Storm damage and your roof: what to do first

Protect the home, document the damage and work with your insurer, step by step.

By Esteam Roofer | Updated October 17, 2026

When a storm damages your roof, the first hours matter. These steps protect your home and your claim.

1. Make the home safe

Stay off the roof. If a tree is on the house or there is structural damage, leave the area and call emergency services. For leaks, move belongings away, place buckets and shut off power to any affected area if water is near electrical fixtures.

2. Take photos and notes

Photograph damage from the ground and inside the house, with date and time. Keep any fallen debris until your insurer has seen it.

3. Prevent further damage

Most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to protect the property, such as tarping an opening. Keep receipts for emergency repairs. We provide emergency tarping and document it with photos.

4. Contact your insurance company

Review your policy for deadlines and deductibles and file the claim promptly. You can ask for a roofing contractor's inspection at any time to document the damage.

5. Meet the adjuster

You may attend the adjuster's inspection and bring your contractor's photos and written scope. If the insurer's scope misses damage, your contractor can document it for a supplement.

6. Choose the repair plan

Once the claim is approved, your contractor prices the work to the approved scope. You choose the contractor. Be cautious of anyone who offers to waive your deductible, which is not allowed in many states, or who asks you to sign over your claim rights.