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What to do if…
bricks, stone, render, or other masonry are loose or falling from a building

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Move people and pets away from the area below and around the loose masonry. Call 911 from a safe place if material is actively falling, someone is injured or trapped, utilities are damaged, or any part of the building appears at risk of collapse.

Do not do these things

  • Do not stand, walk, work, or park beneath the damaged area.
  • Do not touch, pull, hammer, or test loose bricks, stone, render, stucco, or masonry.
  • Do not climb a ladder, enter a restricted area, lean from a window, or go onto the roof to inspect it.
  • Do not cross the possible fall area to retrieve debris, take close photographs, or place a barrier.
  • Do not try to secure loose material with rope, tape, boards, tarps, or improvised supports.
  • Do not use an entrance or walkway beneath the damage.
  • Do not remain beside an affected wall that is bulging, leaning, separating, cracking rapidly, or continuing to shed material.
  • Do not allow children, pets, tenants, visitors, workers, or delivery drivers into the area.

What to do now

  1. Move everyone away from the affected wall, facade, chimney, parapet, balcony, entrance, or walkway. Use another exit only if you can reach it without passing beneath the loose material.

  2. If leaving would place you beneath falling masonry, remain in the safest available part of the building, away from the affected exterior wall and windows, and call 911 for instructions if there is an immediate danger.

  3. Call 911 if masonry is actively falling where it could strike someone, a person is injured or trapped, a substantial section is moving or collapsing, or gas equipment, electrical wires, or other utilities may be damaged.

  4. Prevent access from a safe position. Lock or close an affected doorway, redirect people to another route, and place a warning or barrier only outside the possible fall zone.

  5. Notify the property owner, landlord, property manager, homeowners association, or site manager immediately. State the precise location, what material is loose or falling, whether movement is continuing, and whether a sidewalk, road, entrance, or neighboring property is affected.

  6. If there is no immediate 911 emergency but the hazard affects a public area, or the responsible person cannot be reached, contact the city or county building department or code-enforcement office through the local government website.

  7. Arrange an urgent assessment by a qualified masonry professional. Ask for a licensed professional engineer qualified to assess structural instability, or a structural engineer where that credential is recognized by the relevant state licensing board, when a wall is bulging, leaning, separating from the building, showing large or spreading cracks, or when the extent of the instability is uncertain.

  8. Photograph or record the damage only from a safe location. Note when it was discovered, where debris landed, recent storms or impacts, and whether the condition is changing.

  9. If you own the property, contact your insurance company or agent promptly and ask what records they require. Do not delay emergency work needed to protect people, but keep photographs, reports, invoices, and removed materials when it is safe and practical to do so.

  10. Keep the affected route and any potentially unsafe space closed until a qualified professional or local official has assessed the hazard and advised that access can resume.

What can wait

You do not need to determine the cause, select a permanent repair, match replacement materials, clean up debris, compare estimates, assign responsibility, or settle insurance details now. These matters can wait until people are clear of the danger and the masonry has been assessed.

Important reassurance

Loose exterior masonry does not necessarily mean the whole building is about to collapse. The condition can still be dangerous because even a small falling piece may cause serious injury, and its stability cannot be judged reliably from the ground.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate safety, notification, and assessment steps only. Repair design, structural decisions, permits, contractor selection, insurance claims, tenant rights, and responsibility for costs may require qualified local professionals.

Important note

This is general property-safety information, not engineering, legal, insurance, or other professional advice. Follow instructions from emergency services, utility providers, local building officials, and qualified professionals who can inspect the building directly.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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