In Colorado, hailstorms are not rare events. The state’s damaging hail season generally runs from mid-April through mid-September, and the Front Range sits in the middle of “Hail Alley,” where large hail is especially common. State emergency officials note that residents can usually expect several catastrophic hailstorms each year.
If a hailstorm just hit your home, the first 24 hours matter. What you do right away can help protect your property, make the insurance process smoother, and keep a stressful situation from getting worse. The goal is not to panic. It is to stay safe, document what happened, prevent further damage, and get a professional assessment before making big decisions.
What To Know
- Make safety the first priority before checking anything outside.
- Document visible damage from the ground with photos and video before making temporary repairs.
- Look beyond the roof for signs like dented gutters, broken screens, damaged siding, and fallen limbs.
- Take reasonable temporary steps to prevent more water intrusion, and save receipts for emergency materials.
- Review your deductible and coverage before filing a claim, because not every storm should automatically become one.
- Be careful about storm chasers and out-of-town roofers who appear right after severe weather.
1. Make Sure Everyone Is Safe First
Before you think about the roof, make sure everyone in the house is safe. Wait until the storm has fully passed before going outside. Be alert for broken glass, slick surfaces, downed lines, unstable tree limbs, and active leaks around electrical areas. If part of the home appears structurally unsafe, stay out of that area until it can be evaluated.
This sounds obvious, but after a bad hailstorm people often rush outside too fast. Slow down and make sure the immediate danger is over first.
2. Do a Ground-Level Walkaround and Document Everything
Once it is safe, walk the property and start documenting what you can see from the ground. Take clear photos and videos of every visible sign of damage. That includes the roof from as many angles as you can safely capture, along with gutters, downspouts, screens, siding, garage doors, vehicles, AC units, fences, outdoor furniture, and fallen branches. Those details can help establish storm severity and support later conversations with your insurer.
Also write down the date and approximate time of the storm while it is still fresh. If you received weather alerts, save those too. Immediate documentation is one of the most useful things you can do in the first day.
3. Do Not Climb on the Roof Yourself
This is one of the biggest mistakes homeowners make after a storm. Do not get on the roof to inspect it yourself. State guidance specifically warns homeowners to limit roof access and allow only the adjuster and the roofer they select to get on the roof, because unnecessary foot traffic can cause more damage.
You do not need to risk a fall to confirm that something may be wrong. Ground-level evidence is enough to justify the next step, which is getting the roof professionally inspected.
4. Look for Signs That the Roof May Have Been Hit
Even if you cannot see obvious shingle damage from the ground, there are often clues around the rest of the property. Dented gutters, dinged vents, broken window screens, stripped foliage, and fallen tree limbs can all point to a storm strong enough to damage the roof. Colorado emergency guidance specifically notes checking trees and shrubs for stripped foliage and looking for dents on softer exterior surfaces.
Not every hailstorm causes serious roof damage, but these signs are enough to treat the storm seriously and schedule an inspection.
5. Take Reasonable Temporary Steps to Prevent More Damage
If the storm left broken windows, active leaks, or visible openings, take reasonable steps to protect the home from further water intrusion. Temporary measures may include covering a broken window, using a tarp over an obvious opening, placing buckets under leaks, and moving valuables away from wet areas. Save receipts for any emergency materials you buy, since those costs may be reimbursable depending on your policy.
The key word here is reasonable. You are trying to prevent the damage from getting worse, not perform your own roofing job in the dark or while the house is still wet.
6. Get a Professional Roof Inspection Before Making Big Decisions
This is where homeowners often go wrong. After a hailstorm, it is tempting to call the insurance company immediately or assume you already know the roof is totaled. A better first move is usually to get the roof inspected by a reputable local roofing company.
A professional inspection can help answer the questions that matter most:
- Is there actual hail or wind damage?
- Does the damage appear minor, moderate, or widespread?
- Does filing a claim even make sense?
- Are repairable issues being mistaken for a full replacement need?
That matters because many policies have deductibles, depreciation provisions, or actual cash value limits that affect what a claim is really worth. One of the resources you shared makes the point well: having the roof inspected first helps determine whether filing a claim makes financial sense at all.
7. Review Your Coverage Before Filing a Claim
Once the roof has been inspected and you have a clearer picture of the damage, review your policy. Pay attention to your deductible, any roof-specific settlement terms, and whether the likely damage appears large enough to justify filing. Not every storm should automatically become a claim.
If the damage is significant, report it promptly. One of the legal resources you provided notes that many policies have deadlines, and early documentation can strengthen the claim.
8. Keep a Paper Trail From the Start
If you do end up filing, keep everything organized from day one. Save photos, videos, receipts, emails, claim numbers, inspection notes, and any written communication tied to the storm. Detailed records help if there is any dispute later about the timing, severity, or cause of the damage.
This is boring, but it matters. Storm claims go a lot smoother when the homeowner can show what happened and when.
9. Watch Out for Roofing Scams and Storm Chasers
Colorado’s emergency management guidance specifically warns homeowners to be wary of out-of-town roofers who show up right after a storm. Some are legitimate, but some take deposits, leave incomplete work, or disappear once the next storm hits another town. The state also advises choosing a company with local references and making sure the roofer carries workers’ compensation and liability insurance.
That advice is dead on. After a hailstorm, do not hire the first person knocking on your door. Work with a local company that has a real reputation and will still be around if you need help later.
10. Know When the Claim Process Needs More Attention
Most claims move through the normal process just fine, but not all of them do. If the insurer delays, underpays, or disputes whether the damage is storm-related, the documentation you gathered in the first 24 hours becomes even more important. One Colorado legal source notes that disputes can center on whether damage was pre-existing or severe enough to cover, which is exactly why early photos, inspection records, and detailed notes matter.
That is not a reason to assume the process will go badly. It is a reason to handle the first day carefully.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I call my insurance company right away after a hailstorm?
If there is obvious major damage, prompt reporting matters. But before filing, it often helps to get a professional inspection so you understand whether the damage appears serious enough to justify a claim.
What kind of damage should I photograph?
Photograph anything visible from the ground, including the roof, gutters, downspouts, screens, siding, AC units, vehicles, windows, garage doors, fences, and fallen branches.
Can I tarp my roof myself?
Only if it is safe and the damage is clearly accessible without putting yourself at risk. Reasonable temporary protection is smart, but climbing on the roof after a storm is not.
How soon should I get the roof inspected?
As soon as it is safe and practical. The sooner the damage is documented and evaluated, the easier it is to understand what happened and decide on the next step.
Why does using a local roofer matter after a hailstorm?
Because local companies are easier to vet, more likely to have real references, and more likely to be around if you need follow-up help. State guidance specifically cautions homeowners about out-of-town storm chasers.
Get a Straight Answer After the Storm
After a hailstorm, the smartest move is not to panic or guess. Stay safe, document the damage, protect the home from getting worse, and get the roof professionally inspected before making big insurance decisions.
Cornerstone Roofing & Gutter has been serving Southern Colorado for more than 40 years. Integrity is the cornerstone of our business, and that means giving homeowners a straightforward assessment of what happened and what to do next. If a hailstorm just hit your home, schedule an inspection and get a clear answer before a small problem turns into a bigger one.