DMV Storm Damage & Insurance Claim Checklist · (240) 880-2108 · udroofing.com
① Immediately after the storm
Stay safe. Keep away from sagging ceilings and any water near electrical fixtures; cut power to that area if needed.
Photograph everything with timestamps — roof, ceilings, walls, and damaged belongings — before you move or clean anything.
Contain interior water with buckets/towels; drain a bulging ceiling through a small hole at the lowest point.
Don't climb on the roof. Wet roofs are dangerous and the real leak is usually far from where water shows inside.
② Confirm it's a covered event
Note the storm date and check whether hail or damaging wind actually hit your area (see our live storm tracker at udroofing.com/storm-tracker.html).
Find your deductible on your policy's declarations page — flat (e.g. $1,000–$2,500) or a 1%–2% wind/hail percentage.
③ Get a professional inspection
Book a free, licensed inspection within days — documentation is strongest right after the storm.
Get every slope documented with dated photos of hail bruising, granule loss, and wind creasing.
Verify licensing — Maryland MHIC or Virginia DPOR, plus local reviews. Avoid out-of-town storm chasers.
④ File & win the claim
File promptly with your insurer using your policy number; get a claim number and adjuster.
Have your roofer meet the adjuster on-site so nothing legitimate is missed.
Submit supplements for code upgrades and items the first estimate left out.
Understand your out-of-pocket cost before you sign — what an approved claim pays, and what it does not. Get your warranty in writing.