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The Post-Storm 72-Hour Checklist

Storm chasers typically arrive within 24 to 72 hours of any significant weather event. What you do in that same window determines whether your insurance claim succeeds, whether your roof gets repaired correctly, and whether you become a fraud statistic. This checklist is built for use before you need it.

DisputeVoice Editorial Team Updated February 2026 15 min read · Print before storm season

Why This Window Matters — Before You Start

The 72 hours after storm damage are not primarily about fixing your roof. They are about establishing the evidentiary and contractual foundation that determines whether your insurance claim is paid in full, whether the repair is done correctly, and whether you have legal recourse if it isn't.

Storm chasers know this window better than most homeowners. They arrive fast precisely because early signatures lock in the business before homeowners have compared estimates, contacted their insurer, or verified credentials. A homeowner who has documented their own damage thoroughly, notified their insurer promptly, and refused to sign anything until after the insurance inspection is a homeowner who is far harder to defraud.

This checklist is built for the homeowner who hasn't been hit yet — read it now, print it, and keep it somewhere accessible. And if you've already been through the window, the final section tells you what to do if you suspect you were already defrauded.

0–24Hours

Safety, Documentation & Your First Official Actions

Before any contractor contacts you — establish your own record of the damage

Immediate Safety

Assess structural safety before re-entering

If you smell gas, see downed power lines, or notice significant structural damage to walls or foundations, do not re-enter. Contact your gas utility and local fire department first. A damaged roof is secondary to building structural integrity.
Locate and read your homeowner's insurance declarations page

Know your deductible, your insurer's claims phone number, and the policy number before you need it under pressure. Many policies have specific claim notification time requirements — knowing yours now prevents a missed deadline from jeopardizing coverage.

Tip: Photograph your declarations page and email it to yourself. If your paper copy is damaged or inaccessible, you'll still have the information.
Take emergency protective measures — and keep every receipt

Tarping a damaged roof, boarding broken windows, and removing standing water from interior spaces are all reasonable emergency measures most policies will reimburse. Keep every receipt for materials and any emergency labor. Your insurer's obligation to cover these expenses typically begins at the moment of the loss.

Critical: Document Everything Before Anyone Else Touches the Roof

Photograph and video the damage from every accessible angle

Use your phone. More is more. Capture wide establishing shots, close-ups of specific damage points, and the surrounding undamaged areas for context. Document the interior for any water intrusion — ceilings, walls, floors. These images are time-stamped by your phone and become your primary evidentiary record.

Critical: This documentation must happen before any contractor touches the roof. A contractor who accesses your roof before you've documented it can claim any damage they subsequently create was pre-existing — or fabricate new damage you have no basis to dispute.
Photograph the exterior of your home from all four sides

Include the yard, fencing, vehicles, and any outbuildings in your documentation. The full scope of storm impact — not just roof damage — establishes the event as genuine and helps counter any later claim of pre-existing damage. Include a newspaper, phone displaying the date, or written date marker in at least one frame.
Document your neighbors' properties (from public right-of-way)

Neighbor damage confirms the storm event affected the area generally — useful if an insurer later attempts to characterize your specific damage as pre-existing or maintenance-related rather than storm-caused.
Take inventory of all damaged personal property

Walk through the interior systematically. List every damaged item, photograph it in place, and note approximate age and value if known. Upload your photos to cloud storage immediately so that even if your device is lost, the documentation is preserved.

First 24 Hours: Official Notifications

Notify your insurance company — do this before hiring anyone

Call the claims line on your declarations page or use your insurer's app. File the first notice of loss. You are not agreeing to anything at this stage — you are preserving your rights. Failure to give "prompt notice" can jeopardize coverage under some policy terms; the definition of prompt varies, but within 24 hours is always safe.

Do not authorize any permanent repairs before your insurer inspects the damage and agrees on the scope and cost of covered work. Emergency protective measures (tarps, boarding) are different — those are fine and encouraged.
If you have a mortgage, notify your lender

Mortgaged homes often have lenders listed as co-payees on insurance checks. Knowing your lender's claims process in advance prevents delays when the check arrives. Some lenders require notification of significant damage as a condition of the mortgage.
If the damage is catastrophic: check for federal/state disaster declarations

Presidential disaster declarations unlock FEMA Individual Assistance programs, SBA low-interest disaster loans, and state recovery funds. Check disasterassistance.gov within the first 24 hours if you believe your area may qualify. Registration windows sometimes close faster than people expect.

24–48Hours

Contractor Vetting & Insurance Adjuster Preparation

Storm chasers are already in your neighborhood. This phase is about gatekeeping.

Handling Unsolicited Contractor Approaches

Do not allow any contractor to access your roof before documenting it yourself

If you have not yet completed Hour 0–24 documentation, do that before anything else. A contractor on your roof before your documentation is complete is a contractor with access to create or alter the damage record. This is documented behavior — the NC DOI ran a sting operation that caught a roofer on camera bending and hammering shingles during a "free inspection."

Never sign a "work authorization," "direction to pay," or "assignment of benefits" form handed to you by a door-to-door contractor, even as a condition of a free inspection or tarp placement.
Write down the name, company, address, phone, and vehicle plate of any soliciting contractor

Even if you send them away, this information is valuable if you later discover they engaged in fraud with a neighbor. This data supports any AG complaint and contributes to the broader enforcement record. Photograph their truck and any door hangers or marketing materials they leave.
Tell any soliciting contractor: "I'm waiting for my insurance adjuster before making any decisions"

This is both true and legally protective. It tells the contractor you know the correct sequence of events. Legitimate contractors will accept this and offer to provide a formal estimate for your review. Storm chasers will often escalate pressure — which is itself useful information about who you're dealing with.

Vetting Any Contractor You're Considering

Verify their state contractor license (where applicable)

In states with licensing requirements — Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee, and others — look up the license at the official state licensing board. In threshold states like North Carolina ($30K+), use the NCLBGC site. In no-requirement states like Texas and Georgia, shift your verification focus to insurance and local registration.

See the DisputeVoice State-by-State Roofing Contractor License Verification Guide for direct links to all 50 official state lookup portals.
Verify their business registration in your state

Use your Secretary of State's business search portal to confirm the company is a legitimately registered entity. An out-of-state contractor who has not registered to do business in your state has less legal accountability to you under your state's laws and may have difficulty legally enforcing a contract against you.
Request and independently verify their Certificate of Insurance

Get the COI document. Then call the insurer listed directly — don't accept the certificate on face value. Confirm that general liability coverage is active, that workers' compensation is current (critical — an uninsured worker injured on your property can create personal liability for you), and that coverage limits are adequate for your project size.
Get at least three written estimates from different contractors

Compare both scope of work and materials specifications — not just total price. A dramatically low bid usually signals either inferior materials, a plan to cut scope, or a contractor who doesn't intend to complete the work. Get estimates in writing on company letterhead with a physical address, not just a text or verbal quote.
Search: contractor name + your state + "complaint," "fraud," "BBB"

Check bbb.org, your state AG's public enforcement actions, and local news. Search both the company name and the owner's personal name — storm chasers often create new company names after accumulating complaints under a previous name.
Ask for three local customer references — and call them

A legitimate contractor with a local history will have references. Ask specifically for customers from the past 12 months within your county or city. Call them, not just email — and ask specifically about whether the contractor finished on time, stuck to the contract price, and resolved any issues professionally.

Preparing for the Insurance Adjuster Visit

Organize your documentation package before the adjuster arrives

Assemble: your policy declarations page, all date-stamped photos and video, your inventory of personal property damage, receipts for any emergency protective measures already taken, and (if available) any pre-storm photos of your roof from real estate listings, Google Street View captures, or your own prior documentation. Print and digital copies both.
Request a written explanation of anything the adjuster excludes

If the adjuster denies or limits coverage for specific damage, you have the right to a written denial explaining the specific policy language they are relying on. This is the starting document for any appeal or appraisal process. Ask for it before the adjuster leaves.
Consider an independent roofing contractor inspection before the adjuster visit

If you want a professional second opinion on scope before the adjuster comes — not to repair the roof, but purely to document what's there — hire a local, vetted independent contractor for an inspection only, with no work authorization. Their written report documents your damage from the homeowner's perspective.

This is different from a "free inspection" offered by a storm chaser. You are initiating and paying for an objective professional assessment — not accepting a solicitation.

48–72Hours

Commitments, Contracts & Signing Decisions

Nothing permanent happens until your insurer has inspected and agreed — then use this phase to commit carefully

After the Insurance Inspection

Get the insurer's scope of loss and agreed repair cost in writing before hiring anyone

This is the document that governs. Your contractor's proposal must align with what the insurer has agreed to cover. Misalignment in either direction — the insurer agreeing to more than the contractor proposes, or the contractor charging more than the insurer covers — needs to be resolved before work begins, not after.
If the insurance settlement seems low, dispute it before signing off

A "full and final settlement" release signed with the insurance company can waive your rights to supplemental claims for damage discovered later. Before accepting a settlement, have an independent contractor review the adjuster's scope of loss against your documentation. If there are material discrepancies, invoke the appraisal process or consult a public adjuster before signing.
Do not release the "recoverable depreciation" hold-back payment prematurely

Many policies pay initial claims at Actual Cash Value and release additional "recoverable depreciation" only after repairs are verified as complete. The contractor's final payment should not be released until after you have inspected the completed work and confirmed it matches the contracted scope.

What a Legitimate Roofing Contract Must Include

Complete written scope of work with specific material specifications

Manufacturer name, product line, color, and shingle class for all materials. Underlayment type and weight. Ice and water shield placement. Flashing specifications. Ventilation plan. "Match existing" is not a specification — it is an invitation to use inferior materials after the fact.
Start date, completion date, and consequences for delays

Open-ended timelines are the foundation of job abandonment fraud. "We'll start when materials arrive" with no materials delivery date attached creates no enforceable deadline. Get calendar dates on the face of the contract.
Payment schedule tied to completion milestones

A standard legitimate structure: 0–10% deposit at signing (for materials), 40–50% at substantial commencement, final balance at your inspection and sign-off. Any contractor requesting 50% or more upfront before work begins is a red flag regardless of the explanation offered.
Lien waiver provisions protecting you from subcontractor claims

If the general contractor fails to pay their subcontractors or material suppliers, you can face mechanic's lien claims against your property even if you paid the contractor in full. Require that final payment be accompanied by unconditional lien waivers from all subcontractors and suppliers of record.
Workmanship warranty of at least 2 years in writing

Separate from the manufacturer's shingle warranty (which covers product defects only, not installation errors). A legitimate contractor stands behind the quality of their installation. Anything less than a 2-year written workmanship warranty on new roof installation is below industry standard.
No blanks anywhere in the contract

Every blank in a contract you sign can be filled in later to terms you did not agree to. Review every line. Strike through and initial any blanks that should remain empty. Never sign a document with unfilled sections, no matter how much you trust the person handing it to you.

Final Pre-Signature Checks

Confirm your contractor has pulled all required permits

Most jurisdictions require a building permit for roof replacement. The permit creates an official inspection record and is sometimes required by your homeowner's policy for the work to be covered. A contractor who wants to skip permits is a contractor with something to hide from inspectors — and one whose work has no official third-party verification.
Confirm the contract payment goes to the contracting entity directly

Checks should be made out to the licensed contracting company, not to an individual's personal name. If an insurance payment check is made jointly payable to you and your mortgage lender, your lender must endorse it before it can be cashed — follow your lender's specific process to avoid delays.
Keep a complete copy of the signed contract and every subsequent communication

Photograph the signed contract immediately after signing and upload it to cloud storage. Forward all email chains to an address you can always access. Save all text messages. This file becomes your legal foundation if anything goes wrong.

The 7 Documents to Never Sign Without Scrutiny

Storm chasers rely on homeowners signing documents they don't fully understand in the first emotional hours after damage. These seven document types carry the highest risk. Each one has been used to lock homeowners into fraudulent arrangements or waive legal protections they didn't know they had.

Assignment of Benefits (AOB)

Transfers your right to your insurance proceeds directly to the contractor. Illegal in post-disaster contracts in Georgia (SB 201) and severely restricted in North Carolina. Gives contractors control of your claim and creates direct incentive to inflate it.

Direction to Pay / Direct Payment Authorization

A softer version of AOB that instructs your insurer to pay the contractor directly. Read carefully — some legitimate versions are acceptable; versions that transfer all claim rights are not.

Full and Final Release of All Claims

Waives your right to any future claims against the contractor or insurer. Storm damage that isn't fully apparent for weeks or months is common. Signing a final release before repairs are complete and inspected is a trap.

Work Authorization With Blanks

Any work authorization with unfilled blanks can be completed after your signature to terms you never agreed to. The North Carolina DOI specifically warns: never sign a contract with blanks.

Completion Certificate Before Inspection

A document stating that work is complete and satisfactory before you've personally inspected it. Your signature on this form is used to release the insurer's final payment — including the recoverable depreciation holdback — to the contractor. Sign only after your own walk-through inspection.

Open-Ended Contract With No Completion Date

"We'll begin as soon as materials are available" with no specific date attached creates no enforceable deadline. Job abandonment — taking a deposit and failing to complete work — is one of the most common post-storm fraud patterns.

Any Document Handed to You at the Door

Never sign anything given to you by an unsolicited door-to-door contractor without at least 24 hours to review it with your insurer, a family member, or an attorney. Legitimate contractors do not require same-day signatures. Fraudulent ones always do.

Your Legal Leverage: State-by-State Quick Reference

If you were defrauded despite taking every precaution, your state's consumer protection law is your most powerful tool. The following reference applies to the four states where DisputeVoice has published detailed state hub guides — click through for full legal analysis specific to each state.

Texas

3×

DTPA damages for knowing violations. HB 2103 bars contractor-adjuster conflicts. No state roofing license.

Florida

CCC/RCC

Separate roofing license required. AOB severely restricted. 46.7% homeowner claim denial rate in 2024.

Georgia

3×

FBPA treble damages for intentional violations. SB 201 AOB ban (July 2025). No state roofing license.

North Carolina

3× auto

UDTPA treble damages are mandatory upon any finding. 4-year SOL. $30K licensing threshold gap.

What to Look Up	What You Need	Where to Find It
Contractor license	License number + active status + no disciplinary actions	Your state's contractor licensing board (see DisputeVoice 50-State Guide)
Business registration	Active registration in your state, not expired	Secretary of State business search portal
Insurance verification	GL + Workers' Comp active, coverage limits, name as additional insured	Call the insurer directly — not the contractor's agent
Complaint history	AG enforcement actions, BBB complaints, news mentions	ncdoj.gov, consumer.ga.gov, texasattorneygeneral.gov + bbb.org
Adjuster license (if using a PA)	Active public adjuster license in your state	Your state Department of Insurance

Already Past the 72 Hours? What to Do If You Were Defrauded

If you are reading this after the window — if you've already signed documents, paid a deposit to a contractor who has disappeared, or received work that doesn't match what was contracted — the situation is recoverable. Here is what matters now.

Stop all further payments immediately. Document the current state of the work photographically. Do not communicate further with the contractor without having a record of every exchange — text is better than phone calls for this reason.

File a complaint with your state AG's Consumer Protection Division. This is the most important single action. The AG complaint creates an official record, triggers an investigation, and — critically — contributes to multi-victim pattern enforcement actions that can result in license revocations and criminal prosecution. One complaint may not change your outcome. Ten complaints from the same contractor can end their operation.

State AG Consumer Protection Complaint Lines

North Carolina: ncdoj.gov/complaint · 1-877-5-NO-SCAM (1-877-566-7226)

Georgia: consumer.georgia.gov/consumer-services/filing-a-complaint · 404-651-8600 or 1-800-869-1123

Texas: texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/file-consumer-complaint · 1-800-621-0508

Florida: myfloridalegal.com/contact-us#consumer · 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226)

All other states: Search "[your state] attorney general consumer complaint" — every state has one.

Report insurance fraud separately. If the contractor made any false representations related to your insurance claim — offered to waive your deductible, submitted an inflated claim, misrepresented damage — file separately with your state's Department of Insurance fraud division. Insurance fraud complaints trigger a different investigative process with different tools and outcomes.

Consult an attorney who handles consumer protection cases. Given the treble damages provisions in most southeastern state consumer protection statutes, experienced UDTPA and FBPA attorneys frequently evaluate cases without significant upfront fees. The potential for mandatory or discretionary treble damages plus attorney's fee recovery makes meritorious contractor fraud cases viable to pursue.

✓ Document It Publicly: DisputeVoice Lighthouse Reports

A DisputeVoice Lighthouse Report creates a permanent, SEO-optimized public record that ranks on Google for the contractor's business name — so that the next homeowner who searches before signing finds your documented account. Lighthouse Reports are built to Section 230 legal standards, legally reviewed before publication, and structured to include AG complaint status, evidence summary, and consumer protection statute framing. Submitting your report is one of the most effective things you can do for homeowners in your area.

Print this checklist and keep a copy in your home emergency kit alongside your insurance declarations page. The homeowners who fare best after storm damage are the ones who knew the steps before the storm hit.

Already Went Through This? Help the Next Homeowner.

Every Lighthouse Report published on DisputeVoice protects the next person who searches that contractor's name. If you've experienced post-storm contractor fraud, submit your dispute. If you want to go deeper on your state's specific legal framework, read our State Hub guides below.

Submit Your Contractor Dispute Read the State Hub Guides

Sources & Further Reading

DisputeVoice — Insurance Claim Disputes After Storm Damage (Authority Series, Article 1)
DisputeVoice — State-by-State Roofing Contractor License Verification Guide (Article 2)
DisputeVoice — Georgia Roofing Contractor Complaints & Consumer Protection Guide (Article 3)
DisputeVoice — North Carolina Roofing Contractor Complaints & Consumer Protection Guide (Article 4)
NC DOI — Commissioner Causey post-Helene consumer alert, October 3, 2024
Georgia AG — Storms & Fraud Resource (consumer.georgia.gov)
Georgia SB 201 — Contractor post-disaster contract obligations, effective July 1, 2025
Claims Journal — NC Farm Bureau roof sting operation, December 23, 2025
Texas Department of Insurance — HB 2103, contractor-adjuster conflict of interest
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 75-1.1 and § 75-16 — UDTPA mandatory treble damages
Georgia Fair Business Practices Act — O.C.G.A. § 10-1-390 et seq.
NC Licensing Board for General Contractors — $30K threshold explanation
FEMA — disasterassistance.gov (Individual Assistance registration)
Insurance Information Institute — homeowner claim documentation guidance
National Insurance Crime Bureau — storm chaser fraud patterns and data

Disclaimer: This checklist provides general consumer education and is intended as a practical resource, not legal advice. Insurance policy terms, contractor licensing requirements, and consumer protection statutes vary by state and change over time — always verify current requirements with official sources and consult a licensed attorney for legal advice specific to your situation. DisputeVoice is a consumer advocacy and documentation platform, not a law firm or insurance company.