Storm damage: emergency response, insurance, and finding a recovery pro

Storm damage response has a strict order of operations and getting it wrong is expensive. Hour 0-2: safety first. Smell gas? Shut off the gas main outside. Water reached the electrical panel? Shut off the main breaker (or call utility). Trees down across power lines? Stay 30+ feet away, call 911. Hour 2-12: prevent further damage. Tarp the roof if there's a hole and rain is forecast — DIY if accessible and safe ($30-$80 in materials at Home Depot), or hire emergency tarp service ($250-$800). Cover broken windows with plywood. Move undamaged contents away from leaks. Document everything with timestamped photo and video — every angle, every room, every item. Hour 12-48: call insurance. They'll start your claim, may dispatch their own adjuster within days, and tell you what specific documentation they need.

Most standard homeowners insurance policies cover sudden, accidental damage from wind, hail, lightning, fire, and falling objects (trees). They typically do NOT cover: flooding (separate flood policy needed; ~30% of flood claims happen outside designated flood zones), earthquake (separate policy), normal wear and tear, gradual leaks. Your deductible applies — typically $1,000-$5,000 for standard coverage; $2,500-$10,000 for hurricane/wind in coastal states; can be 1-5% of home value as a percentage deductible. The insurance process: file claim → adjuster inspects → estimate issued → you choose contractor → work done → final inspection → check issued (often in two parts: ACV upfront, depreciation released after work complete).

After every major storm, storm-chasers descend on the affected area: out-of-state companies, door-knocking, "free inspections," "we can get your insurance to pay for everything" pitches. Some are legitimate; many are scams. Red flags: (1) they showed up uninvited within hours; (2) they want a contract signed today; (3) they ask you to assign your insurance benefits to them ("AOB" — assignment of benefits); (4) they offer to cover your deductible (illegal in most states — insurance fraud); (5) their license is from a state different from yours; (6) they pressure for a "spot assessment" before insurance arrives. Always: get 3 estimates from local established companies, verify state license + insurance, never sign AOB, never sign a contract before insurance adjuster comes.

Five most-common storm damage categories. (1) Hail damage to roofing — typically $5,000-$20,000 for full roof replacement; insurance usually covers if hail size + bruise/dent pattern is documented. (2) Wind damage — missing or lifted shingles $300-$5,000 depending on scope; full-tear-off if 25%+ of slope affected. (3) Tree-on-house — $5,000-$50,000 depending on whether it punctured the roof and where; covered by homeowners (your tree or neighbor's). (4) Hurricane wind + water — $25,000-$200,000+ for full-rebuild scenarios; partially insurance, partially out-of-pocket if flood was involved (different policy). (5) Tornado — typically total loss; full-rebuild covered up to coverage limits. The pattern: small to medium scope is usually 100% insurance after deductible; total losses can exceed coverage and require a public adjuster.

A public adjuster is an independent insurance professional you hire (typically 10-15% of the settlement) to negotiate your claim with the insurance company. Worth it for: claims > $50,000, complex scenarios (multiple coverages, prior damage, disputed fault), insurance company offers seeming low. Not worth it for: small claims (< $20,000), straightforward damage. Do NOT use a public adjuster who is also a contractor offering to do the repair work — that's a conflict of interest banned in some states. The relationship sequence is: adjuster negotiates → settlement check arrives → you hire a separate contractor → work gets done.

In a major storm-damage scenario, work has to be sequenced. Order of priority: (1) tarping/board-up to prevent further damage (weeks 0-1); (2) water mitigation if any water entered (weeks 0-2; mold starts at 24-48 hours wet); (3) electrical safety check + restoration (weeks 0-2); (4) roof replacement or major repair (weeks 2-8 depending on regional contractor demand); (5) interior structural repair / drywall / flooring (weeks 4-12); (6) cosmetic finishing (weeks 8-16). In areas hit by major hurricanes or tornadoes, contractor demand can run 6-18 months. Get on multiple lists; lock in a contractor early; expect timeline pushback.