A National Weather Service survey team visited Rocky River on Wednesday to assess storm damage after devastating storms struck northeast Ohio on Tuesday afternoon.

Luke Lytell can hardly believe Tuesday’s storms. He and his family have lived in their Rocky River home on Laurel Avenue for 11 years.

During the storms, a large branch of a 100-year-old oak tree broke off in his front yard, causing damage to his house and his neighbors.

He said he heard tornado sirens and got everyone into the basement just in time.

“And then (with the sirens) everything started happening; we heard the train,” Lytell said.

The damage is extensive and he is still in shock.

“Who do you call if a tree falls on your house?” Lytell asked.

Both Lytell and his neighbor are insured and have contacted the companies.

Still, people across Northeast Ohio are struggling with damage from Tuesday’s storms.

Andrew Kobak, president of Cleveland Public Adjusters, said the first step is to assess the damage.

Kobak said insurance company adjusters look out for the insurance company, but public adjusters look out for you.

“We are licensed by the State Department of Insurance to represent your interests,” Kobak said.

While Cleveland Public Adjusters only handles claims with high amounts in the six-figure range, Kobak also has good advice for people with storm damage.

He said you first have to decide whether you need to make a claim or not.

“The last thing you want is for your insurance company to come in and say, ‘Oh, that’s below your deductible. Plus, you have a 25-year-old roof and we’re not going to insure you anymore,'” Kobak said.

Minimal damage is best paid out of pocket, without involving insurance to avoid a claim. Kobak said you may end up having to pay them higher premiums. Although that’s not always clear.

“Every insurance company is different. Every insurance company has its own underwriting policies. These are sort of secret policies that none of us know about, right?” Kobak said.

Knowing the extent of the damage and whether the costs would exceed your deductible will help you decide whether you need to file a claim.

Also, make sure you know what your policy covers and what it doesn’t.

“If a tree falls on your house, your insurance will often offer to lift the tree off the house and pay for that portion. However, hauling the tree off the property and grinding down the stump may not be part of the insurance,” Kobak said.

Therefore, do not start paying contractors until you know what the insurance covers and what portion of the bill you will ultimately have to pay yourself.