Storm Damage Insurance Claims: A Homeowner's Complete Guide

When a severe storm rolls through Sioux Falls, the first hours and days after the damage set the tone for your entire insurance claim. Move too fast and you might miss documentation your insurer needs. Wait too long and you risk mold, water intrusion or a denied claim. This guide walks you through exactly what to do in the right order so you can protect your home and recover every dollar your policy owes you.

1. Immediate steps after storm damage

Your first priority is safety. Storm damage often comes with hidden hazards like downed power lines, gas leaks, structural weakness and standing water near electrical systems. Before you inspect or photograph anything:

• Get everyone out of unsafe rooms and away from damaged areas.
• Do not enter a room with sagging ceilings, buckled floors or exposed wiring.
• Shut off water, gas and electricity to affected areas if you can do so safely.
• Call 911 if there is any risk of fire, gas leak, or downed live wires.

Prevent further damage — but don't rebuild yet

Your insurance policy requires you to make reasonable temporary repairs to prevent additional damage. That means covering a hole in the roof with a tarp, boarding up a broken window, or moving valuables away from a leak. It does not mean starting demolition or permanent repairs before your insurance adjuster has documented the loss.

Save every receipt for tarps, plywood, fans, dehumidifiers and emergency labor — these are typically reimbursable under your claim.

2. How to document storm damage

Documentation is the single most important factor in a smooth, fully-paid insurance claim. Your goal is to give the adjuster unquestionable evidence of what was damaged, when it was damaged, and its condition before the storm.

Take photos and video of everything

• Wide shots of every room and every exterior elevation of the home.
• Close-ups of specific damage — hail dents, roof impacts, cracked siding, water stains, missing shingles, broken windows.
• Serial numbers and model tags on damaged appliances, HVAC equipment and electronics.
• A short walkthrough video narrating what you're seeing. Video is often more convincing than photos alone.

Make a written inventory

List every damaged item with a description, approximate age and estimated replacement cost. If you have pre-storm photos of your home (holiday photos, real estate listing photos, prior renovation pictures), gather them — they establish the "before" condition.

Keep a claim journal

Log every phone call, email and visit related to your claim. Note the date, name, company and what was discussed or promised. Insurance claims can take weeks or months, and a written record protects you if something is disputed later.

3. Filing your storm damage insurance claim

Once your home is safe and documented, file your claim quickly. Here's the standard flow:

1. Call your insurance company or file online. Have your policy number, the date and time of the storm, and a brief description of the damage ready.
2. Get your claim number and the name and contact information for your assigned adjuster.
3. Schedule the adjuster inspection. Whenever possible, have your restoration contractor present during this inspection so nothing is missed.
4. Review the scope and estimate the adjuster provides. Compare it line-by-line with the estimate from your restoration contractor.
5. Sign a work authorization with your chosen restoration company — never sign anything that assigns your insurance benefits to a contractor before you understand what it means.
6. Repairs begin, supplemental damage is submitted if it's found during work, and final payment is issued when the job is complete.

4. What storm damage insurance typically covers

Most standard homeowner policies (HO-3, HO-5) cover sudden and accidental damage from wind, hail, lightning and falling objects. Typical covered losses include:

• Roof, siding and gutter damage from wind and hail
• Broken windows and doors
• Interior water damage caused by wind-driven rain through a storm-created opening
• Damage to detached structures like garages, sheds and fences
• Loss of personal belongings damaged by the storm
• Additional living expenses if your home is temporarily unlivable
• Reasonable emergency mitigation costs (tarping, board-up, water extraction)

What's often excluded or limited

• Flood damage from rising surface water (requires separate flood insurance)
• Wear-and-tear, neglect or long-term leaks not caused by the storm
• Cosmetic-only damage under some newer policies (check your endorsements)
• Mold, unless it results directly from a covered water event

Every policy is different. Read your declarations page for your deductibles (wind/hail is often a separate, higher deductible in South Dakota) and any endorsements or exclusions.

5. How Crew Restoration helps with your claim

Working with an insurance-experienced restoration company can be the difference between a claim that covers the full scope of repairs and one that leaves you paying out of pocket. Crew Restoration works directly with every major insurance carrier serving Sioux Falls and the surrounding region.

Here's what we do for storm-damaged homeowners:

• Free property inspection to identify every area of damage — interior and exterior, obvious and hidden.
• Detailed, line-item estimate in the same format (Xactimate) most insurance carriers use, so scope disagreements are minimized.
• Meet with your adjuster on-site to walk the damage together and advocate for the full scope of repairs.
• Handle supplement requests when additional damage is discovered during construction — a very common part of storm claims.
• Direct communication with your carrier so you spend less time on the phone and more time getting back to normal.
• Complete restoration from tarp and water mitigation through reconstruction, so you have one accountable team from start to finish.

Want to know more about how we work with your carrier? See our insurance assistance overview →

6. Common storm claim mistakes to avoid

• Signing a contract before you understand the scope. Never sign an "Assignment of Benefits" or "Direction to Pay" you haven't fully read. Reputable contractors don't need it to start work.
• Accepting the first estimate without a walkthrough. Adjusters are thorough but human — hail damage to soft metals, vents, screens and back-slope roofing is often missed.
• Starting permanent repairs before the adjuster arrives. Doing so can void portions of your claim.
• Choosing a storm-chaser contractor. Out-of-state crews that appear after every hail storm are often gone before warranty issues surface. Choose local.
• Paying your deductible to a contractor who "eats" it. This is insurance fraud in most states and can void your policy.
• Missing the claim deadline. File the claim promptly, even if you're still assessing full damage.

7. Frequently asked questions

Related reading: Water Damage Timeline: What Happens After 24, 48 & 72 Hours →