What to Do After Storm Damage to Your Roof in Florida
Safety first, document everything, call insurance, then find a licensed roofer
Last updated: March 2026
A storm just hit your area and you think your roof is damaged. Here’s what to do, in order: stay off the roof, document damage from the ground, call your insurance company within 72 hours, and then — and only then — find a licensed roofer for a professional inspection. Do not sign anything from anyone who knocks on your door. Do not let anyone start work without a written estimate. This is exactly how you protect your home, your claim, and your wallet in the critical hours and days after a Florida storm.
Step 1: Safety First — Stay Off the Roof
This is not negotiable. After a hurricane or severe storm, your roof may have structural damage you can’t see from above. Wet shingles are slick. Decking may be compromised. Power lines may be down near your roofline. Every year, Florida homeowners are killed or seriously injured falling from roofs after storms.
Do NOT Do These Things
- × Don’t climb on the roof. Period. Not even “just to look.”
- × Don’t walk near downed power lines or any wires touching your roof.
- × Don’t enter rooms with sagging ceilings. Water-logged drywall can collapse without warning.
- × Don’t ignore interior signs. Water stains, dripping, or musty smells mean your roof is compromised.
Safe Ways to Assess Damage
- ✓ Walk around the perimeter of your home and look up — binoculars help
- ✓ Check your attic from inside: look for daylight through the deck, wet insulation, water stains
- ✓ Use a drone if you have one to get aerial views
- ✓ Look for debris in the yard — shingles, flashing, vent caps on the ground mean roof damage above
- ✓ Check gutters and downspouts for excessive granule buildup (sign of shingle damage)
Step 2: Document Everything Before You Touch Anything
Your insurance claim lives or dies on documentation. Before you clean up a single piece of debris, before you move a fallen branch, before you do anything — get your phone out and document.
Documentation Checklist
- ✓ Photos of all exterior damage — roof (from ground), siding, gutters, soffits, fencing, trees
- ✓ Photos of all interior damage — ceiling stains, drips, wet carpet, damaged belongings
- ✓ Video walkthrough of your entire property, narrating what you see
- ✓ Wide shots and close-ups of each damaged area
- ✓ Date-stamped images — make sure your phone’s date/time is accurate
- ✓ Debris on the ground — shingles, flashing, vent caps with your home visible in the background
Save Weather Records
Screenshot or print local weather reports, NWS alerts, and news coverage of the storm for your area. These establish that a weather event occurred on a specific date — which your insurer will verify independently. Having your own copies protects you if there’s any dispute about when and how the damage happened.
Step 3: Emergency Repairs to Prevent Further Damage
Florida law (and your insurance policy) requires you to take “reasonable steps” to prevent further damage to your property. This is called your duty to mitigate. If rain is coming in through a hole in your roof and you do nothing, your insurer can deny coverage for the additional water damage.
Acceptable Emergency Repairs
- ✓ Tarping the damaged area to prevent water intrusion
- ✓ Boarding up broken skylights or windows
- ✓ Removing standing water to prevent mold growth
- ✓ Moving belongings away from active leak areas
- ✓ Running fans or dehumidifiers if water has entered the home
Do NOT Make Permanent Repairs Yet
- × Don’t replace shingles or sections of roofing before the adjuster inspects
- × Don’t throw away damaged materials — the adjuster needs to see them
- × Don’t paint over water stains on ceilings or walls
- × Don’t sign any contract for permanent repairs until you have a claim number
Keep Every Receipt
Emergency repairs are reimbursable under your insurance policy. Tarps, plywood, contractor fees for emergency tarping, dehumidifier rentals — save every receipt. Take a photo of each receipt as backup. These costs will be included in your claim.
Step 4: Call Your Insurance Company (Within 72 Hours)
Notify your insurer as soon as possible — ideally within 72 hours of the storm. While Florida doesn’t specify an exact reporting deadline for most claims, faster reporting means faster processing and fewer disputes about whether damage was storm-related.
| When You Call, Get: | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Claim number | Reference for all future communication |
| Adjuster’s name and contact | Your direct point of contact — don’t rely on the call center |
| Inspection timeline | Florida requires insurers to inspect within 45 days (60 days after a hurricane) |
| Written confirmation | Ask for email confirmation of everything discussed on the phone |
Follow Up in Writing
After the phone call, send a follow-up email to your insurer summarizing what was discussed: date, time, who you spoke with, claim number, and what was agreed upon. This creates a paper trail. If your insurer later claims you didn’t report on time or misrepresented the damage, your email is evidence.
Step 5: Find a Licensed Roofer (Not a Door-Knocker)
After a major storm, contractors flood into Florida from every direction. Some are legitimate. Many are not. The difference between hiring the right roofer and the wrong one can mean $10,000+ in unnecessary costs, shoddy work, or an invalid warranty.
How to Choose the Right Contractor
- ✓ Verify their Florida roofing license (CCC or RCC) at MyFloridaLicense.com
- ✓ Confirm they have a local physical address — not just a P.O. box or out-of-state HQ
- ✓ Ask for proof of insurance (general liability + workers’ comp)
- ✓ Get at least 3 written estimates before committing to anyone
- ✓ Check reviews on Google, BBB, and Angi — established track record matters
- ✓ Never pay more than 10% upfront or the cost of materials, whichever is less
Red Flags After a Storm
- × Door-to-door solicitation — legitimate roofers don’t need to chase storms
- × Asking you to sign an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) — this transfers your insurance rights to the contractor
- × “No out-of-pocket cost” promises — you always owe your deductible; waiving it is insurance fraud
- × Pressure to sign immediately — “This price is only good today” is a scam tactic
- × Out-of-state license plates with no verifiable Florida license
- × Demanding large upfront payments before any work begins
Temporary Repair vs. Permanent Repair: Know the Difference
This distinction matters for your insurance claim. Temporary repairs prevent further damage. Permanent repairs fix the actual problem. Your insurer expects you to do the first immediately but wait on the second until the adjuster has inspected.
| Temporary Repair | Permanent Repair |
|---|---|
| Tarping a hole | Replacing damaged decking and shingles |
| Boarding up a broken skylight | Installing a new skylight |
| Running dehumidifiers | Replacing water-damaged drywall and insulation |
| Placing buckets under leaks | Repairing or replacing the roof section |
When Can You Start Permanent Repairs?
After the insurance adjuster has completed their inspection and you have written authorization to proceed — or after 60 days if the insurer hasn’t inspected despite your reporting the claim. Document everything and keep your adjuster in the loop before starting any permanent work.
What Insurance Covers After a Storm (and What It Doesn’t)
Typically Covered
- ✓ Wind damage to roof structure and materials
- ✓ Hail damage
- ✓ Wind-driven rain damage (rain entering through storm-created openings)
- ✓ Fallen tree damage to the roof
- ✓ Emergency tarping and temporary repairs
- ✓ Interior water damage caused by roof breach
- ✓ Code upgrade costs (if your policy includes Law and Ordinance coverage)
Typically NOT Covered
- × Flood damage (requires separate NFIP or private flood policy)
- × Pre-existing damage or normal wear and tear
- × Cosmetic damage that doesn’t affect roof function
- × Damage from poor maintenance (clogged gutters, rotted fascia)
- × Mold that developed due to failure to mitigate
Post-Storm Scams to Watch For
Florida sees a surge in roofing fraud after every major storm. Scammers know that stressed, displaced homeowners make easier targets. These are the schemes you’re most likely to encounter:
The Most Common Post-Storm Scams
- • The AOB trap: Contractor has you sign an Assignment of Benefits, takes control of your claim, inflates the bill, then sues your insurer — while you lose all control over the process.
- • The “free roof” pitch: “We’ll cover your deductible.” This is insurance fraud for both parties. Florida Statute 817.234 makes it a felony.
- • Overpriced emergency tarping: Charging $3,000–$5,000 for a basic tarp job that should cost $200–$500. Always get a written estimate before any work starts.
- • The vanishing contractor: Takes a large deposit, does minimal work (or none), then disappears. Always verify licenses and never pay more than 10% upfront.
- • Manufactured damage: Roofer creates additional damage during a “free inspection” to inflate the claim. Never let an unvetted contractor on your roof unsupervised.
The Bottom Line
The hours after a storm are chaotic, stressful, and filled with people trying to get your signature on something. Slow down. Document first, call your insurer second, and vet any contractor thoroughly before they touch your roof. The homeowners who follow this process recover faster and get better claim payouts than those who panic and sign the first contract shoved in front of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon should I report roof damage to my insurance company?
Should I get on my roof after a hurricane to check for damage?
Can I make temporary repairs before the adjuster arrives?
What if a roofer knocks on my door after a storm offering a free inspection?
What does homeowners insurance cover after a hurricane in Florida?
Need a Licensed Roofer After a Storm?
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