This past summer, almost 60 large trees fell as a result of a severe storm in Virginia. Thankfully, no one was hurt. 

But a falling tree is a serious safety risk. Read on to learn what to do if a tree falls on your house.

Safety is Paramount

If a tree falls on your house, the most important thing to do is make sure you and your family get to safety.

Do not go back into the house or try to examine the damage or get close to the tree fallen down. Leave that to the experts.

It's a wise idea to have a 72-hour kit for each member of your family near your exit point. In it, keep anything you might need in an emergency such as water, food, a change of clothes, some money and so on.

Prepare an emergency evacuation plan for your family ahead of time. That way everyone knows how to get out and where to meet in case of an emergency. This might be across the street at a park or a certain spot on the sidewalk. 

Do a practice run of your evacuation plan before an emergency. 

Call Emergency Services

You should call 9-1-1 as soon as you and your family are safely away from the house. 

They may send a fire truck to evaluate the situation. Let them know if the tree has fallen on power lines.

Contact your Insurance Company

Your insurance company is the next phone call you should make. Your insurance agent will be able to guide you on your next steps.

Likely, they will tell you to contact a roofing company to minimize damage to the exposed areas of your home. 

Call an Arborist

Once the scene is deemed safe by emergency personnel, you should contact an Arborist to come and look at the fallen tree to quote you on tree removal. 

Arborists are highly trained and know how to work with a variety of tree situations. They will be able to choose the proper (and safe) tree removal procedure.

Call a Roofing Contractor

Contact a local, reputable (and insured) roofing company to come help you with your tree through the roof.

If you have used a roofing company in the past, great! Use someone you trust. 

Beware of storm chasers who drive around looking for trees fallen on houses. These fly-by-the-night contractors often scam homeowners out of their money and leave them without solutions.

Always make sure the company you choose is licensed and certified.

Take Plenty of Pictures

As soon as it is safe to do so (fire personnel will let you know when that is), you should try to take as many pictures of the damage as you can.

Try to get various angles and pictures from different places. Try to take both close-up and wider shots.

These pictures will help your insurance company when they review your claim.

Now, what to do if a tree falls on your house but it's not your tree?

If it is Your Neighbor's Tree

During a storm, there's no way to predict which way a tree will fall. It is possible that you end up with a neighbor's tree through your roof.

No matter if it is your tree or not, you are responsible for the insurance claim because it is your house. 

So, it doesn't really matter if the tree is on your side of the property line or not. However, do let your insurance company know if it is not your tree.

If Your Tree Falls on Your Neighbor's Property

The same rule applies to your neighbor. When a tree has fallen down on their property, they will have to submit a claim to their insurance company.

You should be aware that if your neighbor can prove that you did nothing about a hollow or diseased tree, you may be in some hot water. It's possible that their insurance company may demand that you reimburse your neighbor for his or her deductible.

Your best bet is to make sure you keep trees in your yard in a healthy condition. Make sure to deal with over-sized, sick or damaged trees before they damage anyone's property.

If a tree is hollow or compromised in any way, you should contact an arborist to safely cut or remove the tree. That way you avoid the risk of having it fall during a storm. 

What About my Fence or Shed?

If a tree falls on your shed, garage, or fence, your homeowner's policy will most likely cover the damage. Keep in mind that the coverage amount will probably not be as much as for your home.

Yet any damage to your home or property should be covered by your policy. 

What About if a Tree Falls on A Car?

If a tree falls on your car, your homeowner's insurance will not cover the damage.

If you have a comprehensive car insurance policy, damages caused by falling objects are usually covered by your car insurance. 

What if a Fallen Tree Doesn't Do Any Damage?

If a tree falls on your property but doesn't damage any structures on your property, you are in luck! You won't have to deal with the headaches of having roof or property repairs. 

You should still contact an arborist to arrange tree removal. Keep in mind that your homeowner's insurance policy likely will not cover tree debris removal.

But, contact your insurance company just in case. They may cover some of the cost of tree removal if the fallen tree is blocking the road or your driveway.

Final Thoughts on What to Do if a Tree Falls on Your House

Thanks for reading. We hope this guide on what to do if a tree falls on your house has been helpful.

Remember, stay safe, contact the right people and follow their instructions. 

Next, contact us for a free quote for any tree services.