Storm Season Home Prep: The Checklist That Saves Claims
In hurricane, hail, and tornado country, the homeowners who fare best in claims season did their documentation and maintenance before the storm. Here's the pre-season checklist.
60 days before season
- Get a roof inspection and fix loose shingles, cracked tiles, and exposed fasteners
- Clean gutters and confirm downspouts discharge away from the foundation
- Trim trees back from the roofline and remove standing deadwood
- Test sump pumps and battery backups
- Service the generator if you have one
Document everything now
Walk the exterior and interior with your phone: wide shots of every roof plane, siding elevation, fence line, and major system, plus close-ups of the roof from the ground. Store the photos in cloud storage with the date visible. When an adjuster later argues damage was "pre-existing wear," dated pre-storm photos are the strongest evidence a homeowner can produce.
Know your policy before you need it
- Find your wind/hail deductible — it's often a percentage of dwelling coverage, not a flat number
- Check for cosmetic damage exclusions and roof payment schedules (ACV vs RCV)
- Confirm whether flood is covered (it usually is not — that's a separate policy)
- Save your insurer's claim line and your agent's number in your phone
After the storm
Photograph damage before any cleanup, make only temporary emergency repairs (tarps, board-up) and keep receipts, then get a licensed local contractor's inspection report before or alongside the adjuster visit. Read our hurricane roof claim guide for the full claims playbook.
Frequently asked questions
When should I start storm prep?
Sixty days before your region's season peak: late spring for hurricane country, early spring for hail alley. Contractor calendars fill fast once the first storm hits.
What's the single most valuable prep step?
Dated pre-storm photos of your roof and exterior. They cost nothing and routinely make the difference in disputed claims.
Are storm-chaser contractors always a scam?
Not all, but out-of-state crews that appear after a storm are the highest-risk hires: warranty service disappears when they leave. Prefer licensed, locally established pros.
Ready to talk to a licensed local pro? Get matched now or call (929) 597-8745.