Storm Damage Claims
The Whole Event
A real storm doesn’t pick one type of damage — it brings wind, hail, driven rain and debris together. The claim should cover all of it, and most first estimates don’t.
Multi-Peril Events Need Multi-Peril Documentation
An adjuster working fast files your storm under one peril and prices it accordingly. But the same front that creased your shingles also drove rain into the exposed decking, peppered the west siding with hail, and dropped a limb on the gutters — four damage mechanisms, each with its own line items. We document each peril on its own evidence so the scope reflects the storm that actually happened. The National Weather Service logs severe events by county — we pull the report for your storm date and attach it.
Mitigate, Document, Then File
Your policy requires you to prevent further damage — emergency tarping satisfies that duty and the cost belongs in the claim. Photograph everything before cleanup: the yard debris tells the wind story, the hail on the deck dates the stones. Then file with the evidence already organized. Storms flood carriers with claims; the well-documented file is the one that moves.
Straight Answers On Claims
The storm hit weeks ago and I see nothing wrong — too late?
Not too late, and “nothing wrong” from the ground means little — creases and bruising need a roof-level look. Filing windows typically run 1–2 years; free inspection settles it.
My whole street got hit — does that help my claim?
It corroborates it. Area-wide storm damage, neighbor claims, and NWS event reports all support your file. Storm swaths don’t skip houses.
Do I need separate claims for roof and siding damage?
No — one event, one claim, every trade. That’s exactly why complete documentation matters before filing.
What if the adjuster only saw some of the damage?
That’s what supplements exist for. We re-document what was missed and push the scope to match the event.
How long after a storm can you file a claim?
Typically one to two years per policy terms — but evidence ages and mitigation duties start immediately, so sooner is always stronger.
What should you photograph after a storm?
Everything before cleanup — yard debris tells the wind story, hail on the deck dates the stones, and wide-then-close sequences anchorevery damage point to your property.
Do I need to be home for the storm damage inspection?
For ours, ideally — you’ll learn your roof. For the adjuster’s, your contractor being there matters more than you being there.
Does one big claim raise my rates more than several small ones?
Frequency hurts more than severity in most rating models — one complete, well-documented event claim beats drips of small ones, which is another argument for claiming the whole storm once.
Storm Claim Building Blocks
The individual perils, in depth.
After The Storm, Before The Claim
Free full-exterior inspection — every peril photographed, the whole event claimed once.