When a storm hits, the insurance clock starts whether you're ready or not. Here's exactly what to do, in order.
BEFORE the storm — do this today (20 minutes)
Photograph your roof and home now. Every slope, gutters, siding, windows, outbuildings. Date-stamped "before" photos are the single most valuable thing in a disputed claim.
Find your policy and read three numbers: your deductible (wind/hail may be separate and higher), your coverage type — RCV (replacement cost) vs. ACV (pays depreciated value only), and your filing time limits.
Save your insurer's claim line and policy number in your phone.
WITHIN 48 HOURS after the storm
Photograph everything before anyone touches it. Shingles in the yard, hail dents on gutters and AC fins, ceiling water spots. Wide shots AND close-ups, with a coin for scale.
Stop further damage — keep every receipt. Tarp the hole, move furniture, dry what's wet. Your policy requires reasonable mitigation and reimburses it.
Do NOT sign anything on your doorstep. Storm-chaser crews canvas hard-hit neighborhoods. An "inspection authorization" can be an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) that hands your claim to a stranger. Sleep on every signature.
Get a local roofer you trust to inspect and document — photos, measurements, a written summary. Local means they're here next year when the warranty matters.
FILING the claim
Call your insurer, get a claim number, and write down every person you speak with and the date. One folder for the whole claim.
Schedule the adjuster inspection — and have your contractor there. A roofer on the roof with the adjuster catches damage the drive-by misses. This one step changes more outcomes than anything else here.
Don't accept a verbal "it's not covered." Ask for the decision and the policy language in writing.
AFTER the adjuster's report
Read the scope line by line against your contractor's estimate. The insurer's first scope is a draft, not a verdict. Missing items (drip edge, ventilation, steep charges, haul-off) are normal and correctable.
Supplements are normal business, not a fight. When tear-off reveals more damage, your contractor documents and submits it. Insurers expect this.
If you have RCV coverage, claim your depreciation. The first check holds back "recoverable depreciation" — you collect it AFTER the work is done and invoiced. Don't leave it on the table.
Never pay your roofer more than the insurance released plus your deductible — and yes, you must pay your deductible. Anyone offering to "eat" it is asking you to sign a fraudulent claim.
If the claim stalls or is denied unfairly: get it in writing, then contact the Kentucky Department of Insurance consumer line (kentucky.gov/doi). A complaint is free and gets attention.
This guide is general information, not legal or insurance advice — your policy controls.