Trees are a natural part of the landscape that offer shade, improve air quality, and add to the home's beauty and value. However, they also pose a severe threat and make the property susceptible to damage if a tree lands on the house. Several factors can topple a tree, such as a violent storm, heavy rains and winds, lightning, age, disease, and dead and decomposed roots. Extreme weather conditions cause even the healthiest of trees to come crashing down.
Falling trees and limbs cause millions of dollars in property damages annually. It is critical for people with several trees in their yard to be proactive and know the plan of action to follow after a fallen tree has struck the home to ensure everyone's safety and alleviate the damage.
Let's look into what to do when a tree falls on the home:
Evacuate the house
A fallen tree presents a severe danger to the home's structure. If the house has occupants, including pets, ensure that everyone is unharmed and exits the house quickly to a safer location.
Call emergency services
A fallen tree sometimes accompanies an increased risk of fire and electrical shocks if the power lines also go down with it. After everyone evacuates the property, flip off the main breaker to stop the power supply in the house, and call emergency services to apprise them of the situation. They can advise on the steps to follow next and send fire or other public utility responders for repairs to ward off any danger.
Assess the damage
Once the home is safe, it is time to take stock of the situation and assess the damage. Document everything and take pictures or videos of the damage to be presented as evidence to claim insurance.
Call the insurance company
The next step is to report all the damages to the insurance company for instructions on how to proceed further. They can send an adjuster for inspection to determine the damage and repair costs. Most homeowner insurance policies cover tree removal and emergency repair costs. However, it doesn't cover the damages caused by a tree that fell due to the homeowner's negligence.
Call a tree removal service
It is essential to get the fallen tree off the property as soon as possible to eliminate the risk of further damage. After agreeing on the insurance claim amount, call a local tree removal service to remove the fallen tree and inspect the other trees to ensure they don't pose any threat to the house. They have the right experience and tools to remove and dispose of the entire tree safely.
Carry out home repairs
Call the roofing company, a plumber, and other home professionals to examine and complete the necessary repairs and ensure that the home is safe to move in again.
How to prevent trees from falling on the home
It is both dangerous and damaging when a tree falls on the home. After dealing with the fallen tree, it is essential to be proactive and invest in preventative maintenance to ensure it doesn't happen again. Hire a tree service company for regular inspection and upkeep. They trim the trees, get rid of dying trees, remove low-lying branches, and treat them to ensure they stay in good shape.
Chuck’s Tree Service offers tree trimming and pruning, palm tree trimming, and tree removal, in Pasco, Hernando and Pinellas Counties. 24/7 emergency service. Call us today at 352-747-8182!
