Apr 8, 2026 · Reviewed by Mark Hennessey
After the storm: your first 24 hours
The wind dies down, the rain stops, and you spot missing shingles or a stain spreading across the ceiling. What you do in the next 24 hours has more impact on your insurance claim — and your final repair bill — than almost anything that happens later. Work through this checklist in order.
1. Stay safe first
Do not climb onto a wet or damaged roof, and stay clear of downed power lines. Assess from the ground or a window.
2. Document everything
Photograph and video the damage from multiple angles — roof, gutters, siding, and any interior water stains. Timestamps matter for your claim.
3. Stop the water
If water is getting in, place buckets, move belongings, and have a pro tarp the roof. A clean temporary cover prevents a small leak from becoming a ceiling collapse.
4. Save your receipts
Insurers reimburse reasonable emergency mitigation. Keep receipts for tarps, plywood, and any emergency contractor visit.
5. Call your insurer — then a contractor
File the claim promptly, but get an independent inspection too. A licensed roofer documents damage the adjuster may miss.
What insurance adjusters look for
Adjusters separate storm damage from ordinary wear, because only sudden damage is covered. Clear photos with timestamps, a record of the storm date, and an independent roofer's report make that case for you. Functional damage — bruised shingles, dented vents and flashing, granule loss in the gutters — is easy to miss and easy to undervalue, so it pays to have a second set of trained eyes.
Beware the door-knockers
After every major storm, out-of-town crews canvass the neighborhood offering to "handle the whole claim" and waive your deductible. Waiving a deductible is insurance fraud, and a contractor with no local address has no reason to honor a warranty next year. Stick with a licensed, locally based pro who carries insurance and gives you a written scope before any money changes hands.
Don't wait on emergency repairs
Most policies require you to take "reasonable steps" to prevent further damage. Tarping the roof and drying out the interior aren't optional — skipping them can reduce your payout. If you can't safely cover the roof yourself, a 24/7 emergency crew can. Call RoofPros USA at (844) 763-3777 for an emergency tarp, or read more on storm-damage repair.
Storm just passed through? Get a free damage inspection from a vetted local contractor before you file.