What to do right after a tree falls
- Get everyone clear. Trees and large limbs can shift or roll after they land, especially on a sloped roof.
- Check for lines and gas. If a line is down or you smell gas, leave and call from a safe spot.
- Take photos from several angles before anything is moved. Your insurance company will want them.
- Call your insurance company if the tree hit your house, garage or another covered structure. Ask what they need before work starts.
- Request help. Use the form and mark it urgent. Include photos if you can — it lets us bring the right equipment the first time.
Storm damage in Mecosta County
Big Rapids sits in a part of Michigan that gets every kind of tree-breaking weather: heavy wet snow, ice storms, and strong summer thunderstorms. The trees that fail most often here are:
- Silver maples and other large maples with tight, V-shaped forks that split under ice load
- Callery ("Bradford") pears, which are known for splitting apart as they mature
- Dead ash trees left standing after emerald ash borer
- Tall white pines and spruces on shallow, sandy soil, which can uproot in wind
The best storm prevention is removing dead wood and dealing with obvious weak forks before the season. See tree trimming.
Does homeowners insurance pay for tree removal?
It depends on your policy, but the usual pattern is:
- Tree hits a covered structure (house, garage, fence): removal from the structure and the repairs are usually covered, minus your deductible.
- Tree falls in the yard and hits nothing: often not covered, or covered only up to a small limit.
- Tree was obviously dead or neglected: claims can be denied. That is one more reason to deal with dead trees before they fall.
Always confirm with your own agent. Ask us for an itemized invoice to send in.
Leaning or "hung up" trees
A tree that has partially fallen and is resting in another tree is one of the most dangerous situations in tree work. The stored tension can release without warning. Don't cut it yourself — that is exactly the job professional tree workers train for.
Questions about storm & emergency
How fast can someone come out after a storm?
It depends on how widespread the damage is. After a big storm everyone in the area is busy, and jobs where a tree is on a house or blocking the only way out go first. Mark your request urgent and include photos.
Should I tarp my roof myself?
Only if it is safe and the tree is no longer on the roof. Never get on a roof with a tree resting on it.
The tree came from my neighbor's yard. Who pays?
In many cases your own insurance handles damage to your property, regardless of where the tree came from. If the tree was clearly dead and your neighbor had been told, that can change things. Ask your agent.