Proper tree maintenance…

Proper tree maintenance goes a long way in avoiding major storm damage

by Bill Cary, lohud.com
August 29th 2011

OK, so your big, beautiful trophy trees survived Irene — now what?

First, of course, continue with whatever cleanup needs to be done in your yard to get rid of debris dumped by the storm. And look for any hanging branches that were broken but remain attached to the tree. Those need to come down right away.

Then do a careful assessment of your property to see what needs attention before the next big storm sweeps through the Lower Hudson Valley. Ideally, you should walk your property with an arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture to look at every tree for signs of vulnerability.

“A professional will see things that a homeowner may not see,” says Brad Gurr, a certified arborist and branch manager (“no pun intended”) for SavATree in Buchanan, adding that he does these property walks twice a year as a free service for his regular customers.

“What we look for are any signs of decay, especially at the base of a tree,” Gurr says. Mushrooms at the base may indicate internal decay and rot. Cavities and hollow spots my be another sign of tree weakness.

“Lifting or heaving around the roots of a tree could be a sign that it’s unstable,” he adds.

Gurr also looks for unusual cracks, dead branches high in the canopy of a tree, weakly attached branches and ones with very narrow V-shaped crotches (a U-shaped branch attachment is much better). Branches that reach across power lines or parts of your house and garage should get extra attention.

“It’s not just visual,” he says. “You can hear groaning and cracking.” Unlike most homeowners, arborists can also climb trees or survey them from a bucket truck.

“With winds like this, there’s a lot of snapping and breaking of trees and branches that you can’t see from the ground,” says Ken Almstead, a certified arborist and the CEO of Almstead Tree and Shrub Care Co., which is based in New Rochelle with offices throughout the tri-state area.

Wind storms like the one on Sunday are “definitely more devastating when the trees are in full leaf,” Almstead says. “It creates more of a wind-sail effect.”

Original Page: http://www.lohud.com/article/20110830/LIFESTYLE01/108300310/Proper-tree-maintenance-goes-long-way-avoiding-major-storm-damage

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Hurricane Insurance Claims: All About Falling Trees

by Ann Carrns, bucks.blogs.nytimes.com
August 30th 2011

Now that Hurricane Irene has passed, the thoughts of homeowners turn to filing claims for damage caused by the storm. Several Bucks readers had questions about damage caused by trees, so we spoke with representatives of the Insurance Information Institute for some answers.

For even more details about killer trees, the Institute has created an online video that covers the topic. For definitive answers about your own property, of course, you should check your policy and call your agent or the company that wrote the policy.

Q: Does insurance cover the cost of fallen tree removal, if it does not hit your home?

A. Generally, no. Homeowners insurance covers damage to insured structures, like your house or a detached garage. You’re also covered for resulting damage to any contents, and the cost of removing the tree if it falls on either structure. But, “If it just makes a mess in your backyard, it’s generally not covered,” says Jeanne Salvatore, a spokeswoman for the Institute.

That said, there are always exceptions — and some companies may cover removal of a fallen tree if it blocks, say, a driveway or ramp necessary for a handicapped person to access the property. The best way to find out is to call your agent, she says: “Don’t make an assumption that you’re not covered.”

Q: Does the insurance cover replacement of trees, as well as removal? And what about removal of a tree before the storm, to protect the house from the tree that might fall on it?

A: No and no. Standard homeowners insurance generally covers structures, says Ms. Salvatore. That means if a storm blows over a big oak and it smashes through your roof, the policy pays for a new roof — but not a new oak. (Oddly, though, there may be coverage for damage to trees and shrubs damaged by fire or vandalism, according to the Institute).

And, while taking pre-emptive action to remove a tree might seem prudent, it isn’t covered by your homeowner’s policy, says Michael Barry, an Institute spokesman. (The cost of removing a tree often falls within the typical $500 to $1,000 deductible anyway, he says.)

Q: If my neighbor’s tree falls on my property, who’s responsible?

A: If a tree falls on your house — regardless of where it was growing before the storm — you should file a claim with your own insurance company, Ms. Salvatore says. In some situations, though — if the tree was in poor health, say, or improperly maintained — your insurer may try to collect from your neighbor’s insurance company, through a process called subrogation. If the effort is successful, your company may reimburse you for your deductible, she explains.

Q: What if a tree falls on my car?

A: The comprehensive coverage on your auto policy should cover this, Mr. Barry says.

Original Page: http://bucks.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/30/hurricane-insurance-claims-all-about-falling-trees/

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