What to Do Immediately After Storm Damage Hits Your Roof
A bad storm has just rolled through. You walk outside and see broken branches, dented gutters, missing shingles in the yard. Your roof took a hit. What do you do next? The first 24 to 48 hours after storm damage matter a lot. Here is the step by step to protect your home, your safety, and your insurance claim.
Step 1: Make Sure Everyone Is Safe
Before anything else, check on the people in your home. Look for downed power lines, gas leaks, or structural damage that could be dangerous. If you smell gas or see exposed wiring, leave the area and call utility companies. Do not try to handle these things yourself.
Step 2: Document Everything With Photos and Video
Walk around the outside of your house and take pictures of everything you can see. Damaged siding, dented gutters, broken windows, fallen tree limbs, missing shingles in the yard, and any obvious damage to the roof from the ground. Take photos of any neighbors with similar damage if you can. Save weather reports and local news coverage that document the storm.
This documentation is the foundation of any insurance claim. Time and date stamps matter.
Step 3: Check Inside the House
Walk through every room and look at the ceilings and walls. Wet spots, brown stains, or fresh discoloration mean water has gotten in. Check the attic if you can do so safely. Look for daylight, water dripping, or wet spots on the underside of the roof deck.
Step 4: Stop Water From Spreading
If water is actively coming in, move furniture and valuables out of the way. Put down towels or buckets to catch drips. If a ceiling is bulging from trapped water, poke a small hole at the lowest point with a screwdriver to let it drain in a controlled way. This prevents a bigger collapse and limits damage.
Step 5: Call a Trusted Roofer for an Inspection
Before you call your insurance company, call a local roofer for a free inspection. A reputable roofer can tell you whether you have damage worth claiming and document it for the claim. If filing makes sense, you go in with photos and a professional opinion. If it does not, you avoid filing a claim that could affect your rates without any payout.
If water is actively entering the home or a tree is on your roof, also request emergency tarping at this time.
Step 6: Call Your Insurance Company
Once you know you have legitimate damage, contact your insurer. Have ready: the date of the storm, type of damage, your roofer's inspection notes, and your photos. They will assign a claim number and schedule an adjuster.
Step 7: Be There for the Adjuster Visit
Have your roofer present when the adjuster comes out. The adjuster will inspect the damage and write up a Scope of Loss. Your roofer can point out anything that may be missed. This is one of the most important steps in the whole process.
Step 8: Avoid Storm Chasers
After every major storm, out of state contractors flood the area knocking on doors. They pressure homeowners to sign contracts on the spot, often with promises that sound too good to be true. Many do poor work and disappear, leaving homeowners to deal with warranty issues alone. Stick with a local roofer with a real address and real reviews.
Step 9: Get the Repair or Replacement Done
Once everything is approved, schedule the work. For a full replacement, the install usually takes one to two days. Your roofer will provide an invoice and any documentation you need to collect the recoverable depreciation portion of your claim.
Step 10: Keep Records
Save every email, every estimate, every invoice, every photo. Keep them in a folder either on your computer or in a binder. If anything comes up later, you have everything you need.
The Quick Reference
Safety first. Document with photos. Check inside. Stop water. Call a trusted local roofer. Call insurance. Be present for the adjuster. Avoid storm chasers. Get the work done. Keep records.
If a storm just hit your home, call Roofing Georgia at 770-874-7663 or visit roofinggeorgia.com for a free inspection.