Fall storms can cause significant damage to homes and yards, especially when trees are involved. While trimming your trees and performing regular maintenance can help prevent the hassle of fallen branches and identify potential problems, it’s important to know what steps to take when you spot a leaning tree or fallen limbs. Here’s what you should do immediately when a tree falls in your yard.
1. Look for Damage
Check for any signs of damage around the fallen tree. It’s common for dead or dying trees to fall on top of roofs or crash through windows. One that lands on the roof can break through the asphalt and create a leak, while one that breaks through a window leaves your home exposed to the elements.
2. Contact Your Insurer
If you own a home, contact your insurer quickly. The odds are good that the company received a lot of calls from others about the damages they suffered during the storm. It’s helpful to write down as much information about the damage as possible, including what you see and when it happened. The insurer may also ask for photos. They’ll send a claims adjuster to your home to verify the fallen tree damage, which will help you get your payout. Even if the tree didn’t damage your home, your policy may cover the cost of a replacement tree.
3. Secure the Area
Securing the area around the tree is the next step. If the tree landed in your yard and didn’t damage your home, use caution tape. Wrap the tape around the trunk and the fallen branches. This lets neighbors and visitors spot the tree and know they should avoid it. For a broken window, a piece of plywood will work as a temporary fix until you can replace the window. If the tree damaged your roof, you’ll need to contact a roofing crew, but you can temporarily cover the roof with a waterproof tarp.
4. Call an Arborist
The work doesn’t stop when you secure your home. You also need to call an arborist. Arborists can remove the old tree and any branches or twigs that came loose when the tree fell. Calling early helps you get a professional to your home quickly. The longer you wait to call, the further out your appointment will be because other local homeowners reached out first.
Now that you know how to respond to a fallen tree, you don’t need to worry or panic about your next steps. Always inspect for damage and secure the area before reaching out to your insurer and calling an arborist. Make a call to A+ Tree & Landscaping for emergency tree services after a fall storm in Wilmington, NC.
