How to handle insurance after the storm

After the severe storm that swept through the Houston region Thursday, thousands of area residents are facing high-price repairs to fix damage caused by fallen trees, high winds and rain.

Here are some things to know if your home, vehicle or other property was damaged during the storm.

What should you do first?

Document the damage to your property and surrounding areas with photos and video. Then, reach out to your insurance company to begin the process of making a claim.

If there is a downed tree leaning on your roof or blocking your driveway, your homeowners insurance may cover its removal. However, it may be more efficient to contact the city if you need a tree removed. Houston's Office of Emergency Management is encouraging residents to submit a service request through its online portal; alternatively, you can call 311 to make the report.

What kind of damage does insurance actually cover?

The Texas Department of Insurance notes that your homeowners policy likely includes some coverage for wind damage, unless you live along the coast, in which case you might need to have a separate windstorm policy. (While carrying such a policy isn't required by state law, TDI notes, it is required by many lenders for Texans along the coast, including a small portion of southeastern Harris County.)

Comprehensive car insurance policies likely include coverage for storm and flood damage. If your car was flooded, TDI recommends that you consult a mechanic before trying to start it, to avoid causing more damage and to identify any issues that aren't readily apparent.

The Texas chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture said your home insurance policy might include some coverage for downed trees, even if the tree or its branches fell in the yard and didn't damage anything else.

"Many home insurance policies also cover at least some portion of damage to the actual trees, shrubs or plants, as long as the damage was caused by a covered peril," ISA said.

What if a neighbor's tree fell on your property?

Under state law, according to TDI, it's likely that you'll have to turn to your insurance even if your house or car was damaged by a branch from a neighbor's tree.

"If your neighbor's tree falls on your house, their homeowners policy probably won't cover the damage and tree removal, unless your neighbor was at fault. Your neighbor isn't responsible for acts of nature," TDI explains. "If your neighbor's policy doesn't pay, you can file a claim under your own policy."

That said, as a matter of community -- and longstanding Houston tradition -- it's considered nice to check on your neighbors and to help them with cleanup if possible, regardless of where any debris originated.

Just be sure to exercise proper safety precautions. As Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo put it at a news conference Friday morning: "If you've never used a chainsaw, today is not the day to start."