Storms & hail
Roof storm damage: a calm checklist for after the storm
By Roof InspectorsUpdated 3 min read
The short answer
Storms are stressful. A checklist helps you focus on what matters — in the right order.
1. Stay safe first
- Stay away from downed power lines, and report them to your utility.
- Don’t climb onto your roof. Wet or damaged roofing is slippery and can give way.
- Watch for sagging ceilings, which can mean water is pooling above.
2. Check what you can from the ground
Walk around your home and look for:
- Missing, lifted, or creased shingles
- Dents on gutters, downspouts, vents, and your AC unit
- Granules collected at the bottom of downspouts
- Damaged siding, screens, or windows
- Fallen limbs on or near the roof
Here’s what hail damage looks like on a roof, and what you can safely check without a ladder. Hail marks on the walls and gutters count too: see what hail damage to siding and gutters looks like.
3. Protect your home from water
If water is coming in, place buckets, move valuables, and photograph everything. Keep receipts for emergency supplies or tarping — your policy may expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage.
Curious what storms were recorded near you?
See how many significant storms are on record near your address, free in about 30 seconds. Add your contact details to see each storm’s date and hail size.
- Doesn’t file an insurance claim
- One local partner, never a pile-on
4. Document everything
Take dated photos and videos of anything you notice, inside and out. Write down when the storm hit and when you first saw damage.
5. Check what was recorded near your address
City-wide headlines can’t tell you what happened at your house, and neither can our storm pages, such as the one for the August 18–19, 2026 storm or the Kansas City hail history. Look up the storms on record near your address.
A storm on record shows weather at or near your address. It doesn’t mean your roof was damaged, and it doesn’t mean your insurance company will accept that storm or date. That’s why an inspection is worth having: a roofing professional looks at the roof itself.
6. Get a professional inspection
If records show significant hail or wind near your address — hail 1 inch or larger, or gusts of 58 mph or more, the National Weather Service’s severe thresholds — or you see signs of damage, a professional roof inspection is a close look at the roof itself. Through Roof Inspectors, it’s free and done by an independent roofing partner that serves your area.
7. Make the insurance decision separately
Inspection findings and insurance are different steps. If damage is found, whether to contact your insurer is your decision. Here are questions worth asking your agent.
Both state insurance regulators answer consumer questions: the Kansas Insurance Department and the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, which also publishes a post-disaster claims guide.
If you file a claim, even after an inspection, your insurance company decides what’s covered and what it pays. Roof Inspectors and our roofing partners can’t make that decision or promise an outcome.
Sources
Sources (3) · NOAA SPC, Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, Kansas Insurance Department
How our free inspections work and who pays us
Common questions
How soon after a storm should I get my roof inspected?
Should I tarp my roof myself?
This guide is general information for homeowners, not professional, insurance, or legal advice. How we write and update guides.