If a storm just tore into your roof, the next 24 hours matter more than you’d think, both for your family’s safety and for how smoothly your insurance claim goes. Here’s exactly what to do, in order.
1. Make Sure Everyone Is Safe First
Before anything else, insurance, contractors, paperwork, check that everyone in the house is safe. Stay away from any room with visible ceiling sagging, active leaking near light fixtures or outlets, or a roof section that looks like it could give way. If you smell gas, see downed power lines, or have standing water near an electrical panel, get everyone out and call the utility company before doing anything else.
2. Document the Damage Before You Touch Anything
Once it’s safe, walk the property and take photos and video of everything: the roof from the ground, missing shingles, interior water stains or leaks, damaged gutters, fencing, and trees. Wide shots and close-ups both help. This is the single most useful thing you can do for your claim, and it only takes a few minutes.
Tip: Photograph the damage before you move debris or start cleanup. Once something’s been moved or thrown away, it’s a lot harder to prove what actually happened.
3. Stop Further Damage, But Don’t Make Permanent Repairs Yet
Most homeowners insurance policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage: a tarp over an exposed section of roof, boarding up a broken window, moving furniture out of a room that’s actively leaking. Go ahead and do that. What you shouldn’t do yet is start permanent repairs or replace anything before an adjuster or a licensed contractor has seen the damage in person. Keep any receipts for emergency protection, tarps, plastic sheeting, plywood, since those are typically reimbursable.
4. Call Your Insurance Company
Report the damage as soon as you reasonably can. Ask what your policy covers, what your deductible is for wind or hurricane damage specifically (it’s often separate from, and higher than, your regular deductible in Florida), and what documentation they’ll need. One thing a lot of homeowners don’t realize: you are not required to use whatever contractor your insurance company suggests. You’re free to choose your own.
5. Get a Professional Inspection
A roof can look fine from the driveway and still have real damage underneath, lifted shingles, cracked flashing, or a compromised underlayment that won’t show up as a leak for weeks. A full inspection from a licensed contractor gets you a real, documented picture of what’s actually wrong, not just what’s visible from the ground. We inspect the whole property, not just the roofline, and document everything the way your insurance company needs to see it.
6. Don’t Wait to Report the Claim
Florida has real deadlines for reporting storm-related damage, and they can vary depending on your policy and when the damage happened. The safest move is to report it and start documentation right away rather than waiting to see how bad it looks after a few days. If you’re not sure where you stand, call your agent or check your declarations page for the exact window.
Get a Second Set of Eyes on Your Roof
If a storm has hit your home, we can usually get someone out for a same-day emergency tarp and a full inspection. We document everything for your insurance company and stay with you from that first inspection through the final repair. Questions about your coverage or how your claim is settled go to your insurance company or a licensed public adjuster.
Storm Damage to Your Roof?
We’ll inspect the full property, document it for your claim, and get it repaired, start to finish.