Always be prepared before an accident happens. Here’s what to do in case of a fallen tree on your home.
A storm can be an exciting phenomenon, but it can turn cataclysmic when something goes wrong. If that mishap happens to be a tree fallen on your house, it is best to know beforehand what the best steps to take are. Here are five things to do when a tree falls on your house.
Get to a Safe Location
You and your family’s safety is the top priority. Get out of the house immediately and find a safe place to stay until further notice. Staying inside the car is one of the best options; if your car is not available, keep away from bodies of water, tall, isolated trees, and higher elevation. A ditch or depression in the ground is the best option when no other one is.
It may be wise to keep the indispensable items of your household, like important documents, in a safe, ready-to-access place in the case of an emergency evacuation so that these can be saved.
Call 911
Once you and your family are safe, call 911 for emergency services. They can advise you on what to do next and may send out a crew or public utility representative to ensure that your home is safe to reenter and prevent or put out any fires or other further damage.
Document the Scene
This next step is crucial as a basis for the restoration process. Take detailed and big-picture photos or a video of the scene. This documentation will serve to help accurately analyze the extent of the damage, where the damage is, and most importantly, how much the insurance company can compensate for it.
Call Your Home Insurance Company
At this point, you will want to work out with your insurance company what the compensation is. If the damage is an “Act of God/Act of Nature,” the insurance company can cover more. If the fallen tree was already sick and neglected by the homeowner, the homeowner will take on greater responsibility. Most insurance companies, however, may send out someone to fix or board up any exposed parts of the house in broken windows and the roof. Make sure that the house is properly secured if you must spend time away from it to avoid theft.
Call a Reputable Contractor
Locate a trustworthy contractor before an emergency situation occurs. You do not want to simply pick the first contractor who comes your way. Beware of scams, research well, and do not make the final pay until you are happy with the result. Prevent a future incident by trimming back any tree branches hanging over the house.
QUESTIONS? NORTH ARUNDEL CONTRACTING IS HERE TO HELP!
If you have more questions about preventing fires in your home, North Arundel Contracting is here to help you out. Our trained professionals can teach you everything there is to know about house fires. Call us any time at 410-766-2855 or reach us by fax at 410-553-2367. Feel free to send us an email at [email protected] and for after-hours emergencies, call us at 410-541-0328. For tips, tricks, and to see what we have been up to, be sure to follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.