Sustaining storm damage to your home can be seriously stressful. In addition to making any repairs needed to return your home to a livable state, you’ll also need to handle the steps of making a storm damage home insurance claim — something that can be easier said than done.

Learn more about what to do after storm damage from your Texas storm damage attorneys.

1. Put Safety First

Storms and the damage they cause can be seriously hazardous for homeowners. If your home has suffered damage in a severe storm, your safety and the safety of everyone else living in your home should be your first priority. 

Take any necessary steps to prevent injuries or unsafe emergency conditions immediately following the storm. Watch out for things like broken glass, exposed wires, and collapsed walls. If your home is too damaged, you’ll need to stay somewhere else until the damage can be repaired.

2. Assess and Document Damage

After you’re sure you’re not in immediate danger, you should document all evidence of damage on your property. This means photographing or videotaping shots of the damage. 

Types of damage your should record might include:

• Broken windows

• Structural damage

• Broken appliances

• Interior flooding

• Moisture damage

• Roof damage and lost shingles

• Fire damage

Keep in mind that the damage caused by a severe storm can vary. You’ll need to carefully survey your property to document all losses.

3. Contact Your Insurance Company

After you’ve recorded evidence of all of the damage sustained to your home, it’s time to contact your insurance company. Your insurance adjuster can talk you through what to do to file a claim and the timeline you’ll need to follow. 

Be careful what you say to your adjuster: don’t downplay any damage or suggest any causes or fault for the damage other than the storm itself. If you’re unsure what to say to your insurance adjuster, you can talk to a storm damage attorney for help.

4. Prevent Further Damage

From leaking roofs to exposed wire fires, storm damage has the potential to cause ongoing harm to your home. If your home has been damaged by a storm, you’ll need to take steps to ensure the damage doesn’t get any worse. This might include things like putting tarps over leaking roofs or missing windows. 

If steps aren’t taken to prevent as much damage as possible, your home insurance claim could be negatively impacted.

5. Reach Out to a Storm Damage Attorney for Help With Your Storm Damage Claim

Storms have the potential to cause serious damage to our homes. If your home is covered by a home insurance policy, any damage caused to your home by a storm may be covered by your insurance. You’ll need to file a claim to get financial relief.

If your storm damage claim has been denied or delayed, reach out to a reliable storm damage attorney for help. A storm damage attorney can help you file a claim, negotiate a settlement, or take your insurance company to court if needed.

If your home has been damaged by a storm in Texas, reach out to a storm damage attorney for help making a successful homeowners insurance claim.

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