Every summer, storms come through Macomb County and take trees with them. Here is the sequence that keeps people safest and makes the paperwork easier afterward.
First, stay away from it
Keep everyone away from the tree and from any damaged part of the house. If a limb or trunk is touching a power line, or a line is down anywhere near it, treat it as live and call the utility. Do not stand under hanging limbs to take pictures.
Document it before anything moves
Take photos from several angles, including the damage to the structure and the tree itself. Do it before any cutting starts. Adjusters want to see the before state, and once a crew has cut the tree up it is gone.
Call your insurer early
Policies differ, so treat everything here as the general shape of things and confirm the specifics with your own agent. As a rule:
- If a tree hits a covered structure, such as the house, garage or fence, damage and removal of that tree are usually part of the claim.
- If a healthy tree falls in the yard and hits nothing, removal is often not covered.
- Deductibles apply, and there are frequently caps on debris removal.
- A tree that was already dead or clearly hazardous can complicate a claim, because insurers may treat it as a maintenance issue rather than storm damage.
That last point matters. Taking down a dead tree before a storm is cheaper than the argument afterward.
What emergency crews actually do first
The first visit is about making the property safe, not making it pretty. That means taking weight off the structure, removing limbs that are hung up in the canopy and could still drop, and clearing access. Full cleanup and stump work usually follow once the immediate hazard is handled. See emergency tree service for how that works.
Who to call, and when
If a tree is on the house, on a vehicle, blocking the driveway, or tangled in wires, that is an emergency call. If it is lying in the yard and nothing is under it, it can wait for a normal appointment, and you will pay less for it.
Be careful who shows up
After a big storm, out of town crews appear in Macomb County looking for quick work. Ask for proof of insurance before anyone climbs or cuts on your property. If a crew is hurt on your property and they are not insured, that can land on your homeowners policy.
Common Questions
Does insurance pay if the tree hit nothing?
Often not. Many policies cover removal when a tree damages a covered structure, and exclude a tree that simply fell in the yard. Coverage varies, so check your own policy.
Who pays if my neighbor’s tree falls on my house?
Typically your own policy handles the damage to your property, though there are exceptions when a tree was clearly dead and the owner had been notified. Talk to your insurer before assuming either way.
Should I clean anything up before the adjuster sees it?
Photograph everything first. After that, work that prevents further damage is normally expected. Keep receipts for emergency work separate from the rest of the cleanup.
Get a Free Estimate
We are local, licensed and insured, and we answer the emergency line around the clock. Tip Top Timber Co. is based in Armada and works throughout Macomb County, St. Clair County and the surrounding area. Call (586) 651-5488 or send us a message for a free estimate. If a tree is already down, our 24 hour line is (586) 651-4552.
