Storm Damage to Your Roof? Here's What Indiana Homeowners Need to Do

Storm damage to your roof requires immediate action to prevent further damage to your home. If your roof was hit by wind, hail, or falling debris, follow these six steps to protect your property, your insurance claim, and your wallet.

Every year, severe storms sweep through the Wabash Valley and western Indiana, leaving homeowners scrambling to figure out what to do next. As a veteran-owned roofing contractor in Terre Haute, we've helped hundreds of homeowners through this exact situation. Here's what we tell them.

What to Do Immediately After Storm Damage

The first 48 hours after storm damage are critical. Taking the right steps now protects both your home and your insurance claim.

Step 1: Stay Safe — Do Not Climb on the Roof

Your safety comes first. A storm-damaged roof may have loose shingles, weakened decking, or hidden structural damage that makes it dangerous to walk on. Never climb onto your roof after a storm. Instead, inspect what you can see from the ground.

Look for:

• Shingles on the ground or in the yard
• Visible holes or missing sections
• Sagging areas along the roofline
• Downed tree limbs on the roof
• Water stains on interior ceilings

Step 2: Document the Damage

Take photos and video of everything before you touch anything. Your insurance company needs this documentation.

• Exterior: Photograph all visible roof damage, gutters, siding, and fallen debris from multiple angles
• Interior: Photograph any water stains, leaks, or ceiling damage inside the home
• Yard: Photograph hail on the ground, fallen branches, and any impact marks on outdoor surfaces
• Date stamp: Make sure your phone's date stamp is on — this proves when the damage occurred

Step 3: Make Temporary Repairs to Prevent Further Damage

Indiana insurance policies require you to mitigate further damage. This means covering holes or leaks temporarily — but don't make permanent repairs before the adjuster visits.

Temporary fixes include:

• Placing tarps over exposed areas (weigh them down, don't nail through undamaged shingles)
• Catching leaks in buckets inside the home
• Boarding up broken windows or siding

Elite Roofing offers 24/7 emergency tarping across Terre Haute and western Indiana. Call (812) 234-7285 any time — we can usually respond within an hour.

Step 4: Call a Licensed Local Roofer for a Free Inspection

A professional roof inspection identifies damage you can't see from the ground — cracked flashing, bruised shingles, compromised decking, and damaged underlayment. This inspection report strengthens your insurance claim significantly.

Important: Get your inspection done before the insurance adjuster visits. Your roofer should be present during the adjuster's inspection to make sure nothing is missed.

Step 5: File Your Insurance Claim

Contact your homeowner's insurance company as soon as possible. Most Indiana policies require claims within a specific timeframe after the damage occurs.

When you call:

• Have your policy number ready
• Reference your photos and documentation
• Mention that you've already had a professional inspection
• Ask about your deductible and timeline for the adjuster visit

Step 6: Avoid Storm Chasers

After every major storm, out-of-town roofing crews flood into affected areas offering quick fixes and too-good-to-be-true deals. These "storm chasers" are one of the biggest risks to homeowners after storm damage.

How to Identify Storm Damage on Your Roof

Different types of storms leave different damage patterns. Knowing what to look for helps you communicate clearly with your roofer and insurance company.

Wind Damage Signs

• Missing or lifted shingles, especially along edges and ridges
• Shingles that appear creased or folded back
• Exposed underlayment or decking
• Damaged or missing ridge caps

Hail Damage Signs

• Circular dents or bruises on shingles (may look like dark spots)
• Cracked or split shingles
• Dents in gutters, downspouts, or metal flashing
• Granule loss — check your gutters for excessive granule buildup

Debris and Tree Damage

• Punctures or holes from fallen branches
• Cracked or broken shingles around impact area
• Structural sagging where heavy limbs landed

The Insurance Claim Process After Storm Damage in Indiana

Filing a roof insurance claim in Indiana typically takes 2-4 weeks from initial report to payment. The process works like this:

1. Report the damage to your insurer within 48-72 hours
2. Schedule the adjuster visit — request that your roofer be present
3. Adjuster inspects and estimates the cost of repairs
4. Review the estimate with your roofer to make sure nothing was missed
5. Receive payment (minus your deductible) — sometimes in two checks: one upfront and one after work completion

Pro tip: If the adjuster's estimate seems low, your roofer can submit a supplement with additional documentation. This is common and completely normal — adjusters often miss hidden damage that a roofer catches.

How to Spot Storm Chaser Roofing Scams

Storm chasers cost Indiana homeowners thousands of dollars every year. Here's how to protect yourself:

Red flags to watch for:

• They show up at your door unsolicited right after a storm
• They pressure you to sign a contract immediately
• They offer to "waive your deductible" (this is insurance fraud)
• They ask for large upfront payments before any work begins
• They don't have a local address or Indiana contractor references
• They can't provide proof of insurance or licensing

Why local roofers are the safer choice: A local company like Elite Roofing has a physical presence in Terre Haute, a reputation to protect, and will be here for warranty work years from now. Storm chasers are gone by the time problems surface.

Frequently Asked Questions

Need Help After Storm Damage?

If your roof has been damaged by a recent storm, don't wait. Call Elite Roofing at (812) 234-7285 for a free inspection. We're available 24/7, and we'll be there to walk your insurance adjuster through every detail of the damage.