That’s one of the most common questions Service Master by RSI receives from local clients, especially in the winter when ice accumulates on trees and causes damage.
If a tree falls on your roof, your home, or your business, the most important thing to remember is that there’s no need to panic: SMRSI has got you covered.
How Ice Storms Damage Trees
Ice damage tends to be more substantial than snow damage. That’s because the snow doesn’t usually adhere to a tree’s trunk and branches, while ice does. Ice storms occur when the temperatures are below freezing. The water begins as freezing rain. When that rain reaches the ground, or, in this case, the trees, it freezes on contact. As it continues to rain, the ice continues to accumulate.
A prolonged ice storm can leave a tree’s branches 30 times their original weight. The extra weight puts the tree under severe stress, making it more likely that its branches or trunk will crack.
How to Mitigate Tree Damage Risk Before an Ice Storm
The good news is, most trees that come down during ice storms are weak specimens. You can spot weaknesses ahead of the storm, which gives property owners time to prepare. Property owners who want to exercise maximum caution can have any trees removed that could pose a danger to their structures or power lines. Most only remove trees with apparent weaknesses
Signs of Weakness: Assess the Trees in Your Yard
Only a professional arborist can say for sure if a tree is healthy. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do to prepare for the upcoming winter. Take a look at the trees in your yard and look for the following signs of weakness:
Multiple Tree Trunks
Healthy trees have only one terminal branch or trunk. Trees that sustain damage to their terminal branches may grow multiple trunks that join up in a V-shape. These trunks tend to lean outward at severe angles, which places them at risk of falling under the ice.
Dead Branches
If a branch is dead, it will fall eventually. As time passes, the branch will only become more decayed. Homeowners should have dead branches removed before winter, especially if they are near or above structures, driveways, or power lines.
Leaning Trees
Not all leaning trees pose an increased risk. However, if you notice that a tree is leaning more than it used to, that’s a severe problem. The entire tree could 
topple over under the weight of freezing rain, roots and all.
Nearby Construction
Any construction activity that requires digging in a tree’s root zone can cause problems. Severing the roots is like cutting the tree’s anchor. It’s safer to cut down nearby trees before beginning construction.
Check, Repair, or Remove Hazardous Trees
It’s always best to take action before a storm, not after. That way, you won’t be stuck asking yourself, what to do if a tree falls on your home to begin with. Check each tree carefully and hire an arborist if one or more of them appear to be damaged or weak. It’s best to have the tree repaired or removed before it can damage your structures.
In some cases, arborists can repair trees weakened by disease or acute damage. It may require pruning dead branches, mulching exposed roots, or treating the specimen for pests or diseases. In other cases, the only reliable solution is to have the tree removed.
You should never try to take down a damaged, diseased, or otherwise problematic tree yourself. Tree removal is dangerous work, especially for homeowners with no experience in the field. Tree removal specialists have all the safety equipment and advanced training they need to prevent injuries. They also know how to take the tree down safely without causing damage to nearby trees or structures.
Tree Fell on My House: What Now?
If you didn’t take action before the storm, don’t be too hard on yourself. You’re not alone. Some years, ice storms cause billions of dollars in damage. Instead of playing the blame game, take the following steps:
Leave the Structure Immediately
If a tree falls on your home, you and your family should leave immediately. If the damage is substantial, you may need to make plans to stay with friends until your home repairs are finished. Either way, don’t re-enter your home until the fire department has deemed it safe to do so. There could be all kinds of hidden dangers like gas leaks or loose electrical wires that you haven’t even noticed.
Call 9-1-1 if:
You don’t have to call the authorities to report every fallen tree. If a tree falls in your yard but does not damage any structures, that’s not an emergency. It’s just an inconvenience.
You should only call 9-1-1 if:
- The tree is blocking a road
- The tree fell on the house
- The tree fell on a car
- Power lines are damaged
- One or more people become injured
The fire department will arrive as soon as possible to help secure the premises. Remember that even if the damage looks minor, there may still be hidden dangers like gas leaks or electrical problems. It’s always better to call the authorities if you’re dealing with one of the situations listed above.
Contact Your Insurance Agent
Once everyone is safely out of the house and you’ve reported the downed tree, if necessary, it’s time to call your insurance agent and let them know that a tree fell on your house or damaged your property. Call the agent as soon as possible. Most homeowner’s insurance policies cover tree damage, but you’ll need the agent to agree to cover fallen tree removal and emergency repairs.
What Will My Insurance Cover?
Basic homeowners insurance policies don’t cover all downed trees. If the wind uprooted the tree, it should be covered, even if the trunk is on a neighbor’s property. However, most policies don’t cover negligence. If the tree were rotted and ready to fall before the storm, the damage usually wouldn’t be covered.
As long as you’ve taken reasonable actions to ensure the health of your trees, you should be fine. Your insurance policy will cover both the fallen tree removal and the cost of emergency repairs. That includes the removal of tree debris, but only if the tree has damaged a structure.
If the tree fell on your car, not your home, you’ll have to file a claim with your auto insurance policy. The insurance company will only pay for vehicle repairs if you have comprehensive coverage.
Document Everything
Having pictures of the fallen tree on your property will help your insurance agent assess the damage. Don’t place yourself in danger to get pictures. You should wait until everyone has left the structure and take photos from a safe distance, especially if part of the tree is still standing.
Don’t go inside your home to take pictures of internal damage. It’s not worth risking your safety. Wait until your home has undergone an inspection of its structural integrity before entering to take photos of the damage.
If your neighbors are out surveying their properties, stop to talk to them. Having a statement from a neighbor about what happened can sometimes act in your favor. If the tree was on your neighbor’s property, your insurance policy should still cover the damage. There’s no need to get into heated arguments.
Protect Your Home from Further Damage & Theft
The best way to protect your home from further damage is to enlist professional help immediately. A good disaster recovery service will work with your insurance agency to make it easier to get timely repairs. That’s the best way to prevent further damage and reduce the risk of break-ins.
You may need to take some steps to mitigate damage while your home repairs are underway – like having areas of your roof tarped off to prevent water damage or having broken windows boarded up. You don’t have to go it alone. A dedicated disaster recovery specialist, such as Service Master by RSI, will know what to do to protect your home while it undergoes repairs.
Contact SMRSI
The experienced contractors at SMRSI know precisely how to handle all of your questions about what to do if a tree falls on your house. Better yet, we have the experience to fix it. All you have to do to get the remediation process started is call and tell them a tree fell on my house. It doesn’t matter how large or small the job is. SMRSI has the equipment and personnel to handle it quickly and efficiently.
It’s never a good idea to attempt to repair your own home following storm damage. You’ll be placing yourself in danger and could even put your family at risk. Assessing and remediating storm damage requires specialized skills, tools, and expertise. It’s always best to leave it to the professionals.
Get Help Now
If you’re dealing with tree damage after an ice storm, don’t go it alone. Call ServiceMaster Restoration by RSI at (405) 251-7286 or fill out an online contact form. We can accept calls 24/7 and will get to work immediately to restore your home and your family’s peace of mind.
