DNA organization into chromatin has a major influence on the cellular response to DNA damage. Recent studies in various systems ranging from yeast to human cells stress the importance of chromatin not simply as a barrier to DNA repair processes but also as an active contributor to the DNA damage response. Indeed, modulations of chromatin organization involving various degrees of rearrangements, such as histone modifications and even nucleosome displacement, can promote efficient repair and also participate in checkpoint signaling. Here, we survey recent progress in delineating how chromatin rearrangements provide crosstalk with the DNA damage response. In particular, we highlight new data on histone dynamics at damage sites and discuss their functional importance for the stable propagation of specific chromatin states.