What To Do If A Tree Falls On Your House
So, there’s been a storm and a tree fell on your home. Now What? Having a tree fall on your roof can be an incredibly stressful and frustrating situation. If you don’t know where to start, here are 5 action steps to take if a tree falls on your roof from storm damage.
Evacuate Your Home
The first thing you’ll want to do once you realize a tree has fallen on your roof is to evacuate your home. Trees can cause extreme structural damage, so imagine what they can do to people. It’s best to have everyone out of the house while the damage is assessed and the repair is being scheduled.
Call Electrical Company
If a tree has fallen on your roof, there’s a chance it took down power lines, too. Downed power lines can be incredibly dangerous and can lead to fires. If your power is out, that’s a good indication that something isn’t right. If you suspect that a power line has been taken down by a tree, turn off your breaker and call your electrical company.
Shut Off Your Gas
Similar to power lines, a tree falling on your home can cause damage to your gas lines. Until you’re confident that you have no gas line damage, it’s smart to turn your gas at the meter off. There should be a shut-off valve near the meter that you can turn off by using a wrench. For a more detailed explanation of how to turn off your gas, watch this video. As always, if you feel uncomfortable doing this yourself, contact a professional.
Patch Up The Damage
A tree falling can cause damage to your windows and holes in your roof. It is best to leave these kinds of repairs to professionals as attempting to fix them yourself can cause more harm than good. Schedule a repair as soon as possible to prevent further damage and to protect the interior of your home from any debris that may fall through the cracks.
Prepare For Next Time
While natural disasters like storms cause trees to fall most of the time, it’s usually because the tree was already showing signs of damage. To help mitigate the risk of a tree falling again, be on the lookout for signs of trees in poor condition:
- Brown and brittle bark or cracks
- Very few healthy leaves
- Deadwood
- Fungus
- Leaning in one direction
What To Expect From Your Insurance Company When A Tree Falls On A House?
Once you have gathered all the necessary information and documentation about the incident, it’s time to contact your insurance company so they are aware of what happened. Most insurers provide 24-hour customer service where you will talk with an agent who will assess your situation and let you know what steps need to be taken next. Depending on your policy coverage, they may advise you on additional actions required before submitting a formal claim such as getting a written estimate from a contractor for repairs or having a professional assessor visit the site and evaluate the damages in person.
Afterward, you may need to provide more detailed information regarding what happened so that the insurer can determine if they will accept your claim or not. Generally speaking, if you have adequate coverage for fallen trees then they will likely take your claim unless there is evidence that suggests negligence or other misconduct that would disqualify you from receiving payment.
If your roof is damaged by a tree, do not hesitate to call Ridgeline Construction Roofing & Exteriors. We won’t sacrifice quality for quantity and we’ll strive to provide you with the highest level of service every time. Schedule a free estimate today by calling us at (256) 325-1345 or by filling out our online form.
