In the first 48 hours after storm damage, work in this order: make sure everyone is safe, stop further damage with temporary repairs, document everything with photos and video, then report the loss to your insurer. Stay clear of downed power lines and unstable structures. Tarp roofs and board broken windows to prevent more water and wind damage, but hold off on permanent repairs until an adjuster inspects. Keep every receipt for emergency work, hotels, and meals. Report the claim promptly — late notice is a leading reason claims are denied. This is general information, not legal advice; consult your state Department of Insurance for specifics.
An hour-by-hour plan for the first 48 hours
| Time window | Priority | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| First hour | Safety | Clear people and pets from hazards; leave if the home is unsafe |
| Hours 1–6 | Stop the damage | Tarp roofs, board windows, shut off water; take before-photos |
| Hours 6–24 | Document | Photograph and video every damaged area and item |
| Hours 6–24 | Review policy | Check coverage, exclusions, and your deductible |
| Hours 24–48 | Report | Notify your insurer; get the claim number and adjuster contact |
| Hours 24–48 | Track expenses | Save receipts for repairs, lodging, and meals |
Hour 1: Safety comes before the claim
No insurance payout is worth a serious injury. Before you assess anything:
- Stay away from downed power lines and standing water that may be electrified.
- Watch for gas leaks — if you smell gas, leave and call the utility.
- Avoid unstable structures, including sagging ceilings and compromised roofs.
- If the home is unsafe, leave and find shelter. Loss-of-use coverage may reimburse a hotel and meals, so keep those receipts from the start.
Hours 1–6: Stop the damage from getting worse
Most homeowners policies require you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. After a storm, that usually means:
- Tarping exposed roof areas to keep rain out.
- Boarding up broken windows and doors.
- Shutting off water to burst pipes and moving valuables away from leaks.
Make only temporary, emergency repairs. Do not fix the roof permanently or replace drywall yet — the adjuster needs to see the original damage. Keep receipts for tarps, plywood, and any emergency contractor, because those costs are usually reimbursable.
Hours 6–24: Document everything before you clean up
Documentation is the backbone of a storm claim. Before you move debris or discard anything:
- Photograph and video every damaged room, the exterior, the roof (from the ground if the roof is unsafe), and each damaged item from multiple angles.
- Capture context — date-stamped photos, wide shots showing the whole scene, and close-ups of serials or model numbers on damaged appliances.
- Write a loss narrative: what happened, when, and what was affected.
For a complete method, including building a room-by-room inventory, see how to document home damage for an insurance claim.
Hours 6–24: Check what your policy actually covers
Storm losses are where coverage gaps surprise people most. Before you file:
- Wind and hail are typically covered by standard homeowners policies.
- Flood is excluded from standard policies and requires separate flood insurance — a critical distinction after hurricanes and heavy rain, where damage can be both wind-driven and flood-driven.
- Check your deductible. Many policies carry a separate, higher wind/hurricane deductible that is a percentage of your home’s insured value, not a flat dollar amount.
Confirm whether you are covered at actual cash value or replacement cost, since that decides how much you are paid; see actual cash value vs. replacement cost.
Hours 24–48: Report the loss to your insurer
Report the claim as soon as you reasonably can. Late notice is one of the most common reasons claims get denied (Texas Department of Insurance). When you call:
- Provide your policy number and a factual account of the loss.
- Record the date, the representative’s name, the claim number, and the assigned adjuster’s contact.
- Ask what documentation they need and confirm the next steps in writing.
Your policy and state law both set a deadline to report a storm loss, and some states have changed these windows recently. .
Track every expense from day one
Storms generate a lot of small, reimbursable costs that are easy to lose track of. Keep a running folder — physical or on your phone — for:
- Emergency repair materials and labor (tarps, board-up, water extraction).
- Additional living expenses if you had to leave: hotel, meals, laundry.
- Any professional inspections or estimates you commission.
After the first 48 hours: what comes next
Once the immediate crisis is handled, the claim moves into inspection and settlement. The insurer assigns an adjuster who inspects the damage and estimates the loss. Walk the property with them and point out everything, including damage they might miss. When the offer arrives, compare it against your own documentation before accepting.
For large or complex storm losses, you can hire a licensed public adjuster who works for you rather than the insurer. And if the insurer denies the claim or offers far less than your documented loss, you can appeal — see what to do when a home insurance claim is denied.
Storm damage checklist
- Everyone safe; hazards avoided
- Temporary repairs made; original damage still photographed
- Full photo and video documentation before cleanup
- Policy, exclusions, and deductible reviewed
- Loss reported; claim number and adjuster contact saved
- Receipts kept for repairs, lodging, and meals
- Filing deadline confirmed against policy and state DOI
Handle the first 48 hours well and the rest of the claim gets much easier. When you are ready to file formally, walk through how to file a homeowners insurance claim step by step.