Claim guides · Storm damage

Storm Damage: What to Do in the First 24 Hours

First get people out of danger and keep them off damaged roofs. Shut off utilities if it is safe, photograph the damage before anything moves, and call your agent or insurer to open a claim.

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The short answer

First get people out of danger and keep them off damaged roofs. Shut off utilities if it is safe, photograph the damage before anything moves, and call your agent or insurer to open a claim.

1. Safety first

Stay out of buildings with structural damage until someone qualified says it is safe.
Treat downed power lines as live. Call 911 or the utility.
If you smell gas, leave and call the gas company or 911 from outside.
Keep people off damaged or wet roofs. Falls from roofs cause serious injuries; leave roof work to people with fall protection and the right equipment.

Ready.gov has checklists for what to do after severe weather and tornadoes: Ready.gov: Tornadoes.

2. Who to call

911 or the utility for injuries, fire, gas or downed lines.
Your insurer or agent to open the claim. Write down the claim number and the name of the person you spoke with.
An emergency mitigation company if water is getting in or the building is open to the weather. Ask for a written scope and price before work starts.

3. Take photos and video before cleanup

Walk the whole property once with your phone before anything is moved: wide shots of each side of the building, then close-ups of the damage. Keep damaged items until the insurer has seen them, if it is safe to do so. Full documentation checklist.

4. Then deal with the rest

Commercial property

Let tenants and staff know what is safe. Start a simple log of the date and time operations were affected; if you carry business interruption coverage, that clock matters. Business interruption claims

Your home

If you can’t stay in the house, check your policy for additional living expense coverage and keep every hotel, meal and travel receipt.

What not to do

Don’t sign a repair contract or an assignment-of-benefits form on the spot because someone at the door says you must.
Don’t make permanent repairs before the insurer has had a chance to inspect, unless waiting is unsafe. Temporary vs. permanent repairs
Don’t throw away damaged materials before they are photographed.

Next: how and when to report storm damage to your insurer, or go back to the step-by-step claim guide.

Sources

Last checked: October 28, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.

Questions

Common questions

Should I get on the roof to check for hail damage?

No. Damaged or wet roofs are a fall hazard. Photograph what you can from the ground and let a roofer or the insurer’s adjuster inspect the roof with the right equipment.

Do I call my insurer or a contractor first?

Make the property safe first, then call your insurer or agent to open the claim. If water is getting in, you can also call a mitigation company for temporary work; keep the invoice.

Someone came to the door offering to handle my claim. Should I sign?

Not under pressure. Check the person’s license with your state’s department of insurance and read any contract before signing. How to verify a license.

Don’t navigate your insurance claim alone

Talk with a Mission PLC public adjuster about your loss. The consultation is free.