We have a hard time imagining specific scenarios in life that could happen to us. Indeed, one of those is a tree falling on your roof. However, big storms and other unexpected events can make this a real problem for homeowners. It can be a financial burden, but more importantly, it can be an unsafe situation to live in.
So, if you are wondering what to do if a tree falls on your house, read on. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about what to expect and how to deal with the situation.
Step One: Get Out
Can a house withstand a tree falling on it? Yes. But that’s not 100%. Once a tree has fallen onto your roof, you have no idea how it will affect your home’s structural integrity. While everything might be okay, and you can occupy lower areas of the house, the damage to your roof could cause catastrophic failure.
The best thing to do if a tree falls on your home is to get out as quickly as possible. If you lived in a shared building, you would want to notify your neighbors.
This is a considerable inconvenience, but the trouble pales compared to what could happen in the worst-case scenario.
Step Two: If Anyone in Your Family Is In Apparent Danger, Call 911
Most of us were raised knowing that calling 911 should be saved for an absolute emergency. It is possible that a tree would fall on your home, which seems less than that. But, as mentioned above, you have no idea what kind of structural damage has been done to your home.
The best thing to do in this situation is to call 911 and tell them precisely what happened. Tell them what it looks like, which part was affected, and other things of note, such as the age of the house, how many floors your home has, and the current situation. You can expect the fire and police departments to show up and assess the damage.
Step Three: Calling the Insurance Company
While you might not want to be thinking about how much this damage will cost you right now, you need to contact your insurance company. They will have you take pictures and find a way to document as much as possible. They will inform you of the following steps to ensure that you aren’t on the hook for the complete repair.
You might be wondering if there is tree removal insurance coverage. The answer to that is yes and no. If a tree falls onto your house, it is likely covered by your homeowner’s insurance. If you simply have a dead or dying tree on your lot, it is probably not covered by your homeowner’s insurance.
Step Four: Assess If You Can Stay at Home
This is not a call that you should make by yourself. You will want to consult with the fire department and other emergency services at your house at the time of the incident. Again, you have no idea how much structural damage has been done to your home, so you don’t want to risk staying in an unsafe building.
The good news is that you aren’t left out in the cold. The same insurance that should cover tree removal when you have a tree through roof should also cover the cost of staying at a hotel during this trying time.
If you are renting, you need to contact your landlord immediately so that they can assess the damage and deal with the situation.
Step Five: Repair or Replacement
Once you and your family are squared away, you will want to contact an experienced professional to see if you need your roof repaired or replaced altogether. An experienced roofer will be able to assess the damage and give you an accurate idea of the breadth of the project, the cost, and the timeline.
If you have more questions surrounding a tree falling on your roof, please contact Jack Wilson Roofing today.