Questions about home insurance post Helene

Howdy,

Our house in Asheville was hit pretty bad during Hurricane Helene and we are in the process of navigating claims. This is our first house and also first time filing any sort of insurance claim, so hoping someone can help clarify some basics. Our agent has been less than helpful and I've had some weird interactions with contractors that I'm hoping to put in perspective.

This is our current damage assessment – We had a large tree come down on our fence, destroying about 40 yards of pickets and the retaining wall below it. Some of the branches came down on the roof, damaging shingles, gutters and creating a small puncture in a section of metal roof. We had mild flooding in the basement, which led to serious mold. We had another tree split in half during the storm and become a serious risk to the house. We had an adjuster come out from our insurance company, and are in the process of appealing the denial by FEMA for other damage.

So far, Insurance has said they will not cover the flood damage or the split tree removal. I paid 15k out of pocket to have an arborist remove the tree before it falls, and have dealt with much of the mold myself. At this point I am just trying to navigate insurance and the covered property.

Here are my questions:

1. Our adjuster told me I need to get him an invoice from our Roomate (not an owner of the home) for removing some of the branches that fell on the roof. Apparently if I say I removed the branches, it's not covered or reimbursable?

2. I cut up most the tree that fell on the fence with some friends, and the adjuster is telling me they will pay me for that. Roughly 3k. I was not able to cut up the rootball or widest section of the tree, and it is still there. If I accept 3k for cutting up most of the tree, does that relieve them of responsibility for paying to remove the rootball and trunk? This is a 150 year old red oak, it's a freaking beast, and I don't want to get stuck with a giant tree trunk on my yard indefinitely.

3. One of the contractors I had come out is telling me that he thinks the damage to the fence is about $75k. I paid $15k for the entire fence brand new and that estimate seems steep. I assume he is trying to get as much of a payout from insurance as possible. What do I need to do here?

4. I have had other contractors bail left and right on the projects for bigger insurance paid jobs. I am at the point where I am willing to just do the work on the fence myself, provided insurance pays for materials at least. Is there a mechanism for that, and how do I navigate doing that?

5. Neither the contractors nor insurance folks have been super communicative or upfront with me and I'm having a hard time figuring out who I am supposed to trust and the dynamics at work. Can someone explain it to me like I'm 5?

6. Any helpful lessons you learned from dealing with home insurance claims would be awesome.

Thanks y'all,