Does house insurance cover fallen trees after Georgia storms?
Short answer. Yes, when a fallen tree damages your house or other structures, house insurance generally covers the repairs and removal from the structure, whatever kind of Georgia storm brought it down. Which deductible applies can depend on the cause, and trees that fall in the yard without hitting anything are usually not covered.
How Georgia storms bring trees down
- Thunderstorm downbursts and straight line winds, the most common cause, especially in spring and summer.
- Tornadoes, which can drop many trees along a narrow path.
- Ice storms, particularly in North Georgia, where ice weight snaps limbs and pines.
- Tropical storm remnants, whose days of rain saturate the soil before the wind arrives, so large trees uproot.
Which deductible applies
A tree felled by wind, including tornadoes and tropical remnants, usually triggers the wind and hail deductible, which in many Georgia policies is a percentage of the dwelling limit. A tree felled by lightning or ice may fall under the regular deductible, depending on how your policy defines its deductibles. Ask your adjuster which one they are applying and why. See percentage wind and hail deductibles.
Many trees, one storm
If several trees come down on the house, fence and shed in one storm, that is usually a single occurrence with a single deductible. Put everything in one claim.
After a widespread storm
- Tree services and roofers get booked fast. Get the tree off and the roof tarped first, then schedule permanent repairs.
- Watch for out of town crews demanding large cash payments up front. See storm chaser scams.
- Adjusters may be stretched thin; send photos and invoices promptly so your file is complete.