What to Do When a Tree Falls on Your House in Redwood City
When a multi-ton tree or massive limb crashes into a residential roof, your absolute first priority is immediate human safety. Do not remain inside to inspect the ceiling or salvage personal property. Structural shockwaves from a high-impact tree strike frequently shatter load-bearing ceiling rafters, shear electrical conduits within wall cavities, crack natural gas supply pipes, and dislodge heavy clay roofing tiles that can collapse into living areas without warning. Evacuate all household members and pets from rooms beneath and adjacent to the impact zone immediately. If the tree struck during an active winter atmospheric river storm, ground saturated soils around your foundation may also have destabilized. If you smell natural gas, hear a hissing sound, or observe flickering circuit breakers, evacuate the residence entirely, retreat to a safe location at least 100 feet away, and call 911 immediately from a mobile phone.
