After a storm, what you photograph, what you sign and how fast you stop water all affect your repair and your insurance claim. The table shows the order we recommend, with the two Florida claim deadlines.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Right after the storm | Stay safe, check for hazards, photograph damage |
| Same day | Stop active leaks, tarp if needed, save receipts |
| Within days | Get a roof inspection and report the claim |
| Within 1 year of the date of loss | Deadline to give notice of a new claim |
| Within 18 months of the date of loss | Deadline for a supplemental claim |
What should I do first after a storm?
- Stay off the roof. Wet shingles and tile are slick, and storm damage can hide weak decking.
- Watch for downed power lines and stay clear of them.
- Check inside. Look at ceilings, especially under the attic hatch and in rooms with recessed lights. A bulging ceiling can hold water. Keep people out from under it.
- Turn off power to wet areas if water is near light fixtures or outlets and it is safe to reach your breaker panel.
How should I document the damage?
Take photos and video before anyone cleans up or makes repairs. The state's Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights asks for a visual record of the damage as you found it and again once it is fixed.
- Every side of the house, showing the roof from the ground
- Shingles, tiles or flashing in the yard
- Fallen trees or limbs on the roof
- Ceiling stains, wet insulation and damaged belongings inside
- Your gutters and any dents on metal surfaces
Keep damaged materials if you can. Write down the date and time you noticed each problem.
How do I stop a leak before the roof is repaired?
That same law expects you to keep a small problem from growing, and to keep proof that you did. After wind damage, the usual answer is a tarp.
The tarp should run past the damaged area on every side and be fastened with battens so the next gust cannot peel it back. We usually charge $300 to $1,200 for one. Hand the invoice to your adjuster with your photos.
Inside, put buckets under drips, move furniture and run fans or a dehumidifier to start drying. For a full leak plan, see roof leak, what to do.
When should I file an insurance claim?
File early. Section 627.70132, Florida Statutes sets two clocks that start on the date of loss:
- One year to report a new claim or reopen a closed one.
- Eighteen months to report a supplemental claim, meaning more damage from the same storm.
For a hurricane, the clock starts on the landfall date. For a tornado, windstorm or severe rain, the start date is whenever NOAA confirms the event happened.
Once you report, the insurer has 7 days to acknowledge it and, with some exceptions, 60 days to pay, pay the amount it does not dispute, or say no. Ask for the adjuster's line-item estimate; you are entitled to it within 7 days of it being written.
Talk to the insurer before you sign a permanent repair contract, so the scope fits what the policy pays for. For how roof claims pay out, read does homeowners insurance cover roof replacement in Florida.
How do I avoid storm chasers?
Big storms such as Ian in 2022 and Milton in 2024 bring door-knocking crews from out of the area into Orlando neighborhoods. Four Florida rules help you sort them out.
- No deductible waivers or gifts. Free inspections paired with a promise to cover your deductible, gift cards or cash for filing are all off limits (section 489.147, Florida Statutes).
- No policy advice. Only a licensed public adjuster or an attorney may negotiate the claim for you; a roofer reading your coverage to you is a red flag.
- No assignment of benefits. If your policy was issued in 2023 or later, a form that signs your claim payment over to the contractor is void (section 627.7152, Florida Statutes).
- Itemized estimate. You should see a written, line-by-line estimate before any repair agreement tied to a claim is signed.
Always check the license. Our guide to choosing a roofer in Orlando shows how.
Does the 25% rule apply to my storm damage?
Only on older roofs. A roof put on before the 2007 code took effect can be forced into a full replacement when a storm repair goes past a quarter of a roof section within a year. See our 25% roof rule guide.
Who should inspect the roof?
Hire a licensed local roofer who will give you a written photo report. Assure-U has served Central Florida since 2004 with in-house crews, and our license is CCC1326792. Coverage questions go to your agent or a public adjuster. Our part is the roof: a dated photo report of every damaged slope that your adjuster can check line by line.
Water coming in tonight? Phone (407) 970-9746 for an emergency tarp. If the roof is holding, schedule a free roof inspection and read how our storm damage repair works with claims.
Sources
- Florida Statutes s. 627.7142, Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights
- Florida Statutes s. 627.70132, notice of property insurance claims
- Florida Statutes s. 627.7152(13), assignment of benefits for policies issued on or after January 1, 2023
- Florida Statutes s. 489.147, prohibited property insurance practices by contractors
