HOUSTON — Hurricane Beryl brought a storm of trouble to Houston, leaving devastation in its wake, especially for one single mother, Reagan Wyck.
“This is the first house I’ve ever bought by myself, and I’m 50 years old,” Wyck told KHOU 11. “This home was meant for me and my daughters. I worked hard to buy it, and seeing it destroyed in seconds is beyond devastating.”
Wyck shared that the powerful hurricane caused a large pine tree from a neighboring lot to crash into her home.
“I jumped out of bed and hugged the wall,” Wyck said. “Everything came crashing down around me.”
Wyck is thankful to be alive and relieved that her daughters were not home at the time. However, she’s upset about what she discovered when inspecting the tree.
According to the source, she found it was rotten and had signs of a termite infestation.
“I want to hold the owner responsible for neglecting a tree that was clearly rotten and caused such damage to two families,” Wyck said.
She has struggled to contact the owner of the lot, which is owned by an LLC.
“The owner’s name isn’t listed on the property,” Wyck explained.
John Black from the Daly and Black law firm clarified that in Texas if a tree from a neighbor’s lot falls into your home during a natural disaster, you are generally responsible for the damage. However, there’s an exception.
“If your neighbor was negligent or failed to maintain the tree properly, they might be partially at fault,” Black said.
To find the person behind the LLC that owns the lot, Black suggests checking the Secretary of State’s website. This site provides information on the registered agent for an LLC in Texas.
Read more news:
- Biden Campaign Mobilizes Across Georgia Ahead of Debate Clash
- Kristi Noem Denies Formal Vetting for Trump’s VP, Focuses on Winning Strategy
“That’s the person designated to receive notices for the company,” Black said.
The Secretary of State’s website should list an email, phone number, or address for the registered agent. This information could help track down the LLC’s owner and possibly recover costs for the damage.