5 Signs Your Property Suffered From Storm Damage (And What to Do About It)

This year is proving to be, as expected, a very active hurricane season. Unfortunately, hurricanes, bad storms, and high winds often lead to a great deal of storm damage.

Estimates from the recent Hurricane Laura ranged from $8 billion to $12 billion in property damage costs.

Has your home recently suffered property damage due to bad rain, storm damage, wind and debris flying around? Do you know what to check? It's important to examine your property as soon as possible and report your claim to your insurance company if you have damages.

Here's what you should look for when inspecting your property.

1. Roof Damage

Roof damage is one of the most common types of storm related damages.   Roof repairs should be made as soon as possible after your insurer has been able to inspect the damages. Sometimes during bad storms with heavy wind gusts your roof takes a beating.

You may notice loose, curling, missing, or cracked roof tiles. Dark spots on asphalt shingles can also be a sign of storm damage. Dents or soft spots on the shingles are signs of hail storm damage.  You should have a certified roofer inspect your property and not go onto your roof.

2. Debris in Your Yard

After a bad storm, you'll likely find pieces of debris in your yard and across your property. It's possible that these pieces of debris hit your house, car, or other areas of your property. If you notice debris, make sure to check around your property for signs of damage to your property.

Examine the exterior of your house and look for loose siding, chipped or damaged brick, damage to your fascia, and bent or broken gutters.

3. Damaged Windows and Doors

Windows also twist and move during a bad storm, particularly one with high winds. It is easy and noticeable if your windows have broken panes, shattered glass, chips or scratches, and cracks in the glass. If you see any signs of water intrusion or delaminating paint under a window you should examine the window frame itsetl for similar signs of movement and damages.

Sometimes, your door is protected from high winds, but it still pays to look around your door to check for any wind driven rain which could have caused water intrusion. 

4. Leaking Roof

Water damage is a  common result of damage after a hurricane or even a bad storm.

Signs that  your roof has sustained water damage include water spots or leaks you can see dripping down the wall, through a skylight or even in the middle of the ceiling. However, not all signs of water damage are immediately obvious. Hiring a professional to inspect your property and look for signs of a leaking roof is often your best bet.

If you've noticed roof damage, such as debris on the roof and missing shingles, your roof may have allowed ensuing water damage to your property.

5. Dents on Gutters, Flashing, and Vents

Checking your roof and gutters requires getting out a ladder and inspecting the roof, so this type of damage isn't always easy to spot. However, dents in your gutters, flashing, and vents often indicate hail damage. It's also possible flying debris caused the dents. Please hire a professional to accurately and safely inspect your potential damages and photograph same for you. 

Either way, you need to inspect and document these signs.

Reporting Storm Damage

Reporting property damage claims isn't easy, and for many homeowners, it's a daunting process, but it helps to report the storm damage as soon as possible.

It's important to understand the limitations and protections that homeowners policies including  hurricane insurance coverage provides. Policies of insurance are not easy to navigate and understand, not all claims result in a satisfactory experience and you would not want to file a claim that is not a valid loss. That's why it pays to have experienced attorneys working with you.

Contact us or schedule a consultation and let us help you through the process.