Storm Damage and Roof Insurance Claims

An Important Note First

This guide is educational only. It explains what to document after storm damage to your roof, and how the insurance process generally works. It is not insurance advice, and it makes no promises about coverage. Whether storm damage to your roof is covered, how much is covered, and what your deductible and policy limits are, are decided by your insurance policy and your carrier — not by this website, and not by a roofing professional. If you are unsure about your coverage, contact your insurer or your insurance agent directly, and read your policy.

With that in mind, good documentation helps in any insurance process, because it creates a clear record of what happened, when it happened, and what damage resulted. This guide explains what to record, how to record it, and what to avoid.

Step 1: Make Safety the Priority

Before you document anything, wait until the storm has fully passed and conditions are safe. Do not go outside during high winds, lightning, or heavy rain, and do not climb onto a wet or damaged roof. If you see a downed power line, keep well away and contact your utility company or emergency services. If a tree has fallen on the house, if part of the roof has collapsed, or if a ceiling is sagging or bulging with water, treat it as urgent and prioritise safety. If water is coming in actively, move valuables away from the drip, place a container underneath, and call (334) 772-1151 to discuss your roofing needs. For urgent cases, see emergency roof repair. See also our storm damage roof checklist for a full after-storm check.

Step 2: Record the Storm

Start by noting the basic facts about the storm itself:

• Date and time of the storm, and when you first noticed damage
• What type of weather it was, as far as you know — heavy rain, strong wind, hail, or a combination
• Whether hail fell at your property, and roughly how large the hailstones were, if you saw them
• Whether neighbours or nearby properties were also affected, if you know

You do not need to prove the weather yourself — your insurer may check weather records — but a clear note of the date and time helps you describe the event accurately later. Keep this note with your other documentation.

Step 3: Photograph the Damage

Photos are the most useful part of your documentation. Take them from the ground, and from inside the home — do not climb onto the roof to take photos.

Outside, photograph:

• The roof from each side, showing the overall condition
• Any missing, lifted, or damaged shingles, and where on the roof they are
• Any dents on vents, gutters, or flashing
• Any shingles, tiles, or debris in the yard, driveway, or garden
• Any fallen trees or large branches touching the roof
• Damaged gutters or downspouts
• Any damage to other parts of the property, such as a fence, a car, or outdoor furniture, if hail or wind affected them

Inside, photograph:

• Any stains on ceilings or upper walls, with something in the photo to show the scale if possible
• Any damp patches, bubbling paint, or peeling plaster
• Any active dripping, and where the water is coming from
• Any dampness or staining in the attic, if you can check it safely

Take more photos than you think you need, and note the date and where each photo was taken. If you take photos on your phone, the date and time are usually recorded automatically, but it is still worth keeping a written note. Do not discard damaged material if it is safe to keep it — a shingle that blew off, for example, can be kept as a sample.

Step 4: Write Down What You Found

A short written record, made as soon as possible after the storm, is more reliable than memory later. Note:

• What you found, and where on the roof or in the home it is
• Whether water is actively coming in, and where
• When you first noticed each problem
• Whether any problem is new, or whether it has got worse since the storm
• The age of the roof, if you know it, and any repairs already done

If you arrange a professional roof inspection, keep a copy of the inspector's findings and any photos they take. A professional inspection can confirm the extent of the damage and whether it is consistent with storm damage, as opposed to age or wear. See our guides to the signs of wind damage and hail damage signs for what those types of damage look like.

Step 5: Limit Further Damage, Safely

Most insurance policies expect homeowners to take reasonable steps to limit further damage after a storm — for example, by covering a damaged area with a tarp, or by moving valuables away from a leak — but only where it is safe to do so. Do not climb onto a damaged roof to fit a tarp yourself. If a temporary cover is needed, ask a roofing professional to fit it, or call to discuss the situation. Keep receipts for any temporary measures, such as tarping, and keep a record of what was done and when. Do not make permanent repairs before you have spoken to your insurer, unless the repair is needed urgently to prevent further damage — and if you do, keep photos and receipts, and tell your insurer what was done and why.

Step 6: Contact Your Insurer

Contact your insurer or your insurance agent as soon as you can, and ask what they need from you. The process generally involves:

1. Reporting the damage. Tell your insurer what happened, when it happened, and what damage you have found. Have your policy number ready, if you know it.
2. Providing documentation. Your insurer may ask for photos, a written description, and any inspection reports. Provide what you have, and keep copies for yourself.
3. An adjuster visit. Your insurer may send an adjuster to inspect the damage. Be present if you can, and have your photos and notes ready. You can also have a roofing professional present, if your insurer allows it — ask your insurer about this.
4. An estimate for repair. Your insurer may ask for an estimate from a roofing professional, or may provide their own. If you get an estimate, ask for it to be itemised, showing the work and materials separately. See our guide to questions to ask before accepting an estimate.

Ask your insurer about your deductible — the amount you pay before the insurance covers the rest — and about your policy limits, and whether the claim will affect your premium. Those are questions for your insurer, not for a roofing professional, and the answers depend on your policy.

Documentation Checklist

• [ ] Date and time of the storm, and what type of weather it was
• [ ] Photos of the roof from each side, from the ground
• [ ] Photos of any missing, lifted, or damaged shingles, and where they are
• [ ] Photos of dents on vents, gutters, and flashing
• [ ] Photos of shingles or debris in the yard
• [ ] Photos of any stains, damp patches, or drips inside
• [ ] Photos of any dampness or staining in the attic
• [ ] Written notes: what you found, where, and when you first noticed it
• [ ] Age of the roof, if you know it, and any previous repairs
• [ ] Professional inspection report, if you arrange one
• [ ] Receipts for any temporary measures, such as tarping
• [ ] Copies of everything you send to your insurer

Keep a copy of everything, and keep it in one place — a folder on your phone, or a paper file — so you can find it when you need it.

Frequently Asked Questions