During large storms, trees can topple and fall over. Unfortunately, anything in their path can be damaged, including your home. If a tree falls on your home you may be shocked and in a state of disbelief. After you get over this initial shock, you may find yourself wondering what to do next. Here are the steps you will want to follow if a tree falls on your roof.
Contact Any Needed Emergency Services
After a tree has fallen onto your roof, you will want to have everyone exit the home. After exiting the home, you will want to contact any emergency services you may need. If the tree took power lines down with it, you will want to contact your power company. If the tree is blocking the road or a sidewalk, you may need to contact your county services or the non-emergency sheriff line.
Notify Your Home Insurance Company
The next step you will want to take is notifying your home insurance company. They may want to send an agent out before the tree is removed to take pictures of all of the damage. The faster you file a claim, the faster you can get on with repairs, so always take the time to do this as quickly as possible after the accident.
Hire a Tree Removal Company
After the home insurance company has given you the go ahead, you will want to hire a tree removal company. The tree removal company is in charge of cutting up the tree and removing it from your property. When possible, look for a removal company who has experience removing down trees from home. While it may seem like the situation could not get any worse, additional damage can be done to your home if the tree is not properly removed.
Have Your Roof Fixed
The last step is after a tree falls on your roof is to call in an emergency roof repair company. If the weather is still poor, they may need to tarp your roof until the weather clears up and they can make the needed repairs to your roof. After a tree falls on a roof, you should expect to have to make structural repairs to the roof, in addition to replacing the exterior roofing materials, like shingles and shakes.
A tree falling on your roof can be a catastrophic event. Knowing what to do can help you to get the damage repaired as quickly as possible and get you back into your home.
