The first 48 hours after a major North Alabama storm decide most insurance outcomes. Move too slow and damage worsens; move too fast and you sign a contract you regret. Here's the disciplined playbook we walk Huntsville homeowners through every storm season.
Step 1 — Make sure the home is safe
- Stay off the roof. Wet shingles + storm damage = serious fall risk.
- Check for active leaks. Move valuables and place buckets under drips.
- Confirm no downed power lines on or near the home.
- Photograph standing water in the yard for separate property claim coverage.
Real-time NWS Huntsville radar (opens in new tab) and FEMA disaster declarations (opens in new tab) can confirm the event window for your claim.
Step 2 — Document everything (before any contractor touches it)
- Photograph all four sides of the home from the ground.
- Photograph yard debris, downed limbs, hail collected in low spots.
- Photograph any interior leaks or ceiling stains.
- Pull weather data for your zip code from NWS for the time of the event.
- Save receipts for any emergency mitigation (tarps, towels, fans).
Step 3 — Tarp only if needed, only by a licensed pro
If the roof is actively leaking, request emergency tarping. A properly installed tarp is wrapped over the ridge and screwed into 2×4 battens — not just thrown on. Most insurers reimburse mitigation costs if you keep receipts.
Step 4 — File the claim before signing any contract
Call your insurer's claims line first. Get a claim number and adjuster name. Then schedule a free inspection with a licensed local roofer. The roofer meets your adjuster on the roof and walks through the damage together — this is the meeting that determines coverage scope.
Step 5 — Refuse door-to-door storm chasers
Storm chaser red flags
Out-of-state plates · Pressure to sign 'today only' · Offers to waive your deductible (illegal in Alabama) · Refuses to show HBLB license · Asks for full payment before the adjuster meeting.
Walk through the complete vetting framework in our Alabama roofer checklist.