After storm damage, address immediate danger and report the loss using the insurance company’s claim contact on your policy. You do not need a complete document folder before reporting.
First: safety, reporting and temporary protection
-
Stay safe
Seek emergency help when needed. Avoid unsafe buildings, damaged roofs and areas you cannot inspect safely.
-
Report the damage
Tell the insurance company what happened and which areas remain uninspected. Keep the reporting reference and instructions.
-
Prevent further damage
Discuss temporary protection with the company. Save photos and receipts for work completed.
TDI’s storm recovery guidance recommends prompt reporting and temporary protection. If the loss is already reported and you need help with an estimate or unanswered question, use our claim follow-up organizer.
Make a short damage record
Record when the storm occurred and when you noticed damage. Describe what you saw without deciding its cause. A wet ceiling and a contractor’s opinion about the cause are separate records.
- Area or item affected and when you noticed it.
- Photos or video taken from a safe location.
- Temporary work completed, its date and receipt.
- Areas you could not inspect safely.
TDI advises retaining damaged items until the company gives instructions. If an item creates a safety problem, explain that to the company and record its response. For rural structures and machinery, our farm and ranch storm checklist adds location and equipment details.
Separate temporary work from permanent repairs
A temporary repair protects the property from further damage; a full repair may involve a larger scope. Ask the insurance company for instructions before proceeding with permanent work. TDI’s recovery guide advises waiting until the adjuster has seen the damage before making permanent repairs.
Keep completed work and proposed work clearly labeled. An emergency tarp receipt, a contractor’s full roof estimate and the insurer’s estimate answer different questions. Save dates, work descriptions and any instructions you receive.
If you cannot stay in the home
Tell the insurance company why you cannot stay and ask about additional living expenses. TDI explains that a policy may help with some expenses when covered damage makes the home unlivable.
Keep lodging and other expense receipts separate from repair invoices. Ask what expenses apply and what records are needed before assuming a purchase will be reimbursed.
Review repair offers before signing
Compare the work described, check references and contact details, and get more than one estimate. Do not pay the full amount before work begins or sign a contract with blank spaces. TDI’s contractor guidance also warns that offering to waive a homeowners deductible is illegal in Texas.
Keep each estimate’s author and date visible. Ask about work included in one estimate but missing from another. A contractor’s estimate is not an insurance company’s approval of the work.
When to contact our office
For office follow-up, identify whether the company has received your report, the reference and the question still open. Use the insurance company or adjuster for claim status, its document requests and claim decisions. Urgent conditions and after-hours reporting should go directly to the appropriate emergency service or insurance company.
A website request does not bind, change, cancel, reinstate, or confirm coverage.