Key takeaways
- People first: 911 if anyone is hurt.
- Treat every wire as live and stay far away.
- Do not stay in a house that may be unstable.
- Photograph from a safe place before anything is moved.
- Call your insurer, then a tree service. Do not cut the tree yourself.
This is the order that matters in the first hour. The details come after people are safe. Battle Born Tree Service runs a 24-hour emergency line at 775.232.8243, and after severe storms its priority is existing clients, though it serves anyone in need.
What do you do in the first minutes?
Get everyone out of the house and away from the tree, and call 911 if anyone is hurt or trapped. Keep pets and children back, and do not go back in for belongings until a professional says it is fine.
A tree resting on a roof can shift. Wind, cutting or removing weight can change how the load rests, so leave it to a crew with the right equipment.
What if a power line is involved?
Stay far away from the tree and the wire, and call NV Energy. OSHA's tree-care guidance says to assume all lines are energized at all times, and its minimum approach for workers is at least 10 feet from overhead lines up to 50 kV, more above that.
NV Energy's outage and emergency line in Northern Nevada is (775) 834-4100, according to the utility's own tree pruning brochure; numbers can change, so confirm it on nvenergy.com. A fallen or sagging wire can energize the ground, a fence or the tree itself. Do not touch the tree if it might be in contact with a line.
Who do you call after that?
Call your insurance company and then a tree service. Call 775.232.8243 for Battle Born's 24-hour emergency line, and tell the office whether a wire is involved.
After severe storms, Battle Born's priority is existing clients, but it serves anyone in need. We do not promise arrival times, because conditions after a storm vary.
- Everyone out. 911 if anyone is hurt.
- Stay back from wires and call NV Energy.
- Photograph the tree, the damage and the surroundings from a safe place.
- Call your insurer.
- Call a tree service. Do not start cutting.
Will insurance pay for the removal?
It often helps when a covered structure was damaged. Consumer Reports says your insurer may cover repairs and debris removal, minus your deductible, and that removal payments are generally capped.
Ask your insurer what it needs before the tree is moved. Our guide on homeowners insurance and tree removal explains the pattern, and your insurer decides.
How is a tree taken off a house?
The crew first looks at how the load is resting on the structure and at wires, then picks a method. With a crane, pieces can be lifted off instead of dropped, which limits further damage.
Battle Born owns a crane and a 75-foot Altec boom truck, and does emergency service and storm clean-up, including trees on houses and debris collection and disposal. See emergency tree service.
What should you document before the tree is moved?
From a safe place, take photos and video of the tree, the damaged part of the house, the roofline, any wires and the surrounding yard. Include wide shots and close-ups.
If the crew needs to move the tree before the adjuster comes, say so to your insurer. Photos protect the claim, and the insurer can tell you what else it needs.
Sources
- OSHA: Electricity and Tree Care Work, A Deadly Combination (OSHA 3861, 2016) (read October 17, 2026)
- NV Energy: A Tree on Your Property (Tree Pruning Explained brochure, rev. 2017-05) (read October 17, 2026)
- Consumer Reports: When a Tree Falls, Who Pays for the Damage? (July 8, 2019) (read October 17, 2026)