For: Homeowners filing storm claims, adjusters, insurance restoration coordinators
After a storm, homeowners are usually dealing with two things at once: a tree on their house and an insurance company that needs documentation before they pay. We have done insurance-claim tree work in metro Atlanta for 20+ years, including major events (Helene 2024, ice storm 2014, multiple straight-line wind events). We document the way adjusters need it documented, work directly with adjusters when authorized, and stage emergency-versus-cleanup phases to match insurance approval timelines.
What you typically need
When to call
Step 1 is structural assessment — is the house safe to stay in. Step 2 is mitigation — tarping, securing the area, removing immediate falling-debris risk. Most policies cover mitigation as a separate line from the actual claim. We document everything.
Adjusters distinguish between storm-caused tree failure (covered) and pre-existing decay revealed by the storm (sometimes excluded). We provide written cause-of-failure assessments — what the tree showed, what likely caused the failure, and how the storm contributed.
We stage the work: emergency mitigation gets the immediate hazard cleared and the structure protected. Full removal and cleanup follow once the claim is approved. Most policies cover both phases.
Coverage in this scenario depends on policy specifics and tree health pre-failure. We document the failed tree's pre-storm condition where possible, which often determines liability.
Paperwork we provide
How we price
Itemized to match adjuster line items. Mitigation phase (tarping, hazard removal) is priced separately from full cleanup. We bill direct to insurance when authorized; otherwise we bill homeowner who is reimbursed.
Project recap
A 60-foot tulip poplar fell on a Buckhead roof during Helene. We arrived 6 hours after the call, tarped the structural breach, removed the tree in sections to avoid further damage, documented cause-of-failure (root-plate failure on saturated soil — storm-caused), and provided the adjuster with a complete photo package. Claim was approved within 2 weeks; total tree-care line of $14,200 was paid in full.
Do you bill insurance directly?
Yes — when authorized by the adjuster. Otherwise we bill the homeowner who is reimbursed.
How do you document cause-of-failure?
We provide a written assessment with photos showing root-plate condition, decay if any, soil saturation, and storm-related factors.
Will you tarp my roof?
Yes. Emergency tarping is a standard part of storm response and is usually covered by insurance as mitigation.
Can you respond same-day after a storm?
Usually. We dispatch 24/7 and prioritize structural-impact emergencies.
Will my premium go up?
That is a question for your insurance company, not us. But documentation that shows storm-caused failure (not pre-existing decay) is your best tool.
Decatur HQ. Insured. MWBE-eligible. We have the paperwork, the pricing logic, and the experience for homeowners filing storm claims.