How to Document Storm Damage for Your Insurance Claim

After a tornado or hail event, the quality of your documentation can significantly affect your insurance claim outcome. This guide covers the practical steps to document property damage correctly — before you clean up, before the contractor arrives, and before you contact your insurer.

Important: FindTheTornado.com is an educational resource. We are not an insurance company, adjuster, or contractor. This guide is for informational purposes. Always follow your specific insurance policy’s requirements.

Before You Start: Safety First

Do not inspect your property until severe weather has completely passed and NWS has cancelled all active warnings for your area. Check our live alerts feed or the NWS website to confirm.

Look for:

Downed power lines — stay far away. Call your utility company.
Gas leaks — if you smell gas, leave and call your gas utility.
Structural instability — if a wall, roof, or foundation appears compromised, do not enter the building.

Step 1: Photograph Everything — Before Cleanup

Your smartphone is your most important tool. Photograph:

Exterior:

All four sides of the roof from the ground at multiple angles.
Gutters, downspouts, fascia, and soffit.
All siding faces, especially wind-facing sides.
All windows, screens, and skylights.
Garage doors.
HVAC condenser unit.
Fence, decking, and outdoor structures.
Hailstones on the ground (with a measuring tape or common object like a coin for scale).

Interior:

Any water intrusion stains on ceilings or walls.
Damaged personal property (electronics, furniture, artwork).
Any structural cracks or shifts.

Vehicles:

All exterior panels (hood, roof, trunk, doors).
All glass (windshield, rear, side windows).
Side mirrors and trim.

Tip: Film a video walkthrough of the entire property, narrating what you see. Video timestamps and geolocation data from your phone can help establish when and where documentation was made.

Step 2: Save Hailstones

If you have access to large hailstones from the event, place them in a sealed plastic bag and put them in your freezer. Some licensed inspectors and insurance adjusters will want to measure them to confirm the hail size at your specific location, rather than relying solely on SPC data (which represents a single observation point that may be miles from your property).

Step 3: Create a Storm Event Record

Document:

Date and approximate time of the storm.
Location of SPC or NWS reports for your area (you can find these on our Live Reports page or directly from SPC).
Any NWS warnings that were active for your county.
Names of neighbors or witnesses who can corroborate the event.

Step 4: Contact Your Insurance Company Before Repairs

Notify your insurance company as soon as practical. Most policies require “prompt notice” of a loss. Do not begin permanent repairs before your insurer has been notified and has had an opportunity to inspect.

You may make emergency temporary repairs (e.g., tarping a breached roof to prevent further water damage), but document these repairs photographically before making them.

Step 5: Understand Assignment of Benefits (AOB)

After a storm, contractors may approach you requesting that you sign an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) form. This transfers your claim rights to the contractor. Exercise caution:

Read any AOB carefully before signing.
Consult your insurance adjuster before signing.
In some states, AOB agreements have been associated with inflated repair costs and legal disputes.

Step 6: Get Multiple Estimates

Before accepting any repair bid, get at least two estimates from licensed contractors. Compare them to the adjuster’s estimate. If there is a significant discrepancy, you may request a re-inspection or hire a licensed public adjuster.

*FindTheTornado.com is an educational resource. We are not an insurance company, contractor, or adjuster. Always follow your insurance policy’s specific requirements.*