After the storm: your insurance claim checklist
East Texas storm season is no joke. When hail, wind or a falling tree damages your home, the next few days matter. Here is the checklist we walk our neighbors through.
1. Make it safe first
- Stay out of rooms with sagging ceilings or standing water near outlets.
- If water is coming in, get a temporary tarp on the roof as soon as it is safe. Most policies expect you to prevent further damage.
- Turn off power to wet areas at the breaker if you can do it safely.
2. Document everything before cleanup
- Take wide photos and close-ups of every damaged area, inside and out, before anything is moved.
- Photograph hail on the ground with something for scale, dented gutters and vents, and shingles in the yard.
- Keep receipts for tarps, emergency repairs and hotel stays.
3. Call your insurance company
- Open the claim and write down your claim number and adjuster's name.
- Ask what your deductible is and whether your policy pays replacement cost or actual cash value.
- Ask how long you have to file and to complete repairs.
4. Get an independent inspection
- Have a contractor inspect the roof up close, not from the driveway. Hail damage is easy to miss from the ground.
- Ask for written documentation and photos you can share with your adjuster.
5. Meet the adjuster
- Have your contractor there if you can, so nothing gets missed.
- Walk the adjuster through every area, including the attic and interior ceilings.
6. Repair it right
- Fix the cause, not just the symptom: roof, flashing, gutters and then the interior.
- Make sure wet drywall and insulation come out and the structure is dry before closing walls back up.