After every named storm in Houston, we get the same questions: "Will my insurance cover this? What do I need to document?" Here's the realistic guide based on twelve years of working with adjusters.
What's typically covered
Most standard Texas homeowners' policies cover:
- Damage to insured structures caused by a falling tree (your house, garage, fence, detached structures)
- Removal of the tree from the structure — usually with a per-tree cap ($500–$1,000 is common)
- Damage to vehicles — but only if you have comprehensive auto coverage; falls under auto policy, not homeowners
- Removal of trees blocking access to the home — sometimes, with policy variation
What's typically NOT covered
- Tree-on-lawn damage with no structural impact. If a healthy tree fell in your yard but didn't hit anything, removal is your cost.
- Trees lost to disease. Oak wilt or general decline aren't covered events.
- Removal of "preventatively" hazardous trees. Even if your arborist says a tree should come down before the next storm, that's not a covered claim.
- Tree replacement. Most policies don't pay to replant the tree, only to remove it from the damaged structure.
- Negligence-based damage. If you knew a tree was dying and didn't act, the insurer can deny.
Documentation that adjusters expect
Before any cleanup
- Wide-shot photos showing the whole scene
- Close-ups of damage to the structure
- Photos of the tree showing the break point or root failure
- Timestamps (don't disable phone metadata)
Provided by your tree service
- Written estimate broken down by line item (removal, structural repair if applicable, hauling)
- Photos timestamped during the work
- Certificate of Insurance for the crew
- Description of the cause if assessable (windthrow, branch failure, root failure)
The two-step claim process
- Emergency mitigation happens first. If the tree is on your roof and rain is forecast, you authorize emergency removal to prevent further damage. Insurance covers reasonable mitigation costs.
- Full claim and repair happens after. Once the structure is stable, the adjuster inspects, the claim is filed, and repair work begins.
Working with adjusters
Most adjusters know what they're looking at. A few specifics that help:
- Don't move the tree before the adjuster sees it (or before you have thorough photos)
- Get the estimate in writing before authorizing work
- Save receipts for tarps, emergency containment, anything you do in the first 48 hours
- Communicate with adjuster directly if questions come up — your tree service can help with technical answers
Common adjuster pushback
- "The tree was already dying." Counter with photos showing live foliage prior to the storm.
- "Cap on tree removal is $500." If your removal exceeded the cap due to size or access, document the reason — sometimes negotiable.
- "Negligence — you should have removed it preventively." Counter with normal-arborist-care evidence (annual maintenance records help).
How we help
Our 24/7 storm response includes insurance documentation by default — timestamped photos, written estimates in adjuster-friendly format, and direct communication with your insurer if needed. We've had checks issued the same week we removed a tree because the documentation was clean.
(281) 626-9111 — call any time, day or night, after a storm.