A large tree has fallen on my son's house......I'm totally in shock right now.
Locust Fork
Member Posts: 31,989 ✭✭✭✭
I had a feeling about that tree, but just pushed it out of my thoughts and kept on going. I'm an idiot as far as the insurance goes too. We put this small mobile home in our pasture for him to live in last year and just never had it added to our homeowner's insurance. We didn't know if this was going to be a permanent thing or if he was going to save up and have it moved to his own place eventually. I somewhat hoped he would be responsible for his insurance...but that was just pipe dreams really.
This tree is a white oak....beautiful tree....MASSIVE and really made his back yard view just beautiful. The way it leaned though.....I knew. I just didn't do anything about it.
My husband let me sleep, but they found it like this around 11pm when my son came home from work. It destroyed the bedroom, the trunk is going through the middle of it....a corner of the house is totally open with a bunch of limbs piercing the roof all throughout the house. Its just terrible.
The tree has pushed the pole over with the power line hook up....but things are still "on". He had a back porch that was as big as the house that overlooked a stream in the back. Its just AWFUL.
I can't function at all right now. I don't know what to do....even if I did know what to do, everything that needs to happen are things that I'm unable to do. So, here I am.....just frozen.
Comments
Step 1: don't panic.
As long as no one was hurt, you're fine. I know what you're doing 'cause I do it too, but please don't beat yourself up about this.
🇺🇲 "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." - Thomas Jefferson 🇺🇲
See what your ins. co. has to say about Appurtenant structure.
“Appurtenant structure means a structure that is on the same parcel of property as the principle structure to be insured and the use of which is incidental to the use of the principal structure.”
No injuries.....thankfully
Oh, crap! Thank God no one was hurt.
Here in Appalachia, they'd just saw the tree up, cover with a big blue tarp and carry on.
Wow, glad your son was not in there. Looks like you folks have a mess on your hands, but I know you will come up with a solution.
I've got a call into USAA....we do have "outbuilding" insurance on our policy, so MAYBE we will have some coverage? I don't know? We will see what they say. A dear friend of ours is on the way with another person that is in construction. I'm a bit overwhelmed right now.
Just be glad you got out in one piece. A young friend's house was similarly smashed a couple of storms ago. They were going to relocate anyhow, so they went ahead and moved, the old place is now a vacant lot.
Kasey, I'm still praying 🙏❤️
"Independence Now, Independence Forever."
John Adams
Got him good too. Thank goodness he was not there.
What a mess! I assume you have called the power company. The stress on the wires is probably pretty bad and you don't want to add fire to the equation. Good luck. Bob
Yes.....they have been called, USAA, a construction guy has a crew coming tomorrow to start the cleanup. Its just SO MUCH.
I think my blood pressure is through the roof right now because I'm swimmy headed.
Ouch !. Some Insurances Company's want to check damage before any work can be done to poperty. Get an estimate from the Construction Guy.
That is great firewood! Also good for barbequ ing a hog, although not as good as red oak.
I would love to come over and take that dumpling off your hands, but Locust Fork Alabama is too far away. Not cost effective.
Easy to split, that white oak.
We had a great big white oak on the west side of our house that concerned me. When the tree guy came to buy a bunch of trees, I took him to that oak and told him "That's the first one you are going to cut". I sleep a lot better now.
Joe
We've got approval from USAA to get the tree cleaned up and things sealed up so no further damage. I emailed over pictures to them and that was enough to get the go-ahead for that to happen. I have a storage pod coming to put his belongings in tomorrow. The power company has come out and cut the line....so it is safe to be down there and work on the tree now. I feel a little better, still a bit in la-la land.
The silly thing we have to figure out is HOW this happened.....wind, I have a $3900 deductible.....lightning, I have a $2000 deductible. I'm leaning toward lightning just because it is a very healthy tree that couldn't have been just blown over, plus it was split in half. We will see what they say.
I'm just so glad your son wasn't hurt. That house can be fixed or replaced. Kasey, you have had a rough go of it, But you Larry and the kids are always in our prayers. God takes care of the wonderful people like you and your family. Us forum members also have your back. Let us know if he needs anything. John.
More trees have blown over,many on structures,in the last few months than I have ever seen.I cut a big maple in the front yard and paid to have another big maple cut that I had safety concerns about.I have neighbors on both sides of me that have trees that could hit my home or shop if they are blown down and I am not sure how home owners insurance handles those claims.
Oh good gosh, thats horrible. Very glad no one was hurt. The rest can be replaced/ repaired. Sounds like you are covered with insurance, amen.
Prayer and hug
We are hearing troubling news from our adjuster. They may NOT cover this just because it is a dwelling and not one of our "out buildings"...which doesn't make sense to me because they are telling me that having power and water makes this a dwelling, not an outbuilding. I understand the term dwelling, but I have power and water to the barn, to our pump house, and power only to our storage shed.....so any of these things could be denied coverage for being a dwelling if that is the only criteria. I sincerely hope that this falls under our outbuilding coverage. It is an extra building on our property, so I don't see how this could be seen as anything but covered.
They'll cover it. If they don't you'll switch to a different insurance. They know this.
But on the off chance they don't already know and continue to waffle about coverage, remind them they're not the only game in town.
🇺🇲 "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." - Thomas Jefferson 🇺🇲
Isn't it a dwelling? Don
Yes...but we have coverage on our home and a different level of coverage for the other buildings on our property. The house is covered for all kinds of nonsense with replacement insurance for the house and contents. The other "buildings" are covered just for 39K. I didn't realize there was a way to have a building on this property that wasn't covered in some way. The "out" buildings aren't covered with replacement and have a high deductible. I figured if the barn burned down I needed to have extra coverage on the Camaro because the insurance wasn't enough to cover the car. I was never under the impression that it was GOOD coverage.....but I thought we were covered for the minimum risk. I knew when this started we were in for a huge loss.....but not a TOTAL loss.
My extensive experience with insurance is that they will find a way not to pay. If it wasn't specifically listed, and that they were charging you a premium for it is doubtful they will pay. Good luck, I have an incredible hatred for insurance companies now days.
Great news.....it will be covered. I'm thoroughly happy with USAA.
I feel like this is a situation that warrants panic. So panic for a short time. Then get the power turned off. Then start the cleanup:
chainsaws
remove tree/logs/branches
remove salvageable items
rebuild/remake
breathe.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
Depending on type of building you may determine it is. Trailer for Storage or Dwelling (occupied).
Of course if you have told the Insurance company it was occupied that may make a difference.
It can always be moved up in the system, or A lawyer, might be needed ?
We have a "pod" storage container being deivered in the morning. I've shown my son where my stash of plastic tubs is and told him to go start putting his things in them and stack them on the porch where they will not be in the way. A team of people are coming in the morning to cut up the tree and they'll toss it down into the woods for us. I think they'll make a pile wherever we tell them and I'll post it available online if anyone wants it. I'm betting this is a complete loss and they'll end up hauling the entire thing off. I've got to get a bunch of info for the insurance people and make a list of everything that was damaged. The power had to surge for sure when this happened....so I'm betting there are some problems we do not see. We are covered....which is the great news. I swear, sometimes having just a little break is all you need.
Is it safe to go into the house to pack things?
House wont shift walking through it, and come off the blocks under it?
Still got all that weight pushing on it.
Get it checked by contractor or somebody. You don't want to be in it and have further collapse.
@Locust Fork
Its not off the blocks, but the frame has been affected for sure. As you walk in it the bits of insulation come down on you from the ceiling....its like its snowing. He doesn't have a "lot" of stuff.....mainly clothes, a TV, game console and games. When they take the tree off of it and it is where you can see the total damage I'm betting it is a total loss. I have more items in my bedroom than he has in his entire house. Single 26 year old guys are a differnt kind of "household" for sure.
OK. Please be very careful.
First tornados and now trees. Poor sardine cans cannot catch a break. At least you don't have to worry about the tree falling down on the same spot. White oak, is that for burning or building? I'd get bunch of Shitake plugs and go in to mushroom growing business.
This is going to be a long ordeal before we get back to normal. Let me tell yall about the Ahole cat my son owns. His name is Toby. He is a monster! He loves on everyone....rubbing on your legs and is just the softest fluff ball you will ever touch.
BUT....
He attacks any other animal he lays eyes on.
He jumped on Murder (the wild cat we have spent a year trying to tame) and got her pretty good so she will not come back to us for now. He has my dog on edge from a few small run-ins they've had. He even chased the great dane that my photographer brings with him to work. He spent the night in the bathroom last night. Toby has "rules" now. He can only come out when my nerves can take his nonsense or Liam is around to deal with him.
I'm going to rush this process as much as possible just to get this thing out of my house!!!!
Dang it Toby!
Sounds like you need a leash and a muzzle for Toby!
I am really surprised your insurance will cover a residence dwelling without it being on the contract. IMO, you got a good insurance company.
Get even with Toby using the cucumber trick.
🇺🇲 "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." - Thomas Jefferson 🇺🇲
How are you Kasey? @Locust Fork
"Independence Now, Independence Forever."
John Adams
Or maybe just the muzzle end. Sorry Kasey, you know I like cats, but I could not resist the pun.
And lose a wall!
I'm ok.....I've had a couple horrible run in's with my son. He is not coping and doesn't handle stress well. That is my main issue right now. I've got to get pictures and a list over to the insurance agency.....the crew got the tree cleaned up and now its just playing whack a mole with all the nonsense. We have the items that are being stored in his pod thing.....the fridge and his weight bench is going where our lawn mower usually parks. He is convinced they will be stolen there.....I pointed out that a $3000 lawn mower and yard equipment have been there for years with no issue, but his crappy fridge and weights might be too tempting. Everyone is on edge here for sure.
I think once I get a "number" from USAA we will all feel better....or sick....who knows?