Insurance claims post Helene: What’s covered, what’s not

(WSPA) – Widespread damage to homes and cars has fueled a huge surge in insurance claims and the destruction has also fueled a lot of confusion about what’s covered and what’s not.

Many of you have reached out to 7NEWS with insurance questions and we have tried to tackle some of the big ones, as we all learn the hard way much of the damage that didn’t hit a structure will be out of pocket.

The now all too familiar sound of chainsaws throughout our region won’t be ending anytime soon for April and Scott Gaeta, in Greenville, who said they lost about 30 large trees in their backyard, a few of which hit the porch.

“You just wait for the boom, it was still dark so you don’t know if it’s coming your way or not.  It was terrifying,” Gaeta said.

But, just because the initial chaos has ended doesn’t mean the Gaetas are out of the woods yet. They said unstable trees barely standing, threaten the house.

“Just to get in there and get those down safely it was going to be $35,000,” Gaeta said.

And insurance covers none of it.

Not all fallen trees are covered

The Gaetas, like so many, are learning unless a tree falls on a structure, insurance won’t pay for costly removal.

“Keep in mind, when they mean structure, it can be anything on the property, a fence, a porch, a shed, any structure that’s on that property, if it hits that, typically they’ll pay to remove that tree,” Jon Scotti, with Correll Insurance Group in Spartanburg, said.

Scotti also said it’s crucial to check your deductible to see if it makes sense to file a claim.

What about a neighbor’s tree?

You might be wondering, if a tree has fallen from a neighbor’s property onto your house, does their insurance cover it? The short answer is no.  In order for them to be responsible you would have had to send a written notice requesting a dangerous tree be removed ahead of any incident.

What is covered?

Aside from any damage to a home, and belongings inside that got ruined, there are some items that are generally covered that many homeowners may not realize.

“If you’re buying tarps, generators and chainsaws and all those things that help mitigate it from getting worse they’ll reimburse you for a lot of those things,” Scotti said.

That also includes spoiled food from the power outage.

Before you file

It is always a good idea to take lots of photos of the damage and save any receipts, but insurance experts said if you do include food loss in your claim you don’t necessarily need receipts.

Back at the Gaeta’s, with no insurance help for a huge swath of their land, April’s husband Scott said he’ll be married to the chainsaw for some time.

Still, the couple is sympathetic to the many who have lost their lives and are keeping it in perspective.

“My little sanctuary in the woods is kind of wiped out, but we are very very lucky,” Gaeta said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.