A storm rolls through West Michigan, and the next morning you are standing in the yard looking up at the roof wondering what just happened to it. What you do in the next two days has a real effect on how the repair goes and on how much your insurance pays.
None of it is complicated. Most of it is about staying safe, getting a clear record of the damage, and not letting a small problem become a big one. Here is the order to do it in.
Hours 0–2: Stay Safe and Look, Don't Climb
The first job is making sure nobody gets hurt. Storm damage tempts homeowners onto ladders and roofs, and that is where most post-storm injuries come from.
- ◆Check for downed power lines and gas smells first. If a line is down or you smell gas, leave and call the utility and 911. Nothing else matters until that is clear.
- ◆Look from the ground, not the roof. Walk the perimeter. Note missing or curled shingles, dented gutters and downspouts, bent flashing, and shingle granules washed into the driveway or collected at the bottom of the downspouts. A pile of granules is a strong hail-damage tell.
- ◆Check the attic with a flashlight. Look for daylight through the decking, wet insulation, or fresh water stains on the underside of the roof. Catching an active leak from inside is safer than going up top.
Hours 0–4: Stop the Water
If water is actively coming in, your policy expects you to slow it down. Almost every Michigan homeowner policy includes a duty to prevent further damage after a loss. Doing nothing while a ceiling soaks for a week can give the insurer a reason to reduce what they pay.
- ◆Move furniture and valuables out from under the leak, and put a bucket and a tarp on the floor to protect what is below.
- ◆If a window or vent is broken, board or cover it so rain stops getting in.
- ◆Leave roof tarping to a contractor. A temporary roof tarp is the one piece of this that belongs to someone with fall protection — call a local roofer for an emergency tarp rather than going up yourself.
- ◆Keep every receipt. Tarps, plywood, an emergency tarp service — those costs are usually reimbursable under the same claim, but only if you can show what you spent.
Hours 2–24: Document Everything
This is the step that protects your claim. Insurance adjusters work from evidence, and the homeowner who has dated photos and notes from the day after the storm is in a far stronger position than the one working from memory weeks later.
- ◆Photograph everything you can see from the ground and inside — damaged shingles, dented gutters, the granule pile, interior stains, soaked insulation. More photos are always better.
- ◆Write down the date and rough time of the storm. Your phone's photo timestamps and local weather reports back up the date of loss your claim will reference.
- ◆Do not throw anything away yet. Hang on to a damaged shingle, the broken section of gutter, anything that came off the house. It is evidence.
Get a Free Inspection Before You Call the Insurer
Most of the damage that matters on an asphalt roof is invisible from the ground. A professional inspection turns “I think there might be damage” into a documented report with photos and measurements — the kind of evidence that gets a claim approved for what it is actually worth.
We get on the roof, document every point of damage, and give you a written report. If there is no storm damage, you keep the report as proof your roof is sound. Either way, the inspection is free.
Hours 24–48: File the Claim, the Right Way
Once the damage is documented, contact your insurance company to open the claim. Have your policy number, the date of loss, and your photos ready. Ask when the adjuster will come out — and make sure your contractor is there to meet them on the roof.
That last part is the single biggest difference between a claim paid in full and a claim paid short. When a contractor who knows hail and wind patterns walks the roof with the adjuster, nothing gets quietly left off the estimate. We cover exactly how that process works in our guide to Michigan storm damage insurance claims.
What Not to Do in the First 48 Hours
- ◆Don't climb on the roof yourself. It is the most common way homeowners get hurt after a storm.
- ◆Don't sign a contract or hand over a deposit to a door-knocker before your roof has actually been inspected.
- ◆Don't throw away damaged materials — they are evidence for the claim.
- ◆Don't accept an offer to waive or “eat” your deductible. In Michigan that is insurance fraud, and it is a sign the contractor cuts corners everywhere else too.
- ◆Don't wait months to act. Damage spreads, and the claim window is shorter than most people think.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I climb on my roof to check for storm damage?
No. A roof that just took hail or high wind can have loose shingles, hidden soft spots, and slick surfaces that send homeowners to the emergency room every storm season. Check what you can from the ground and from inside the attic with a flashlight. Leave the roof itself to a contractor who has fall protection and does it every day. A free inspection is not worth a fall.
Does my insurance require me to stop further damage after a storm?
Yes. Almost every Michigan homeowner policy includes a duty to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage after a loss — usually called 'duties after loss' or 'your duties.' That means tarping an active leak or covering a broken window so water does not keep coming in. Keep every receipt for materials and emergency work; those costs are typically reimbursable under the same claim.
How soon do I need to file a storm damage claim in Michigan?
File once you have the damage documented — sooner is always better. Most Michigan homeowner policies give you one year from the date of loss to file, and some are shorter. Waiting also lets small damage turn into interior leaks, mold, and rot that complicate the claim. If you are unsure how much time you have, read our guide on the Michigan roof insurance claim deadline.
A contractor knocked on my door the day after the storm. Should I sign?
Be careful. After every major West Michigan storm, out-of-state crews canvass neighborhoods, quote a full replacement from the driveway, and ask for a signature or a deposit before anyone has walked the roof. Some are legitimate; many are gone by the next season. Never sign a contract or hand over an insurance check before a licensed, local contractor has actually inspected your roof. A real company will give you time to think.
What if I am not sure my roof is actually damaged?
Hail and wind damage on asphalt shingles is usually invisible from the ground — bruised mats, fractured shingles, and lifted seals do not announce themselves until water finds its way in months later. A free professional inspection settles it either way. If there is damage, you have what you need to file. If there is not, you have a written record that your roof is sound.
Just Went Through a Storm? Start Here.
If a storm hit your West Michigan home in the last day or two, get the roof looked at before the damage spreads and before you call the insurer. We document what insurance needs to see, help you file, and meet the adjuster on your roof. No obligation.
Call or text us at (616) 667-9079, or request an inspection through the form on our storm damage page or the general contact page.
Serving Grand Rapids, Jenison, Holland, Hudsonville, Muskegon, Kalamazoo, Wyoming, Grandville, Zeeland, and all of West Michigan.