What Should I Do After Storm Damage?

After a storm, check for immediate safety hazards, take photos of any visible damage from the ground, and get a professional roof inspection before making any big decisions. Document everything before you touch anything, and get a tarp on any active leak right away. Do not sign anything or start repairs until a roofer has actually been on the roof.

First, make sure the area is safe

Before you think about the roof at all, walk your property from the ground and look for downed power lines, broken tree limbs hanging over the house, or debris in the yard. If anything looks unstable, stay clear of it and call the utility company or local authorities. Never get on a ladder or the roof yourself after a storm, especially if it is still wet or windy. Roof damage assessment is a job for someone with the right harness, footwear, and experience walking a wet roof deck.

Document everything you can see

From the ground, take photos and video of your roof, gutters, siding, and yard. Look for missing shingles, granules piled up in gutters or downspouts, dented vents or flashing, and any obvious holes or soft spots visible from below. Photograph the whole property, not just the roof: fences, screens, and AC units often show wind damage too, and that context helps later if you file a claim.

Stop interior damage before it spreads

If water is coming into the house, move furniture and belongings out of the way, place buckets under active drips, and if it is safe, cover the area with a tarp on the interior side of the attic if you can reach it. Take photos of any interior water stains or ceiling damage right away, since this documentation matters for your claim regardless of who ends up doing the repair.

Call a roofer for an inspection, not just insurance

It is tempting to call your insurance company first, but a roofer can tell you within an hour whether you actually have storm damage worth reporting, and can get emergency tarping done to stop further water intrusion. We inspect the roof, document everything with photos and video, and give you an honest read on what we find. We do not adjust claims or decide what your policy covers. That is the carrier's job, but having clear documentation before the adjuster shows up makes the whole process smoother.

Get a tarp on any active leak

If a section of your roof is compromised, a temporary tarp keeps water out while you sort out next steps. This is not a repair, it is a stopgap, and most insurance policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. Keep any receipts related to emergency work, since those can often be included in a claim.

Understand that coverage depends on your policy

Whether storm damage is covered, and how much, depends entirely on your specific policy, your deductible, and the carrier's assessment of the claim. We have seen similar-looking damage handled very differently by different insurers. That is normal, and it is why we always recommend an inspection and clear documentation before you talk numbers with anyone.

Next steps after the inspection

Once you have photos, a professional inspection report, and a clear sense of the damage, you are in a much stronger position to file a claim if you choose to. From there, the timeline depends on your carrier and how quickly an adjuster can get scheduled. If you are in Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Lutz, Carrollwood, Palm Harbor, Westchase, Land O' Lakes, or Clearwater, we can usually get someone out within a day or two of a major storm.

Go Deeper

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