Emergency Landscape Repairs: How to Handle Storm Damage and Insurance Claims for Your Outdoor Spaces

When Nature Strikes: Your Complete Guide to Emergency Landscape Repairs and Insurance Claims After Storm Damage

Severe weather events can transform your beautiful outdoor space into a disaster zone in a matter of hours. From fallen trees crushing garden beds to wind-damaged fences and debris-covered lawns, storm damage can leave homeowners feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to begin. Understanding how to handle emergency landscape repairs and navigate insurance claims is crucial for protecting your property investment and restoring your outdoor sanctuary.

Immediate Safety and Assessment: Your First Priority

Safety comes first. Ensure the property is safe to enter, avoid hazards such as downed power lines, and arrange temporary shelter if needed. Before attempting any cleanup or assessment, make sure there are no downed power lines or trees leaning on power lines. And if there is ice or snow, wait for that to melt before beginning.

Once it’s safe to survey your property, begin documenting everything. Photographs and videos are invaluable in showing your insurer exactly what has happened. Take pictures from multiple angles and create a detailed list of all damaged landscaping elements, including plants, hardscaping, fences, and outdoor structures.

Understanding Your Insurance Coverage for Landscape Damage

Many homeowners are surprised to learn that landscape damage may be covered under their homeowners insurance policy. Homeowners insurance generally extends coverage for damage to your landscaping if the loss results from fire, lightning, vandalism, theft, or explosion. Damage to your yard caused by someone else’s vehicle may also be covered under your home insurance policy.

However, coverage has limitations. Most homeowners policies have limits on how much protection you have for your landscaping. Some policies will cover you for 5% of your total dwelling limit for damage to trees, shrubs, and plants. Keep in mind that even though you may have coverage for your yard, it may only help with the removal, not replacement, of the damaged landscaping.

For tree-related damage specifically, many policies provide some coverage to remove trees or limbs that fell due to storm damage and damage your house or block your driveway. Trees and limbs falling in your yard usually aren’t covered.

Emergency Repairs: What You Can Do Right Away

While waiting for your insurance adjuster, you can and should take immediate action to prevent further damage. Make temporary repairs to prevent more damage. Remove standing water. Cover broken windows and holes to keep rain out. Keep a list of the repairs and save receipts. Always keep receipts for any materials you buy for these emergency repairs. Your insurance company will likely reimburse you for these expenses.

For landscape-specific emergency repairs, focus on safety hazards first. Assess your damage to prioritize emergencies first. Take care of any branches, limbs, or downed trees that threaten your property or safety. However, avoid making permanent landscape repairs until your adjuster has assessed the damage.

Working with Professional Landscape Contractors

Emergency landscape repairs often require professional expertise, especially when dealing with large trees, structural damage, or complex hardscaping issues. When selecting a contractor, look for contractors who have experience with storm damage repairs. They should be familiar with the insurance claim process and know how to work with your insurer. An experienced contractor can streamline the process, ensuring your repairs are covered and done properly.

For Delaware County, PA residents, v serrano’s landscaping llc understands the unique challenges that Pennsylvania properties face after severe weather events. Our team understands local soil conditions, climate challenges, and what actually works long-term in Pennsylvania. We understand the specific challenges of Pennsylvania properties – from clay soil issues to seasonal weather extremes.

Documenting Your Claim for Maximum Coverage

Proper documentation is critical for a successful insurance claim. We handle a large number of landscape, turf, and tree losses and we see a common issue: property owners and managers, as well as Green Industry professionals, do not know how to document the loss/repairs for insurance purposes. This can cause a lot of confusion and financial distress if the insurance carrier does not pay out.

Essential documentation includes:

  • Provide invoices, plans, and pre-loss photos if available. Any available documentation that can establish what assets were on the property prior to a loss event is valuable in supporting an insurance claim.
  • Detailed photos and videos of all damage from multiple angles
  • A comprehensive list of damaged plants, trees, and hardscaping with estimated ages and replacement costs
  • Receipts for emergency repairs and materials
  • Provide pricing for the cost to repair and/or replace damaged outdoor property. By taking the initiative and providing detailed pricing, it will greatly assist in procuring a fair settlement.

The Claims Process: What to Expect

If damage occurs due to a reason covered under insurance, there are three main steps in the claims process for the property owner: Step 1 — review the policy and contact the agent to report a loss, Step 2 – work with the adjuster and document the damage, also take steps to mitigate any further damage, and Step 3 – navigate the claims process to completion.

Call your insurance company to report damage. Take pictures and video of the damage. Don’t throw anything away until your insurance adjuster tells you. Try to be there when the adjuster visits and point out all damage. Get multiple bids from contractors and compare them with the adjuster’s report before settling the claim.

Long-term Recovery and Prevention

After immediate repairs are complete, focus on long-term landscape recovery. Tree preservation is crucial in ensuring the health and longevity of the surviving trees. One important aspect of tree preservation is maintaining soil health. After a storm, the soil may become compacted or eroded, which can negatively impact the trees. To counteract this, it is essential to aerate the soil and add organic matter to improve its structure and nutrient content.

Consider this an opportunity to rebuild your landscape with storm-resistant features. Professional landscaping companies can help design outdoor spaces that better withstand severe weather while maintaining beauty and functionality.

Conclusion

Storm damage to your landscape can be devastating, but with proper preparation, documentation, and professional help, you can navigate the insurance claims process successfully and restore your outdoor space. Remember that safety comes first, documentation is crucial, and working with experienced professionals familiar with both landscaping and insurance processes will help ensure the best possible outcome for your property recovery.

By understanding your coverage limitations, taking immediate protective action, and working systematically through the claims process, you can turn a natural disaster into an opportunity to create an even better outdoor environment for your family to enjoy.