Before you dial your insurance company after a storm, stop. The single biggest mistake homeowners make is calling their insurer before they have any documentation in hand — and that gap can cost them thousands of dollars in a disputed or underpaid claim. This checklist walks you through exactly what to gather, photograph, and record in the hours and days after storm damage, so when you do make that call, you’re in control of the conversation instead of scrambling to catch up.
Step 1: Make Sure It’s Safe to Enter and Inspect
After a severe storm — the kind that rolls through the Sioux Falls area with 70 mph straight-line winds, baseball-sized hail, or a foot of snow followed by a rapid melt — your first job is not documentation. It’s safety.
Before you walk the property:
- Look for downed power lines near the structure. If you see any, stay inside and call MidAmerican Energy or Northwestern Energy before approaching.
- Check the roofline from the ground. A visibly sagging ridge or a section of roof that has shifted means the structure may be compromised — don’t go in.
- Smell for gas. A hissing sound or rotten-egg odor means you leave immediately and call the utility from outside.
- Watch for standing water near your electrical panel, outlets, or appliances. Water and live circuits are a life-safety issue, not a property issue.
Once you’ve confirmed it’s safe to move through the home, start your documentation — not your cleanup.
Step 2: Document Everything Before You Touch Anything
Insurance adjusters work from evidence. The more you have, the harder it is for a claim to be disputed or reduced. Your phone camera is your most important tool right now.
What to photograph and video:
- Every room, starting at the door and panning slowly. You want context, not just close-ups.
- The exterior of the structure from all four corners.
- The roof from the ground using zoom — and from above if you can safely access it via a ladder (have someone spot you).
- Every piece of visible damage: missing shingles, dented gutters, cracked siding, broken windows, water stains on ceilings or walls, buckled flooring.
- Any personal property that was damaged — furniture, electronics, clothing, appliances.
- The storm itself, if it’s still safe to do so. A photo of hail on your driveway with a ruler or a coin for scale is powerful evidence of hail size.
What to record in writing:
- The date and approximate time the storm hit.
- A written description of what you observed when you first entered the property.
- Serial numbers and model numbers of any damaged appliances or electronics.
- Receipts or purchase records for high-value items, if you can locate them quickly.
If you already cleaned something up before you read this — don’t panic. Write down what it looked like before you touched it, and note why you had to act (for example, a tarp over a hole to prevent further water intrusion is a reasonable emergency measure, and insurers generally accept it).
Step 3: Build Your Claim Checklist
This is the actual checklist. Go through it line by line before you call your insurer.
Documentation:
- Photos and video of all exterior damage
- Photos and video of all interior damage
- Written timeline of the storm and your discovery of damage
- List of damaged personal property with estimated values
- Serial/model numbers for damaged appliances and electronics
- Receipts or bank statements showing purchase of high-value items (if available)
Your policy:
- Your policy number and declarations page (usually in your email or insurance company’s app)
- Your deductible amount — know this before you call so you can evaluate repair estimates accurately
- Whether you have “replacement cost value” (RCV) or “actual cash value” (ACV) coverage — these pay out very differently
- Any endorsements for specific coverage: sump pump backup, service line, scheduled personal property
Contractor estimates:
- At least one written estimate from a licensed contractor before the adjuster visit, if possible — this gives you a baseline to compare against the adjuster’s scope
- Any emergency services receipts (tarping, water extraction, board-up) — these are typically reimbursable
Communication log:
- Name and direct number of your insurance agent
- Claim number once assigned
- Date, time, and summary of every call or email with your insurer
What NOT to Do After Storm Damage
A few common mistakes that complicate or reduce claims:
Don’t make permanent repairs before the adjuster inspects. Temporary emergency measures — tarping a damaged roof, boarding a broken window — are fine and necessary to prevent further damage. But replacing shingles, repainting, or patching walls before an adjuster has seen the original damage removes the evidence they need to pay you fairly.
Don’t throw away damaged materials. Keep pieces of damaged shingles, sections of flooring, or broken fixtures in a pile somewhere on the property. Adjusters can request to see them, and having them available removes any doubt about the scope of damage.
Don’t sign anything from a contractor who showed up unsolicited. Storm chasers — out-of-state contractors who follow major weather events — are common in South Dakota after a bad season. Some are legitimate; many are not. Never sign an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) form that transfers your insurance rights to a contractor. Work with local companies you can verify.
Don’t assume the first adjuster estimate is final. You have the right to dispute a claim, hire a public adjuster, or request a re-inspection. If the estimate feels low, get a second contractor opinion before you accept a settlement.
When to Bring in a Restoration Professional
Some storm damage is straightforward — a few missing shingles, a cracked gutter. A roofing contractor handles it, the claim closes, done.
But other damage is less obvious and more dangerous:
- Water intrusion through the roof or walls that has been sitting for more than 24–48 hours can begin supporting mold growth inside wall cavities and attic sheathing — often before you can see or smell it.
- Hail damage to roofing that looks cosmetic can compromise the waterproofing layer beneath the granules, leading to leaks months later.
- Flooded basements or crawl spaces after rapid snowmelt or heavy rain carry contamination risk depending on whether the water source was clean rainwater or backed-up drainage.
- Structural movement from wind or fallen trees needs a professional assessment before anyone spends time inside.
A certified restoration contractor can scope the damage in a way that’s compatible with your insurance claim — documenting moisture readings, identifying hidden damage, and providing written reports that adjusters can work from directly.
The Longer Recovery: What Comes After the Claim
Once your claim is filed and an adjuster has visited, you’ll receive a scope of loss — a line-by-line breakdown of what the insurer agrees to pay for. Review it carefully against your contractor’s estimate. Line items that appear in one but not the other are worth a conversation.
Depreciation holdbacks (common with ACV policies) are released once repairs are complete and you submit final invoices, so keep every receipt. Supplemental claims — for damage discovered during repairs that wasn’t visible during the initial inspection — are normal and accepted by most carriers when documented properly.
Recovery from a significant storm event can take weeks to months depending on contractor availability, material lead times, and claim complexity. The homeowners who move through the process most smoothly are the ones who started with solid documentation and stayed organized throughout.
If you’re dealing with storm damage in the Sioux Falls area and aren’t sure what you’re looking at — or you want a professional assessment before the insurance adjuster arrives — Crew Restoration & Construction can walk through the property with you. Reach the team at (605) 965-2727.