What to Do If a Tree Falls on Your House

9/19/2022 (Permalink)

If you’re a homeowner with large trees on or near your property, it’s important to know what to do if one hits your house.

Evacuate the House

If a tree or one of its large limbs crashes through the roof, first make sure all the occupants are safe. Check in with everyone—including your pets—then get out of the house as quickly and safely as possible.  Make sure you have a “go bag” prepared or you take items you’ll need like cash, car keys, important documents and, if possible, a change of clothes. Once you know everyone is safe, call 911 so the fire department can help you secure your premises. Although it may be tempting, make sure you:

• Don’t climb onto your roof.

• Don’t climb onto the fallen tree.

• Don’t touch downed power lines.

Contact Your Insurance Company

Most homeowner insurance policies will cover at least some of the damage caused by fallen trees—especially if the damage is weather related—including the cost of removing the tree and the damage to your property. The insurance adjuster will usually want to come out and make an assessment before any tree removal work is done, to see the full extent of the damage before filing a report or recommending any claim reimbursement.  

Contact SERVPRO of Streamwood, Bartlett, West Chicago and Warrenville

Life is full of unexpected and unplanned events like, a tree falling on your house. If this happens to you SERVPRO of Streamwood, Bartlett, West Chicago and Warrenville has all the services you’ll need to deal with the aftermath of a fallen tree. If your roof is damaged, we offer roof-tarping services until it can be fixed. If windows are broken, our board-up service gives you protection from the weather, safety from broken glass, and security from illegal entry. Our water damage restoration services can help lessen the chances of mold, warped wood, and stained walls. We can even help repair the damage. With SERVPRO you get full-spectrum, start-to-finish disaster restoration services, including debris removal and cleanup, water removal and drying, and home reconstruction.