A tree downed by high winds blocks Morse Avenue at Marconi Avenue in Arden Arcade. Stormy weather caused thousands of power outages throughout the Sacramento region on Sunday, Febrary 4, 2024.
dhunt@sacbee.com
High winds swept through the Sacramento area Sunday afternoon and early evening, leaving more than 175,000 county residents without power as gusts reached up to 66 mph.
As of 5:30 p.m. Sunday, gusts across the capital city had reached:
- 60 mph at Sacramento Executive Airport
- 63 mph at Mather and Sacramento International airports
- 66 mph at McClellan Air Force Base
The storm, said meteorologist Kate Forrest with the National Weather Service, is about halfway over with peak gusts expected early Monday as showers and isolated Thunderstorms continue across the Valley.
Here’s what you need to know about the steps to take if a tree or branch falls on your private property or on public roads, as well as how your insurance may (or may not) help with fallen tree damage.
The following information was originally published in January 2023 and has been updated.
A tree fell on my Sacramento home
Sacramento County won’t assist with fallen trees or branches that land on private streets or property. Instead, homeowners should call a private tree service for clean up, said spokeswoman Janna Haynes.
CITY OF SACRAMENTO
The rules for the city are similar.
If a tree or branch falls on private property, the owner is responsible for clean up as they would for any other plant or shrubbery, said spokeswoman Jennifer Singer in a 2021 story about the October atmospheric river that hit the region.
Report a fallen tree on public Sacramento roads
Sacramento County Department of Transportation will remove fallen trees and branches on public roadways including sidewalks, streets and parks.
If you see a fallen tree or branch on public roadways, be sure to report it right away and identify if the tree or branch is touching power lines. Here are your options:
Remember: Sacramento County Department of Transportation’s crew members may move initial material from the roads and come back to clean up the rest during severe storms.
CITY OF SACRAMENTO
City rules regarding fallen trees on public roadways are similar.
Call 3-1-1 or 916-808-5011 to report fallen trees or branches on public roadways.
Does my insurance cover fallen tree damage?
It really depends whether or not your home or auto insurance will cover damage created by a fallen tree, even if the damage was caused by severe weather conditions.
Amy Harris, a spokeswoman for State Farm Insurance said in an email to The Bee last year that State Farm homeowners or auto insurance would be responsible for fallen tree damage if it’s their neighbor’s tree, unless they can prove their neighbor was aware of the tree’s poor condition.
“Acts of God/Weather are not events for which others are liable,” the statement said.
If a State Farm customer’s insured car is damaged by their own tree, their auto policy will take care of both damage costs and tree removal if they have a comprehensive plan.
Allstate Insurance Company’s rules surrounding damage caused by fallen trees, for example, are a little different.
“If the tree was otherwise healthy and damaged your home because of wind,” Allstate Corporation wrote on its website “a typical homeowners insurance policy may help pay to repair damage to your home or other structure on your property.”
What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
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Brianna Taylor covers affordability on The Sacramento Bee’s service journalism desk as well as general news. Before joining The Bee in 2021, she reported in Missouri and Maryland. She grew up on the East Coast and is a graduate of Morgan State University.
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