01/23/2026
General Insurance PSA for upcoming ice storm:
If a tree falls across property lines due to ice/snow/wind then your responsibility is your property only. It doesn’t matter if the tree was standing on your property or neighbors. If your tree hits their house, they will need to file their own claim on their own insurance and vice versa; and only if you have property damage exceeding your deductible.
Generally, if a tree falls and doesn’t hit any property or the house then no coverage applies. Tree removal is triggered when it falls on your home or property OR blocks access into the house and all situations are still subject to your deductible. Tree removal, per tree, if coverage applies, depending on your state/policy is limited to either $500 (NC) or $1,000 (SC, VA).
For the most part, if you have frozen pipes that burst. Coverage for damage applies as long as heat was kept at least 55*F and or lines were drained and water supply was off.
Loss of use/additional living expenses are only triggered for a covered loss, like a tree falls on your house and is uninhabitable. It does not apply if the power just goes out, there has to be a covered loss to trigger this coverage.
If a loss occurs, it is your responsibility to mitigate or hire a mitigation company to intervene and stop further damage from occuring. For example, a tree falls and there is now a hole in your roof, tarp it.
TAKE PICTURES, SAVE RECEIPTS!
*each claim is handled on its own merit, in accordance with the facts of loss, the law, and your coverage. These above statements generally apply but there may be other situations that may apply.