RICHLAND, Wash.-- The clean-up continues after Monday's powerful windstorm and for many homeowners, it's no easy task.
Local insurance offices are working non-stop to file hundreds of claims.
Large trees were entirely uprooted throughout Richland causing lots of damage.
For one Richland man, a fallen tree on his property, created some substantial damage. Now he's trying to figure out how to pay for getting it cleaned up.
This tree fell across the front yard, on top of his fence and then on to a neighbor's truck, just missing the house.
Farmer's Insurance is covering the claim, but explained that the insurance policy only pays for damage to the house and fence, but not other parts of the property like landscaping.
The homeowner was surprised to find out he'll have to pay for much of the clean up bill himself, which could total several thousand dollars.
"To have the tree removed, that's now my responsibility. The tree is mine because if it hits the house, they fix the house and take the tree. If it misses the house, which is a good thing but then you're stuck with the tree," said Alan Grottsch, whose tree fell over in his front yard.
But busy insurance agents want to ensure many frustrated homeowners that claims will be taken care of as soon as possible.
"Be patient. Take care of your property to protect it form further damage and just know that it may not be done today or tomorrow but it will be taken car of," said John Fuller, Farmers Insurance Agent.
Farmers insurance filed 300 claims yesterday for storm damage and expect to file 100 more today.
The agency has raised this windstorm to a catastrophe loss level.. So more insurance agents are being brought into the area to deal with the high volume of claims.
Fuller tells me wind is one of the biggest causes of loss that insurance agents have to deal with in the tri-cities.
