LONGWOOD, Fla. — Some of the neighborhoods hardest hit by storms Monday night were in Seminole County.
That includes a tree that collapsed on top of a couple of homes in Longwood.
One of the homeowners said the tree hadn't been trimmed, and she's been worrying about it for years.
A tree expert has already taken a look at the tree and found the problem. The tree has Ganoderma, a fungal infection, which is apparent by fungus shelves of mushrooms growing off the limbs.
Tom Stone with Sunstate Trees came to remove the huge tree.
"It was very much an accident waiting to happen," Stone said.
It's a growing problem in a down economy where residents put dying trees on the back burner of spending.
"My experience is people would rather start a fire with a $20 bill than spend it on tree work," Stone said.
One of the homeowners worried the tree was dying but didn't have money to take it down, which begs the question: What is a homeowner's liability when something happens?
The answer: not much. Insurance companies only hold homeowners responsible if the tree has been certified in writing to be a danger to the property.
"It was quite frightening, really frightening and I really didn't get the feel of it until I went outside and (looked) back and saw the tree," said homeowner Dorothy Royson.
The frightening sight did plenty of damage. One of the homes is unlivable, but the cost of repairs should be covered by a homeowners' policy.
If a homeowner suspects a tree has a fungal inspection, it's a good idea to call an expert.
"Preventative tree work is absolutely critical to keeping this from happening," Stone said.
WFTV
