How to Document Storm Damage for Your Insurance Claim
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After a storm, preserve a clear record of visible damage while keeping safety first. Documentation can describe what you observed, but it does not establish coverage or settlement. Those decisions belong to the policy and insurer.
Right after the storm, grab your phone
As soon as it is safe to go outside, take photos or video from the ground. Photograph the overall property and close views of visible damage. The Kansas Department of Insurance recommends documenting the damage, but homeowners should not climb onto a wet or damaged roof.
Questions to ask about a storm claim
- 1ReportNotify your insurer promptly under the policy
- 2InspectionThe insurer decides what claim inspection it needs
- 3ExplanationAsk how roof value and depreciation apply. Ask how the deductible applies
- 4ConstructionAuthorize roof work through a separate written contract
- 5PaymentThe insurer explains any payment schedule or required documents
Your policy and insurer determine how the deductible applies. The written contract and final invoice should show the project cost truthfully.
Write down the details while they're fresh
Jot down the date and approximate time of the storm, what direction the wind was coming from (if you noticed), whether it was hail or wind or both, and roughly how long it lasted. Keep any weather alerts you got on your phone. This sounds like overkill, but when the adjuster asks you about the storm three weeks later, you'll be glad you wrote it down.
- Photograph all visible damage from the ground: gutters, siding, yard debris, vehicles
- Take both wide shots and close-ups of each damaged area
- Note the date, time, and weather conditions
- Save any weather alerts or storm notifications from your phone
- Don't throw away any damaged materials: the adjuster may want to see them
Report the damage to your insurer as soon as possible according to your policy. Ask the insurer which records it wants you to retain.
Get a professional inspection before the adjuster comes
MCO can inspect accessible roof areas and photograph visible conditions. We can also take measurements and prepare a written estimate. If the homeowner and insurer permit it, we can attend the adjuster inspection and answer questions about our construction scope. The adjuster and insurer perform their own assessment.
The Kansas Department of Insurance recommends reasonable temporary protection and advises against permanent repairs before the insurer inspects the damage. Save receipts and ask the insurer if you are unsure what work may proceed. For roof photos and a written estimate, call MCO at (913) 954-4501.
Sources
Primary references used for the specific claims identified in this guide.
- Filing a Home Insurance Claim
Kansas Department of Insurance
Explains prompt loss reporting, damage photographs, temporary protection, policy review and the separate roles of the insurer and a contractor's estimate.
Want a straight answer about your own roof?
Free inspection, written report, no sales pitch. We cover Johnson, Douglas, Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties.
