When the ground is soaked: why trees come down on Richmond roofs, and what to do in the first hours

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Wet ground and wind: what the National Weather Service found

When Hurricane Isabel reached Virginia in September 2003, the National Weather Service's later assessment found that rain had already soaked the ground before the strongest wind arrived. Utilities acknowledged that the number of trees and power lines down was far larger than they expected, because the ground was already wet and the same wind brought down more trees. About 1.8 million customers in Virginia lost power. In the Wakefield forecast area, which includes Richmond, rainfall totaled 5 to 10 inches, and the James River at Richmond Locks crested twice. National Weather Service

That finding is the one to remember. It does not say a storm will come this winter. It says that when wind meets soaked ground, more trees fall than the wind alone would suggest.

Richmond's trees, and what a storm can do to them

The June 29, 2012 derecho gives a second picture. It crossed ten states and Washington, DC, with measured gusts above 80 mph in several places. Thirteen people died, mostly from falling trees, and about 4 million customers lost power, some for as long as a week. National Weather Service That was a summer storm, but it makes the same point from another direction: in Richmond, the roof danger in a big wind event is usually trees rather than hail.

The city still has a lot of them. Tree canopy covered 32% of Richmond in 2021, according to the City's Office of Sustainability, down from 42% in 2014. City of Richmond A lower number does not mean the large trees beside your house are gone. It means there are fewer overall, and the ones that remain are often old.

Rain is spread across the year

Richmond's rain does not wait for a named storm. The National Weather Service in Wakefield lists 11.06 inches of precipitation in an average autumn, 9.35 in winter, 11.18 in spring and 13.91 in summer, for 45.50 inches a year, using 1991–2020 averages. National Weather Service Those are averages, so any single winter can be wetter or drier. They do mean there is no safe season in which Richmond soil is guaranteed to be dry.

A practical look at your own yard

You cannot predict a storm, but you can look at your trees before one. From the ground, check for:

• Branches that overhang the roof or touch it.
• Dead limbs, or limbs with no leaves in the growing season.
• Cracks in the trunk, mushrooms at the base, or soil heaved up on one side.
• A lean that is new, rather than a tree that has always leaned.
• Trees close to a power line, which is a job for the utility, not for you.

If something worries you, ask a licensed arborist or your utility about it. We are not tree experts, and we cannot tell you whether a particular tree is safe.

If a tree hits your house: the first hours

1. Get everyone out of the area if there is any danger. Stay away from downed lines, and call 911 if someone is hurt or a wire is down.
2. Do not go onto the roof, and do not go under a damaged ceiling. Structure you cannot see may be weakened.
3. Take photographs from a safe place, with dates. Photograph the tree, the roof edge, the inside ceiling, and any water. Take more than you think you need.
4. Limit further damage only if it is safe. If you can safely cover a hole to keep rain out, such as with a tarp, do so, and keep every receipt. Ask your insurer in writing before you spend much, because we cannot say what your policy covers.
5. Call your insurer and write down the date. Tell them what happened and ask for the claim number. Keep the name of the person you spoke with.

What Virginia's claim rules promise

Virginia's claim-handling rules say an insurer must acknowledge a claim within 15 calendar days of notice. They also say an appropriate reply is due within 15 calendar days on other pertinent communications from you. Virginia regulations Read that carefully, because 15 days is a deadline to acknowledge and reply, not to pay. If the claim stalls, our guide to a roof claim that is stuck or denied explains what to write down and who to call.

Check your deductible before the adjuster visits. Virginia allows a separate deductible for wind or hail, but no property deductible may exceed 10% of the dwelling coverage, and only one deductible applies to a single loss. Virginia regulations If the damage estimate is close to the deductible, knowing the figure now saves a surprise later. The deductible calculator can help you try the arithmetic.

The people who arrive after the storm

After a storm, crews often go door to door offering to deal with the tree and the roof today. Some are legitimate, and some are not. Virginia's Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) advises staying away from anyone who demands cash or a payment-app transfer, refuses a written contract, or will not give references or proof of credentials. Virginia DPOR The same release says Virginia generally requires a state contractor license for work or bids over $1,000, with roofing covered by the ROC specialty and also by the RBC and CBC classes and the HIC and CIC specialties.

If you sign anything at your door, Virginia may give you until the third business day to cancel in writing. Code of Virginia Our guide to how the 3-business-day cancellation works explains what counts, how to count the days and how to put a cancellation in writing. Do not wait for the last day.

Questions? Call (804) 764-9710 — we are a local roofing information service, not a contractor.