and never feel pushed to sign on the spot.

TDCI also notes that state law limits home improvement deposits to one-third of the contract price. Avoid paying in full before the work is done. If a contractor needs money for supplies, pay the supplier directly.

Our post on how to choose a roofing contractor in Knoxville lists more questions to ask. The same checks apply in Maryville, Alcoa and Townsend.

How does RC Roofing help after a tree hits your roof?

RC Roofing tarps the roof, inspects the damage and gives you a written plan. We are a GAF Certified Plus contractor with a 4.9-star rating from 57 reviews on our GAF profile. We work on asphalt shingle, metal and commercial roofs across Blount County and nearby counties.

Our process is simple. We start with a free inspection and dated photos. Next comes an itemized estimate and a scheduled work date.

After the work, we run a magnetic nail sweep around the house. We finish with a final walkthrough so you can see the repair.

Tree on your roof right now? Call (865) 336-2374 for 24/7 emergency tarping. Our main office is at 1121 E Broadway Ave, Maryville, TN 37804.

Frequently asked questions

These are common questions Blount County owners ask after a tree hits the roof, covering insurance, safety, tarping and paperwork. Your own policy and adjuster have the final say on any claim. Call RC Roofing at (865) 336-2374 if you need a tarp or an inspection.

Does homeowners insurance cover a tree that falls on my roof?

Often, yes, when wind, lightning or hail drops the tree onto an insured structure like your house. The Insurance Information Institute says standard policies generally cover the house and contents in that case. Your own policy, deductible and adjuster decide the outcome, so confirm the details with your agent.

Who pays if my neighbor's tree falls on my house in Blount County?

You usually file with your own insurer, even when the tree grew next door. Triple-I says your insurer may seek repayment from the neighbor's insurer, often when the tree was dead or neglected. If that works, you may get your deductible back.

Can I stay in my house after a tree hits the roof?

Stay out if you see sagging ceilings, cracked rafters, wires on the house or a gas smell. The National Weather Service says to stay out of damaged buildings until a pro checks the framing. Light damage may allow you to stay once the roof is covered.

How fast can RC Roofing tarp my roof after a tree strike?

RC Roofing offers 24/7 emergency tarping across Blount County and nearby counties at (865) 336-2374. Arrival time depends on storm volume, road access and crew safety. The tree must come off the roof before our crew can seal the opening with a tarp.

Should I cut the tree off my roof myself?

No, because a tree resting on a roof holds stored weight and can shift without warning. Cutting it from the roof or a ladder puts you at serious risk. Hire an insured tree service with the right gear, then let a roofer tarp and inspect the decking.

Do I need to keep receipts for tarping and tree removal?

Yes, because the standard HO-3 sample policy tells owners to keep records of repair costs. Save every invoice, photo and note in one folder for your adjuster. Also write down who you spoke with at the insurance company and the date of each call.