"Disaster" Closer to Home

This is what's left of the tree in my front yard.

The tree just split in two -- fortunately, it fell away from the house
(although it completely blocked the street).

We've had more than a foot of rain over the last few weeks, weakening the hold the roots have on the ground. When 80-mile-an-hour winds came through, the tree just came out of the ground. This is the view of my backyard from my neighbor's driveway.

Just yesterday, I talked with my insurance agent after receiving my business insurance renewal policy. I wanted to make sure that my coverage was still adequate, since it had been a couple of years since I'd looked at it.

Good thing. A huge, fast-moving storm moved through today, packing 80- to 100-mile-per hour straight-line winds. We lost two of our mature trees in our yard (see photos), although it could have been much worse. Neither tree hit the house -- although the way the wind was blowing in (straight from the west), the one in the back yard should have crashed into the house. Instead, it fell to the south, taking out the fence, but sparing the house.

As I told my husband MANY times today ... it could have been a lot worse.

The damage wasn't significant enough to require a claim, but I've got my updated home inventory ready anyway. When disaster strikes close to home, make sure you're a good example for the public about being prepared.