What to do in the 72 hours after a storm hits your roof
The 72 hours after a major storm event determine whether your insurance claim succeeds and whether your home stays dry. Get the right steps in the right order and you protect both your property and your wallet.
Hours 0–24: safety and mitigation
Don't go on the roof. Document interior damage with photos and videos. Mitigate further damage (move belongings, tarp leaks from inside if needed, turn off electricity to wet areas). Call your insurance to report the claim — but do NOT commit to a specific damage estimate yet.
Hours 24–48: documentation and inspection
Have at least 2 local established roofers inspect (free) and provide written estimates with photos. Verify their license + insurance + local establishment (years at current address). Do not sign anything beyond an inspection authorization.
Hours 48–72: claim coordination
Schedule your insurance adjuster's inspection. Insist your roofer is present at the adjuster's visit (a stated right in most states). Get the adjuster's name, contact, and claim number in writing. Request the adjuster's report; review it against your roofer's report.
What NOT to do
Don't sign 'Assignment of Benefits' (AOB) forms from contractors knocking on your door. Don't pay upfront 'deductible waivers' (illegal in most states). Don't hire out-of-state contractors who appeared after the storm. Don't sign 'contingency contracts' that lock you in if insurance pays. Don't let any roofer get on your roof before insurance documents the existing condition.
The storm chaser playbook
Storm chasers move into disaster zones, often with out-of-state plates, knock door-to-door, offer 'free roof inspections,' show photos of generic damage, claim 'urgent' immediate action needed, pressure you to sign contracts, demand deposits, then either disappear or do shoddy work that voids manufacturer warranties. The single best defense: only use local contractors with verifiable years of service at the current address.
The first 72 hours protect your case and your home. Local, established, documented, and patient wins. Storm chasers prey on urgency — slow down, document everything, and use known local contractors.