What to do if a tree falls on your house
You’ll have to juggle a number of concerns, such as the safety of your family, insurance claims and tree removal, if your home were to experience this kind of damage.
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Tips for insurers on the process of filing a claim and how to make sure your insurance company has the automation to expedite the process.
From winter snow storms to blustery summer rains, weather throughout the year may lead to any homeowner’s nightmare: a tree falling on their house.
Here are some steps, should you find yourself in that situation:
Taking care of immediate safety
A person jogs past a large tree that fell on the roof of a home in the Chicago area on June 14, 2022.
(Steven Rosenberg / Chicago Tribune / Tribune News Service / Getty Images)
- Keep your family safe - If a tree has fallen on your home, the first thing you need to do is ensure the safety of everyone in your home. According to AAA, you may even need to evacuate immediately and call 911.
- Assess any hazardous situations - When trees fall, they sometimes bring down power lines or damage underground gas lines. If so, shut off the power at your breaker box and call the electrical company, and shut off the gas to your home.
- Cover damaged parts of your home - You may also cover any openings caused by the tree with a tarp, if it can be done safely. However, the stability of a home may be compromised by the fallen tree, so it may be necessary to call a professional to cover openings in your home.
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Handling insurance
An electric company employee along with a local resident surveys the damage done to the power lines next to a large tree that fell on a house following the passage of hurricane Laura in Lake Charles in Louisiana on August 27, 2020.
(ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP / Getty Images)
- Take pictures and video of the damage - Be sure to take clear documentation of the damage caused by the tree, both inside and outside where it’s safe to do so. This will help you build your case with your insurance provider by giving them a clear picture of what happened.
- Call your insurance company - Let them know what happened and let them guide you through the next steps. According to the Insurance Information Institute, a standard homeowner's insurance policy covers the damage to an insured structure if a tree were to fall on it.
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Removing the tree
A worker removes a tree that fell on a house in Milford, Pennsylvania on July 9, 2021.
(Preston Ehrler / SOPA Images / LightRocket / Getty Images)
Your insurance company can work with you to determine the best options for removing the tree from your home.
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You may end up hiring a tree removal company; if so, make sure they have proof of insurance, in case they damage your home during the removal process.