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To document hail or wind damage, first make sure everyone is safe, then photograph and list the damage before cleanup if it is safe to do so. Take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, save receipts and records, and notify your insurer promptly. Your policy and state rules—not a general checklist—determine coverage and deadlines.
1. Make sure it is safe to document the damage
Do not climb onto a damaged roof or enter an unstable room to get evidence. Stay away from downed wires and other hazards, and follow directions from local officials. If you cannot safely inspect an area, leave it to emergency responders or a qualified repair professional.
FEMA recommends keeping visual records of household contents after severe wind, but those records are not a substitute for local safety instructions. See FEMA’s severe-wind guidance.
2. Photograph and list the damage before cleanup
If conditions allow, take photos or video before moving debris or damaged belongings. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) advises: “Before removing any debris or belongings: Document all losses.” (NAIC, “Navigating the Claims Process: Recover & rebuild”.) Do not delay urgent safety measures to get pictures.
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Photograph the property
- Start with wide views of each affected side of the home and each damaged room, then take closer images of openings, broken components, impacts, and resulting interior damage.
- Include enough surroundings to show where each close-up was taken. Record the date, location, and a short description in your notes.
- Keep original image files rather than relying only on edited or annotated copies. If you add labels or markups, retain the unaltered originals too.
Photograph damaged belongings and keep them for inspection when practical and safe. Also make a written list of damage to the home, other structures, and personal property. NAIC recommends documenting losses with photos or video and listing damaged items (NAIC, “What You Need to Know When Filing a Homeowners Claim”).
Record damaged belongings
For each item, note its description, brand and model or serial number if available, approximate age, condition, and purchase information. Receipts, manuals, appraisals, and older photographs may help identify or support the record. If you do not have a pre-loss inventory, NAIC suggests building one from memory and reviewing personal or family photos. Ask the adjuster how much time you have to submit an inventory; the time available can depend on the claim process (NAIC claims guide).
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3. Take reasonable steps to prevent additional damage
After recording what you safely can, make reasonable temporary repairs to protect the property, subject to your policy and insurer’s instructions. For example, a roof opening may need temporary cover, and a broken window may need boarding. Plastic sheeting or plywood can be appropriate in some situations. Do not climb onto a damaged roof or treat a consumer product as a substitute for safe professional work.
Take before-and-after photos of temporary work, save itemized receipts for materials and services, and note what was done and when. NAIC describes covering a roof hole or boarding a broken window as examples of temporary protection (NAIC claims guide). California’s Department of Insurance (CDI) also advises protecting property and keeping receipts for materials; its guidance is specific to California (CDI Residential Property Claims Guide).
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Ask your insurer whether it wants to inspect before permanent repairs. CDI advises California policyholders to wait for the adjuster to assess the loss before extensive permanent repairs. That is California-specific guidance, not a universal rule; follow your own policy and insurer’s process, while taking reasonable steps to prevent further damage.
4. Notify the insurer and ask focused questions
Contact your insurer or agent promptly with your policy and contact information, a concise description of the storm and damage, and the affected property. NAIC says reporting timelines vary by state, so do not assume a universal deadline (NAIC, “What You Need to Know When Filing a Homeowners Claim”).
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When you report the loss, ask:
- What is the claim number, and who is handling the claim?
- What deadline applies to reporting the loss and submitting photos, inventories, estimates, or other records?
- Does the policy have a separate wind or hail deductible?
- What documentation or estimates does the insurer need, and how should you submit them?
- Does the adjuster need to inspect before permanent repairs begin?
- How should you document and submit the cost of temporary repairs?
A hail or wind event does not by itself establish what the policy covers. The policy, declarations, endorsements, exclusions, deductible, cause of damage, and applicable state rules matter. If the insurer says an item is excluded or coverage is limited, ask which exact policy provision it is applying. California DOI recommends asking for the cited provision and keeping a claim diary; treat that as California regulator guidance, not a uniform legal requirement (CDI storm-coverage consumer alert).
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.5. Keep one organized claim file
Save records together, in a folder or other system you can back up. Include:
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- Your policy and declarations page.
- The claim number and insurer contact details.
- Original, dated photos and videos, plus your written damage list.
- Contents inventory and supporting purchase records where available.
- Temporary repair receipts, estimates, forms, and correspondence.
- A dated log of calls, emails, inspections, and visits, including names, what was discussed, commitments made, and documents requested.
NAIC recommends retaining receipts and an inventory; California DOI specifically recommends maintaining a claim diary (NAIC claims guide; CDI consumer alert).
6. Review estimates and repair scopes
If you obtain a contractor’s estimate, compare it with the insurer’s estimate for the work included, quantities, materials, labor, and visible damage that may be missing from either scope. An estimate helps describe proposed work; it does not, by itself, guarantee that the insurer will pay for it.
Check licensing requirements and contractor credentials with the relevant authority in your state. California DOI advises getting at least one estimate and checking contractor licensing in California, but its licensing guidance and lookup process should not be assumed to apply elsewhere (CDI, “Top Ten Tips for People Affected by Winter Storms”).
Where to get help if there is a dispute
Read the policy and declarations, ask the insurer to explain its decision in writing and identify the policy language it relies on, and contact your state insurance department for consumer assistance. Deadlines and claim procedures vary, so use the rules and regulator that apply where the property is located.
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