Georgia storm damage hits hard. A severe thunderstorm rolls through in an hour, drops hail across an entire neighborhood, and by the time the sky clears you’re standing in your driveway wondering what just happened to your roof.

The decisions you make in the next few days have a significant impact on what the repair ends up costing, whether your insurance claim gets fully paid, and whether the contractor you hire is actually going to be around when problems come up later.

Here’s exactly what to do in 6 steps, and 2 things you should not do during this process.

Table of Contents:

• Step 1: Stay Safe and Don’t Get on Your Roof
• Step 2: Document Everything Before Anything Is Touched
• Step 3: Call a Roofing Contractor Before You Call Insurance
• Step 4: File Your Insurance Claim Promptly
• Step 5: Have Your Contractor Present When the Adjuster Comes
• Step 6: Protect Your Home From Further Damage
• A Warning: Georgia’s Roofing License Laws and Storm Chasers
• Don’t Accept the First Insurance Estimate Without Reviewing It
• Red Flag: Never Let a Contractor Waive Your Deductible
• Get a Free Storm Damage Inspection

Step 1: Stay Safe and Don’t Get on Your Roof

The first instinct after a storm is to go check the damage yourself. Resist it.

A roof that’s just been through wind, hail, or debris impact is wet, potentially structurally compromised, and dangerous without proper equipment. You also risk causing additional damage that complicates your insurance claim.

Wait until the storm has fully passed and it’s safe to be outside. Then start from the ground.

Step 2: Document Everything Before Anything Is Touched

Walk around the perimeter of your home and photograph and video everything you can see, ideally within hours of the storm passing. This documentation is the foundation of your insurance claim, and the sooner it’s taken, the harder it is for anyone to argue the damage is old.

What to look for and photograph outside:

• Missing, lifted, or visibly damaged shingles
• Shingle granules in your gutters or washing out of downspouts, dark, coarse material that looks like sand
• Dents on your gutters, downspouts, or AC unit housing, fresh dents on soft metal are a reliable indicator that hail was large enough to damage shingles
• Damaged or dislodged flashing around chimneys or vents
• Debris on the roof or impact damage to siding and windows

What to check inside:

• New water stains on ceilings or walls
• Any moisture or new smell in the attic
• Anything that wasn’t there before the storm

Timestamp everything. Your phone automatically does this, but if you’re sending photos somewhere, make sure the metadata is intact.

Step 3: Call a Roofing Contractor Before You Call Insurance

This is the step most Georgia homeowners get backwards, and it costs them hundreds…

When you file a claim, your insurance company sends their own adjuster to assess the damage. That adjuster’s estimate becomes the baseline for your settlement. If you don’t have your own professional documentation ready before that visit, you’re starting at a disadvantage.

Getting a professional inspection done first before the adjuster arrives means you have a detailed, written damage report to compare against whatever the adjuster finds. Hail damage in particular is notoriously difficult to see without being on the roof, and initial adjuster estimates frequently miss damage that a trained inspector would catch.

The Cool Roofing Company offers free storm damage inspections. We’ll get on your roof, document every affected area with photos and a written report, and give you a clear picture of the damage before you file anything.

Step 4: File Your Insurance Claim Promptly

Once you have your documentation, file your claim. Georgia homeowners insurance policies typically cover sudden, accidental storm damage like wind, hail, falling trees, lightning. What they don’t cover is damage from neglect, age, or wear and tear.

What to have ready when you file:

• Your policy number
• Photos and video taken right after the storm
• Your contractor’s written inspection report
• The date and approximate time of the storm
• Any other damage documentation (vehicles, fencing, property)

File as soon as your documentation is together. Georgia policies have filing deadlines, and delays make it easier for insurers to question whether damage is from the storm in question or from prior deterioration.

Know your deductible. Your settlement will be reduced by your deductible (the portion you pay out of pocket). Some Georgia policies carry a separate, higher deductible specifically for wind and hail events. Check your policy before you file so the math isn’t a surprise.

Step 5: Have Your Contractor Present When the Adjuster Comes

An adjuster visit without your roofing contractor present is a missed opportunity.

Adjusters work efficiently. They’re often handling dozens of claims after a major storm event and subtle or technical damage can get overlooked when no one is there to point it out. Having a contractor on site during the adjuster visit means documented damage gets communicated in the right technical language, and items the adjuster might otherwise miss get flagged before the estimate is written.

The Cool Roofing Company attends adjuster meetings on behalf of our customers. We know what to look for, how to document it, and how to make sure your claim reflects the actual scope of what your roof needs.

Step 6: Protect Your Home From Further Damage

If your roof has a breach, temporary protection matters. Emergency tarping prevents interior water damage from compounding while the claim is being processed.

Document any temporary protective measures with photos and keep receipts. Most Georgia homeowners insurance policies cover reasonable costs for temporary protective work as part of a storm claim.

The Cool Roofing Company provides emergency tarping services for situations where protection is needed before permanent work can begin.

A Warning: Georgia’s Roofing License Laws and Storm Chasers

Here’s something Georgia homeowners need to know that most other states don’t have to worry about: Georgia does not require a roofing contractor’s license for residential roofing work. Only a basic business license is required. That means virtually anyone can legally install a residential roof in this state which is exactly why Georgia attracts out-of-area contractors after every major storm.

After a hailstorm or major wind event, you’ll see door-to-door contractors showing up in neighborhoods across Atlanta, Blue Ridge, and throughout the state. Making promises, offering deals, and pushing for quick signatures. Many of these companies have no local history, no accountable presence, and no reason to be around when warranty issues arise six months later.

How to protect yourself:

• Ask how long the contractor has been operating in Georgia and request local references
• Verify they carry general liability insurance and workers’ compensation — and ask for a certificate, not just their word
• Check for Google reviews from Georgia customers specifically
• Get everything in writing before any work begins or money changes hands
• Never pay the full amount upfront

A contractor who’s been serving Georgia communities for years has a local reputation to protect. That accountability matters more after a storm than any deal a stranger at your door is offering.

Don’t Accept the First Insurance Estimate Without Reviewing It

Once the adjuster visit is complete, you’ll receive a written scope of loss which is the insurance company’s estimate of what they’ll pay. Read it carefully and compare it against what your contractor documented.

It’s common for initial estimates to miss items like certain types of flashing, underlayment, or damage in specific roof areas that require a closer look. If the estimate doesn’t reflect the full scope of damage your contractor found, a supplemental claim can be submitted to add what was missed.

This is a standard part of the claims process. The Cool Roofing Company helps customers identify and document supplemental items when initial estimates fall short of what the restoration actually requires.

Red Flag: Never Let a Contractor Waive Your Deductible

If any contractor offers to waive your deductible, meaning they’ll bill insurance for the full amount and absorb what you’re supposed to pay, walk away.

This is insurance fraud. The legal consequences in Georgia fall on the homeowner, not just the contractor. No legitimate company makes this offer.

Get a Free Storm Damage Inspection

If your home was hit by a storm anywhere across Georgia, the smartest first step is a professional inspection — before you file, before you commit to anyone, before anything is touched.

The Cool Roofing Company has served homeowners and commercial property owners across Georgia — Atlanta, Blue Ridge, Carrollton, and surrounding communities since 1998. We’re licensed across multiple states and have handled more storm damage claims than we can count. We’ll tell you honestly what your roof needs and we’ll be here when the job is done.

When you get hit by a storm…

Schedule your free storm damage inspection with The Cool Roofing Company →