What to Do Right After Storm Damage

Put safety first, then notify your insurer, document the damage and take reasonable steps to prevent further harm when you can do so safely. You can start the claims conversation while displaced. These actions help preserve evidence and organize recovery, but they do not establish that a loss is covered. Your policy, the cause of damage and the applicable claims rules still matter.

1. Check safety before checking the house

Follow evacuation orders and local instructions about returning. For a medical emergency or immediate threat to life, call 911. Stay clear of downed power lines, floodwater and unstable structures. Do not enter a damaged building if you smell gas, floodwater remains around it or you doubt its structural safety. Ready.gov's disaster recovery guidance recommends a qualified inspection when safety is uncertain.

Do not climb onto a damaged roof to inspect it or install a tarp. Let qualified professionals handle hazardous work. Keep children away from cleanup, and do not touch wet electrical equipment or stand in water to operate it. Ready.gov's flood safety guidance addresses electrical hazards, contaminated water and cleanup precautions.

For safe cleanup, wear heavy work gloves, protective clothing and boots, with appropriate face protection for mold or debris. People with asthma, other lung conditions or immune suppression should not enter buildings with indoor water leaks or mold that can be seen or smelled, as that guidance explains.

Ready.gov's generator guidance calls for outdoor use at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages, following the manufacturer's instructions. Do not delay emergency shelter or medical care to collect claim evidence.

2. Make a record before cleanup changes the scene

When it is safe, take wide photos showing each affected area and close-ups of specific damage. Include waterlines, damaged roof areas visible from the ground, ceilings, walls and belongings. Save the original files and a backup outside the damaged property. You can report the loss before completing this record.

Build a simple inventory:

• Item or part of the building damaged, and its location.
• Description, quantity and approximate age.
• Make, model and serial number when available.
• Purchase receipts or other supporting records you can find.

Record when you discovered the damage and what you observed. Distinguish what you know from what you suspect about wind, runoff or a leak. FEMA's NFIP claims checklist recommends photographs from multiple angles, waterline documentation and an itemized contents list.

If records were destroyed, old room photos or family photos can help reconstruct an inventory. The NAIC's homeowners claims guidance explains that approach.

3. Notify the insurer and confirm your obligations

Use the claims number or website listed on your policy or the insurer's official site. Report the loss promptly, giving your policy number if available, property address, contact details and a factual description. For NFIP claims, FEMA explicitly says you can report before returning home.

Ask for the claim number, assigned contact and written instructions. Keep a log of calls, messages, names and promised next steps. Give the insurer a reliable mailing address and phone number if you are displaced.

Review your policy's “duties after loss” and ask:

• What notice, inventory, proof-of-loss forms or other documents are required?
• What deadlines apply to my policy and this event?
• Which emergency expenses should I discuss now, and what evidence should I preserve?
• Does additional living expense coverage apply, and what limits and conditions govern it?

There is no single national filing deadline for every storm claim. The NAIC notes that reporting time varies by state. Confirm formal deadlines and any authorized extensions rather than assuming an adjuster's visit completes every requirement.

For an NFIP claim under the Standard Flood Insurance Policy's Dwelling Form, give prompt written notice and generally send the insurer a signed, sworn proof of loss within 60 days after the loss. This is separate from reporting the claim. Ask whether FEMA has authorized an extension or waiver for your event; an adjuster's help or visit does not by itself satisfy or extend the requirement.

If you have separate home, wind or flood policies, contact the relevant providers. Flood insurance and homeowners coverage address different causes; use our flood coverage guide to understand the distinction. Tell each insurer about related claims.

4. Limit further damage safely and save receipts

Take reasonable protective steps consistent with your policy and conditions at the property. That might mean arranging professional temporary roof protection, covering a broken window safely or moving undamaged belongings to a secure dry area. If work would expose you to electrical, structural or contaminated-water hazards, use qualified help.

Discuss urgent work with your insurer as soon as practical. Distinguish temporary protection from major permanent repairs, and ask about inspection before authorizing the latter. The Texas Department of Insurance's recovery guidance recommends temporary repairs, documentation and keeping receipts.

Save invoices and receipts for materials, cleanup, emergency services, lodging and other displacement expenses. Note what each expense was for. Keeping a receipt does not guarantee reimbursement; coverage and limits control payment. NFIP flood insurance, for example, does not cover additional living expenses.

Ask before discarding damaged property, but do not retain a health hazard just to await inspection. For NFIP claims, FEMA's checklist allows disposal when items present a health hazard or local law requires it. Photograph and list those items first when safe, and retain samples only if doing so is safe.

5. Prepare for the adjuster and review the estimate

Verify the visitor's identity through your insurer. For an NFIP flood adjuster, ask to see the Flood Control Number card and government-issued photo ID, as FEMA instructs.

Have your inventory, photos, receipts and questions ready. Point out all observed damage, including areas needing further inspection. Review the estimate for missing items and inaccurate quantities. Ask how deductibles, depreciation and any later payments are being handled. Report newly discovered damage promptly and keep copies of everything you submit.

6. Slow down before signing a repair contract

Seek multiple written bids when circumstances allow. Check the contractor's business identity, references and insurance, and confirm any required licenses or permits with the appropriate local authority.

Avoid blank contracts, pressure to sign immediately, large upfront payments and promises to absorb your deductible. Read what an “inspection” or “estimate” authorizes before signing. The Texas Department of Insurance's scam guidance warns about documents that give a contractor all your insurance proceeds. State contract and deductible rules differ, so check local requirements.

Use your insurer's claims channel for the loss. If you need help locating policy information or understanding your coverage questions, contact NavaQuote through its home insurance page. Once urgent recovery is underway, the home and auto comparison guide can help you review protection before your next renewal.