What to Do in the First 24 Hours
Step 1: Stay safe
Do not go on the roof. Do not climb a ladder to inspect damage. Do not try to tarp the roof yourself. Wet roofs, damaged structures, and electrical hazards are real dangers.
Step 2: Document from the ground
Walk the perimeter of your house and take photos of any visible damage: missing shingles, debris on the roof, downed tree limbs, water staining inside. Note the date and time. This documentation supports your insurance claim.
Step 3: Mitigate further damage
If water is entering the house, put buckets under the drip points and move furniture away from the wet area. If you can safely access the attic, check for active water entry. These mitigation steps protect your belongings and are covered under your insurance policy.
Step 4: Call your roofing contractor
Before you call your insurance company, call a qualified local roofer. A good contractor will:
- Respond quickly (same day for emergencies)
- Install a temporary tarp to stop water entry
- Inspect the damage and produce a documented scope with photos
- Meet your insurance adjuster on site when the time comes
Step 5: Call your insurance company
Report the claim. Get a claim number. Ask when the adjuster will come. Tell them you have already arranged for emergency mitigation (the tarp). Emergency mitigation is covered under your policy.
Storm Damage We See Every Year on LI
Wind damage
The most common type. Nor'easters produce sustained winds of 40-60 mph with gusts above 80. Summer thunderstorms produce localized gusts of 60-80 mph. Wind lifts shingle tabs, tears off sections, detaches ridge vents, pulls flashing away from walls, and in severe cases peels the roof membrane back to the deck.
Signs: Missing shingles visible from the ground, shingle debris in the yard, exposed underlayment (black or gray sheets visible on the roof), lifted ridge cap.
Fallen trees and limbs
Suffolk County's heavy tree coverage makes this the second most common storm damage call. A falling limb can crack shingles, puncture the decking, or create a hole that exposes the interior. A full-size tree can cause catastrophic structural damage.
Signs: Obvious — you can see the tree or limb on/through the roof.
Hail damage
Less common on Long Island than in the Midwest and Great Plains, but we see it. Hail cracks shingles, creates circular bruise marks in the granule surface, dents metal flashing and vents, and can damage skylights. Hail damage is often invisible from the ground but clearly visible on close inspection.
Signs: Circular dents in metal vents, flashing, or gutters. Random cracking patterns on shingles. Granule splatter marks around impact points.
Ice dam damage
Forms in cold winters when heat escapes through the attic, melts snow on the upper roof, and the meltwater refreezes at the eaves. The ice backup pushes water under the shingles and into the attic and walls.
Signs: Icicles hanging from the eaves (a warning sign, not damage itself), water stains on interior walls near the roofline, peeling paint on soffits, ice ridges along the roof edge.
How the Insurance Process Works After Storm Damage
Day 1: Report the claim. Get emergency tarp installed.
Days 3-14: Adjuster inspects the damage. Your contractor should be present.
Days 14-30: Adjuster issues scope of loss. You and your contractor review it. If the scope is low, your contractor submits a supplement.
Days 30-60: Claim is approved (or supplemented and re-approved). First check issued minus deductible.
Days 60-90: Repair or replacement completed. Final documentation submitted. Depreciation holdback released.
Total timeline: Most storm damage claims on Long Island resolve in 60-90 days from the event to the completed repair. Complex claims (structural damage, disputed coverage) can take longer.
Watch Out for Storm Chasers
After every major storm, out-of-state roofing crews descend on Long Island going door to door offering "free inspections." Here is why to avoid them:
They are not local. They are based in Texas, Florida, or another state and follow storms around the country. They have no Long Island license, no local office, and no long-term accountability.
They want you to sign an Assignment of Benefits (AOB). This transfers your insurance claim rights to them. You lose control of the claim.
Their work is fast and cheap. They want to get paid and move to the next storm. They skip details that matter: proper flashing, ice and water shield, ridge vent, nail patterns. The problems show up in 2-3 years when they are three states away.
They inflate claims. Some storm chasers deliberately inflate the scope to increase the insurance payout (and their fee). This is insurance fraud and you can be held liable.
Hire local. A local contractor lives here, is licensed here, and will be here in 5 years when you call about a warranty issue. Ask for a Nassau or Suffolk HIC license number. If they cannot produce one, show them the door.
How to Minimize Storm Damage Before It Happens
Trim trees. Any limb that overhangs your roof or is within striking distance should be trimmed by a professional arborist. This is the single most effective thing you can do to prevent storm damage.
Maintain the roof. Annual inspections catch loose flashing, failing pipe boots, and lifting shingle tabs before a storm turns them into leaks.
Check the ridge vent. Ridge vents that are improperly nailed or have deteriorated cap shingles are vulnerable to wind lift. We check this on every inspection.
Improve attic ventilation. Proper ventilation reduces ice dam risk. Continuous ridge vent plus soffit vents create airflow that keeps the roof deck cold and prevents snow melt.
Clean gutters. Clogged gutters hold water that freezes and contributes to ice dams. Clean them in fall and spring.
Storm Damage? We Are Here.
Long Island native with over a decade of roofing experience across Nassau and Suffolk County. Founded LI Roofing Co. in 2014 and has overseen 1,850+ roof installations.