What To Do if a Tree Falls on Your House
by Beth Dame, Regional Sales Director, Main Street America Insurance When severe weather and high winds threaten your neighborhood, it’s important to be prepared. Knowing what to do after a tree falls on your home could help you avoid injury, make repairs quickly, and get your home back up and running sooner. The process for filing a homeowners’ insurance claim and making repairs depends on who owns the fallen tree and the property that’s damaged. Here are the steps you should take after a tree falls to protect your home and family: Staying Safe After a Tree Falls Whatever happens, the first thing you and your family should do is get to safety. Evacuate your home or move to a place in the house that’s free of damage and stay there while you call for help. Once you and your family are safe, call 911 to report the incident. If necessary, the operator will dispatch EMS and the fire department to handle any injuries. They may also request help from your utility companies to ensure there are no downed power lines, and no risk of a fire or gas leak. After you get the all-clear, you can begin debris removal and work to prevent…