Storm Damage Checklist
Walk your property in 15 minutes after hail or high wind. Check off what you see, get a clear verdict on your roof, and follow a 48-hour action plan. Free, no signup, no ladder needed.
The checklist
1. From the ground
2. Roof surface (binoculars or zoomed photos)
3. Inside: attic and ceilings
4. Siding, windows, and AC unit
Your 48-hour action plan
Whether the checklist flagged damage or not, these are the moves that protect your wallet in the first two days after a storm:
- Document before you clean up. Photograph and video everything: wide shots of each roof slope, close-ups of damage, debris in the yard, interior stains. Keep timestamps on. Adjusters decide claims on documentation.
- Stop active water intrusion. Buckets under drips, move furniture and electronics. If water is coming in fast, call a roofer for an emergency tarp. Do not climb a wet or steep roof yourself.
- Get a professional storm inspection. Most roofers inspect hail and wind damage free, and a good one will meet your insurance adjuster on the roof. That second set of trained eyes catches bruised shingles you cannot see from the ground.
- Open your insurance claim before authorizing repairs. Call your insurer, describe the date and type of storm, and keep every receipt from this point forward. Most policies require prompt notice.
- Turn away door-knockers politely. Storm chasers flood neighborhoods after hail. Verify a local physical address and license, read reviews, and never sign an Assignment of Benefits or contingency contract on your doorstep.
If the damage is confirmed, our storm damage roof repair team can tarp, document, and restore it, and a full roof inspection costs you nothing.
Frequently asked questions
No. Wet, steep, or storm-damaged roofs are dangerous, and foot traffic can worsen bruised shingles. Everything that matters can be spotted from the ground with binoculars, zoomed phone photos, or from inside the attic. Leave the roof walk to a professional.
Sudden damage from hail, wind, or fallen trees is typically covered, minus your deductible. Gradual wear, neglect, and old age are not. Your best leverage is documentation: dated photos taken before cleanup, plus a roofer’s written inspection report.
Be cautious. Reputable local roofers do not need to canvass door to door after every hailstorm. Red flags: out-of-state plates, no local address, pressure to sign on the spot, or asking you to sign an Assignment of Benefits that hands them your claim.
Mitigate water entry immediately, document within 24 hours, and notify your insurer promptly. Most policies require timely notice, and small leaks become mold, rotted decking, and denied claims if ignored.
Hail bruising often hides. Shingles can look fine from the ground while their fiberglass mat is fractured underneath. If your street took hail, a free professional inspection is worth the hour.
Wondering what a full replacement would cost if the roof is totaled? See our average roof replacement cost guide for 2026 numbers.