The hour after a South Texas storm passes is when homeowners make the most expensive mistakes. They climb up on wet shingles, they sign paperwork from whoever knocks on the door first, and they call insurance before they know what they’re actually claiming. This storm damage checklist keeps you in the right order so your roof, your insurance claim, and your wallet all come out in one piece.
Step 1: Wait for the Storm to Pass (Seriously)
We see more injuries from homeowners climbing onto wet roofs right after a storm than from any other cause. Water, hail residue, and loose shingles turn a safe pitch into an ice rink. Wait until the weather has cleared for at least 2 hours and the roof has had time to dry.
While you wait, check the inside of the house. Look at ceiling corners, around vent stacks, and in the attic if it’s safe to enter. If you see active dripping, move furniture, catch water with buckets, and take photos. Don’t try to patch the roof yourself from above.
Step 2: Walk Your Property With This Storm Damage Checklist
Grab your phone and walk the property in a calm, clockwise loop. The goal is documentation, not diagnosis. Anything that looks off, photograph it.
Ground-Level Roof Check
- Missing shingles visible on the ground or in the yard
- Shingle tabs lifted or folded back at the roof edge
- Round impact marks on metal vent hoods, caps, and flashing
- Exposed black felt or roof deck in any section
- Tree branches or debris resting on the roof
Gutters and Downspouts
- Round hail dents on the gutter face
- Sections pulled away from fascia
- Granule piles in the downspout splash zone
- Bent or crushed downspout extensions
Siding, Windows, and Fascia
- Cracked or broken window panes
- Dented vinyl or aluminum siding, especially on the storm-facing side
- Torn screens or bent frames
- Water stains on soffit boards
Yard Debris Evidence
- Hailstones in the grass, measure them against a coin for size proof
- Tree limbs broken or shredded
- Shingle pieces in flower beds or driveways
- Dents on mailbox, grill, or patio furniture
Step 3: Document Everything Before Repairs
Take at least 40 photos. Close-ups for detail, wide shots for context, and one photo of the overall house from each side. Timestamped phone photos are admissible with adjusters. If you have measuring tape, lay it next to a hailstone or a piece of broken shingle to show scale.
Write down the storm timing. When did it start, how long did it last, how big was the hail. NOAA radar data backs this up, but adjusters appreciate the homeowner record too. Save everything in a single folder labeled with the date.
Step 4: Call Your Insurance Company (But Not Your Roofer Yet)
Here’s where most people get it backwards. Call a reputable roofer for a free inspection first. Have them walk the roof and give you a written damage report with photos. Only then decide if filing a claim makes financial sense.
Why the order matters: if your damage totals less than your wind/hail deductible (typically 1% to 2% of your dwelling value in Texas), filing the claim still shows up on your CLUE report for up to 7 years. That can raise your premium even when no payout happens. A roofer who works with insurance every week can tell you whether it’s worth filing.
Step 5: Schedule a Professional Roof Inspection
Even if the damage looks minor from the ground, get a professional up there within 7 to 10 days. Small dents in flashing, cracked shingle mats, and loose ridge caps won’t leak today, but they will leak in 6 months when the next storm hits. A quick roof repair now often keeps an open insurance claim alive and keeps your roof intact through the next rain.
Ask the roofer for: a signed scope of work, photos of every damaged area, and a written quote before any work starts. Walk away from anyone who demands a signature on the first visit or offers to “handle insurance for you” without transparency.
Common Storm Damage South Texas Roofs See Most
Most of what we see after a storm in Cuero, Victoria, or San Antonio falls into one of the categories below. Hail damage roof repair is the most common, but wind and flashing issues are close behind.
- Hail bruising: soft dark spots on shingles where the mat has cracked under an impact
- Wind-lifted ridge caps: 3-tab or architectural ridges that have popped loose at the seams
- Flashing separation: chimney, skylight, or vent flashing that’s pulled away from the roof plane
- Torn underlayment: usually only visible from above, happens under 60+ mph wind
- Gutter detachment: spikes or hangers pulled from the fascia after heavy water load
Red Flags When Storm Chasers Come Knocking
After any storm event in the Crossroads or San Antonio metro, out-of-town contractors swarm neighborhoods with flyers and door knocks. Some are legitimate, most are not. These are the red flags we see repeatedly.
- Pressure to sign anything on the first visit
- Promise of a “free roof” before anyone has even inspected the damage
- Out-of-state license plates and no local office address
- Demands for a large deposit or the full insurance check up front
- Phone number only, no physical Texas address
Stick with a licensed Texas roofer who has been in your area for several years. Ask for references from neighbors on your street.
Put This Storm Damage Checklist to Work
If a storm just rolled through Cuero, Victoria, San Antonio, Goliad, or anywhere in South Texas, walk your property with this checklist today. Then request a free storm damage inspection from Cox Brothers Roofing. We’ll come out, document everything with photos, and tell you whether you have a claim worth filing. Call (361) 867-3186 to get scheduled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I call my insurance or my roofer first?
Call a reputable roofer for a free inspection first. Have them walk the roof and give you a written damage report with photos. Only then decide if filing a claim makes financial sense.
How do I spot a storm chaser scam?
Pressure to sign anything on the first visit, promise of a “free roof” before anyone has even inspected the damage, out-of-state license plates and no local office address, demands for a large deposit or the full insurance check up front, and a phone number only with no physical Texas address.