Immediate Steps — The First Five Minutes
A tree falling on your house is a sudden, frightening event. Your first instinct might be to rush outside and assess the damage — but the first five minutes should be focused entirely on safety, not assessment.
Get everyone out of rooms beneath the impact zone. Move to the parts of your house farthest from where the tree landed. If the structural integrity of any part of the house is compromised, evacuate the entire building and wait outside at a safe distance from the tree.
Do not re-enter a structurally compromised area. Ceiling collapse, wall buckling, and roof failure can occur even hours after the initial impact as the weight of the tree shifts. Stay out until a structural assessment has been performed.
Utility Shutoffs — When and How
Utility shutoffs can prevent secondary disasters after a tree falls on your home.
Electricity: If the tree has damaged or penetrated your roof and there is any possibility of rain entering an area with electrical wiring, shutting off the main breaker at your panel reduces fire and shock risk. Only do this if you can reach the panel safely — not if the path to the panel runs through a structurally compromised area.
Gas: If you smell gas, do not use any switches or electrical devices. Leave immediately, leave the door open, and call the gas company from outside. Gas shutoffs are at the meter — only turn off if you can clearly see a tree has damaged gas piping.
Power lines: If the tree took down utility lines to your house or neighboring lines, call Hawaiian Electric (HECO) immediately. Do not touch any lines on or near the tree. Do not attempt any work near downed lines.
Documenting for Insurance — Do This Before Anything Moves
Your smartphone's camera is your most important insurance tool right now. Before any crew arrives and before anything is moved:
- Photograph the entire tree — from base to crown, showing how it fell
- Document every point of contact between the tree and the structure
- Photograph all visible structural damage — roof penetration, wall damage, window damage, deck damage
- Photograph your vehicle if it was also hit
- Take wide shots showing the tree in context with your property
- If safe, photograph interior damage from inside the affected rooms
- Note the date, time, and any storm conditions on video or in text that will be visible in your photos
Who to Call and In What Order
1. 911 — if anyone is injured, if power lines are down, or if there is structural collapse. Emergency services first, always.
2. Hawaiian Electric (HECO) — if power lines are involved. Their emergency line is 548-7456. They will assess and de-energize lines as needed before any tree work can safely begin near those lines.
3. Oahu Tree Rescue — (808) 376-2857 — for emergency tree removal. We will assess, provide a quote, and remove the tree safely. We also provide documentation for insurance.
4. Your insurance company — after immediate safety is addressed. Have your policy number available. They will want your photos and will send an adjuster.
5. A licensed contractor — for structural assessment and repair after the tree is removed. Your insurance company may require their own contractor, or you can select your own.
What Not to Do
In the stress of a tree-on-structure situation, several well-intentioned actions can make things worse:
- Don't try to move the tree yourself. Fallen trees are often under tension — sections may spring violently when cut or moved. Chainsaw work on a tree against a structure requires specific training and equipment.
- Don't turn utilities back on before structural assessment if any utilities were shut off.
- Don't remove interior debris until the tree is removed and a structural assessment has been done. Removing debris may relieve tension holding damaged elements in place.
- Don't allow unauthorized people onto the property. Post-storm, "helpers" and unlicensed contractors may appear at your door. Do not allow anyone to begin work without verifying insurance and getting a written quote.
- Don't sign anything from a tree service or contractor you haven't vetted.
Getting Prioritized After Major Storms in Honolulu
After significant storm events, every qualified tree service in Honolulu is managing a high volume of emergency calls simultaneously. How do you get to the front of the line?
Priority is typically given based on active risk: a tree currently on an occupied structure takes priority over debris in a yard. Being clear about the risk level when you call matters — describe the situation as specifically as possible. Existing client relationships also matter: our regular clients get priority dispatch after storm events.
If you are calling after a major storm and cannot get immediate response from any qualified company, focus on stabilizing your situation safely: cover roof breaches with tarps if you can do so safely from inside (not from a ladder on the damaged area), keep everyone out of the affected zone, and document extensively for insurance.
Need Emergency Tree Service in Honolulu?
Oahu Tree Rescue responds 24/7 across all Honolulu neighborhoods. Licensed, insured, and locally owned since 2020.
📞 Call (808) 376-2857