When a storm damages your roof, the first priority is safety, then documentation, then calling both your insurer and a licensed roofer. Knowing what to do after storm damage in the right order protects your home, your claim, and your coverage.
Key Takeaways
- Stay safe: Do not go on the roof after a storm. Immediately.
- Document everything: Photograph damage inside and outside. Within the first hour.
- Make temporary repairs: Tarp the roof, board windows. Same day if possible.
- Call your insurer: Report damage and get a claim number. Within 24 to 48 hours.
- Keep all damaged materials: Do not discard anything before the adjuster visits. Until the adjuster clears it.
- Get a roofer inspection: Obtain a written estimate with line-item detail. Within 48 to 72 hours.
- Monitor for interior damage: Check ceilings, attic, and walls daily. Ongoing until repaired.
Why the First 48 Hours Matter Most
After a storm, the damage you can see is rarely the full picture. Water from a compromised roof can spread through insulation, soak wall cavities, and reach electrical components within hours. According to FEMA, roof leaks that damage ceilings and threaten electrical components may qualify for federal disaster assistance, but only when damage is properly documented.
For insurance purposes, timing also matters. The Insurance Information Institute advises homeowners to contact their insurer as soon as possible. After major storms, adjusters prioritize the most severe cases first, so early reporting gets you into the queue faster.
What to Do After Storm Damage to Your Roof: 7 Immediate Steps
Step 1: Confirm It Is Safe Before Going Outside
Do not walk outside while the storm is still active. After it passes, look for downed power lines, standing water, and unstable debris before approaching your home. Stay off the roof entirely. Wet surfaces, weakened decking, and scattered debris create serious fall hazards. If you smell gas inside the home after a storm, leave immediately and call your gas provider before doing anything else.
Step 2: Document All Visible Damage With Photos and Video
Before touching anything, photograph every area of visible damage from the ground. Use your phone to capture missing shingles, debris on the roof, damaged gutters, broken siding, and any interior signs of water entry. According to the Insurance Information Institute, having detailed documentation of damaged property, including descriptions and photos, makes the claims process faster and more accurate. Date-stamp your photos and back them up to cloud storage immediately.
Step 3: Make Emergency Temporary Repairs
Cover open areas of the roof with heavy-duty tarps to stop additional water from entering. Board up broken windows or doors. The Insurance Information Institute advises homeowners to make reasonable temporary repairs right away and to save all receipts, since insurers typically reimburse documented emergency repair costs. Do not make permanent repairs before your adjuster visits. Temporary measures protect the home; permanent fixes before inspection can complicate the claim.
Step 4: Call Your Insurance Company Within 24 to 48 Hours
Report the storm damage to your insurer as soon as it is safe to do so. Give them your policy number, the best phone number to reach you, and an accurate description of the damage. Most Arizona homeowners’ policies require prompt reporting. Filing late is one of the most common reasons claims get reduced or disputed. Ask your insurer about emergency services, since many companies dispatch an approved contractor to tarp or board up your home while your claim is being processed. Read more about the insurance filing process for storm damage before you call.
Step 5: Do Not Throw Away Damaged Materials
Leave all damaged shingles, tiles, gutters, and debris in place until the adjuster has seen and documented it. According to the Insurance Information Institute, check with your insurer before discarding any storm-damaged materials. If your municipality requires debris removal for safety reasons, photograph everything first. Insurers need physical evidence to assess the full scope of damage. Removing it early can reduce what they are willing to cover.
Step 6: Get a Licensed Roofer Inspection and Written Estimate
Contact a licensed local roofer within 48 to 72 hours for a professional damage assessment. A written estimate with line-item detail listing proposed repairs, materials, and costs gives the adjuster a concrete scope to work from. The Insurance Information Institute recommends getting written bids from licensed contractors, with pricing broken down by line item, since this makes the claim easier to adjust. In Prescott, ask for photo documentation of all damage found, not just what is visible from the street. DryTop Roofing’s storm damage inspections include written findings and direct coordination with adjusters.
Step 7: Watch for Interior Damage in the Days After
Water from a storm entry point does not always show up immediately inside the home. Check your attic for wet insulation, soft spots, or discoloration on the decking. Check ceilings for staining or bubbling paint, which signals water pooling above the drywall. Check walls near windows or skylights for moisture. Interior damage discovered after your initial claim can be added through a supplemental claim. Most supplemental claims can be filed for up to two years after the original event.
Things to Know Before the Adjuster Arrives
Knowing what to do after storm damage includes understanding how the adjuster visit works before it happens.
Two types of payouts, one big difference. Replacement cost value (RCV) policies reimburse you at current repair prices. Actual cash value (ACV) policies subtract depreciation. On a 15-year-old roof, ACV coverage can fall thousands of dollars short of actual repair costs. Know your policy type before the adjuster arrives.
Your estimate matters. The adjuster assesses damage on behalf of the insurer. A competing estimate from a licensed roofer gives you an independent benchmark. If the adjuster’s figure is significantly lower than a licensed contractor’s written bid, you can dispute it or request a re-inspection.
Never sign deductible-waiver agreements. Any contractor who offers to waive your deductible is committing insurance fraud under Arizona law. This voids your policy.
Document every communication. Write down the name, date, and summary of every call with your insurer. Keep copies of every document they send. This record protects you if a dispute arises.
Schedule Your Inspection Now
Understanding what to do after storm damage means acting quickly and in the right order. Document first, protect the home second, report to your insurer third, then get a licensed roofer’s written assessment before the adjuster’s visit. DryTop Roofing serves Prescott, Dewey-Humboldt, and Northern Arizona with thorough storm damage inspections, photo documentation, and direct adjuster coordination. Schedule your roof inspection today and know exactly what the storm left behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do first, right after a storm damages my roof?
Confirm it is safe to go outside, then photograph all visible damage from the ground before touching anything. Do not go on the roof. Make emergency repairs, such as tarping, if it is safe to do so. Contact your insurance company within 24 to 48 hours. The faster you document and report, the stronger your position in the claims process.
Does my insurance cover temporary repairs I make after a storm?
Yes, in most cases. The Insurance Information Institute advises homeowners to make reasonable temporary repairs and save all receipts, since insurers generally reimburse documented emergency costs. These include tarps, plywood, and related materials. Do not make permanent repairs before the adjuster visits.
How long do I have to file a storm damage claim in Arizona?
Most standard homeowners policies in Arizona require reporting within 30 to 60 days, but filing within 24 to 48 hours is always the better practice. Filing fast preserves physical evidence, gets you into the adjuster queue sooner, and reduces the risk of secondary damage occurring before repairs begin. Learn more about what insurance covers after storm damage in Arizona.
What if the adjuster misses the damage my roofer found?
You can file a supplemental claim for damage discovered after the original adjustment. This right is generally available for up to two years after the storm event. Document the newly found damage with photos and your roofer’s written findings before submitting the supplemental claim. Keep all records from both the original and supplemental submissions.
Can a roofer help me with the insurance claim process?
A licensed roofer can inspect the damage, provide a detailed written estimate, take photos for documentation, and meet with your adjuster on-site to walk through the findings. DryTop Roofing handles this coordination as part of our standard storm damage inspection. We document what we find and make sure the adjuster has a complete picture before the estimate is finalized.