Memphis spring storms can turn from a rumble of thunder into a barrage of hail in minutes. Once it passes and the sky clears, what you do in the next few days can make a real difference, both for the safety of your home and for any insurance claim you may need to file. As a family-owned Memphis roofing company that has helped neighbors through countless storm seasons, we put together this checklist so you know exactly what to do, in order, after the hail stops.
Step 1: Stay inside until it is safe
It sounds obvious, but the moments right after a storm are when people get hurt. Wait until the hail and lightning have fully passed before going outside. Watch for downed power lines, broken branches, and standing water. Your roof can wait a few minutes; your safety cannot.
Step 2: Check inside your home first
Before you look at the roof, walk through your home and look up. Check ceilings and the tops of walls for water stains, drips, or fresh discoloration. Head into the attic if you can do so safely and look for daylight coming through, wet insulation, or water trails on the underside of the decking. Interior signs of water intrusion mean your roof was likely breached and you should act quickly to prevent further damage.
Step 3: Document everything from the ground
This step is where homeowners either protect themselves or leave money on the table. Walk around your house and photograph everything from ground level. You are looking for dented gutters and downspouts, dings in metal flashing or vents, damaged window screens, dented siding, and shingle granules washed into the driveway or collected at the bottom of downspouts. Loose granules are one of the clearest signs your shingles took a beating.
Take wide shots and close-ups. Photograph your outdoor air conditioning unit, which often shows hail dents that prove the storm hit your property. Note the date and time. Do not climb onto the roof yourself, especially when it may be wet and slippery. Leave the rooftop inspection to a professional.
Step 4: Make temporary repairs if water is getting in
If you have an active leak, place buckets to catch water and move furniture or valuables out of the way. If you can safely reach an interior leak, a small tarp or plastic sheeting can limit damage. Keep receipts for any emergency supplies you buy, because reasonable emergency expenses are often reimbursable through your insurance. Do not attempt rooftop tarping yourself; a professional emergency tarp is safer and more effective.
Step 5: Get a professional roof inspection
Hail damage is often invisible from the ground. A trained roofer can spot bruising, fractured shingles, and compromised seals that an untrained eye will miss, and that missed damage can turn into leaks months later. A reputable local roofer will inspect your roof, document what they find with photos, and give you an honest assessment of whether you have a repairable issue, a full claim, or no significant damage at all. We offer free inspections after every major Memphis storm, and we will always tell you the truth, even when the truth is that your roof is fine.
Step 6: Be careful who knocks on your door
Within hours of a Memphis hailstorm, out-of-town storm chasers flood the neighborhoods. They knock on doors, push you to sign quickly, and often disappear once the check clears, leaving you with shoddy work and no one to call when problems appear. Be skeptical of anyone offering to waive your deductible, demanding a signature on the spot, or pressuring you with urgency. A local company that lives and works in Memphis is still here next year when you need a warranty honored.
Step 7: File your insurance claim with documentation in hand
Once you have your photos and a professional inspection report, contact your insurance company to start a claim. Provide your documentation and the inspection findings. A good local roofer can meet your adjuster on site to make sure the damage is fully accounted for. The better your documentation, the smoother your claim, and the less likely you are to be underpaid for legitimate damage.
Why timing matters more than most homeowners think
Insurance policies often include a window for reporting storm damage, and waiting too long can give an insurer reason to deny a claim or argue that the damage came from a different event or from simple aging. Acting within days of a storm, while the weather records clearly support your timeline, strengthens your position considerably. Prompt action also limits the secondary damage that turns a manageable repair into a major one. A small hail puncture left through a few more Memphis rainstorms can soak insulation, stain ceilings, and create the conditions for mold, none of which improves your claim or your home.
There is also a practical reason to move quickly after a widespread storm: every roofer in the area gets busy at once. Homeowners who document and inspect early get on the schedule first, while those who wait can find themselves with a tarp over a hole for weeks during the busiest part of the season.
Keep a simple record from start to finish
Throughout the entire process, keep one folder, digital or paper, with everything in it: your photos, the dates, your inspection report, your claim number, the names of everyone you speak with, and copies of every estimate and document. Insurance claims can stretch over weeks, and adjusters and representatives change. Having a clean record means you never have to reconstruct the story from memory, and it protects you if any disagreement arises later about what was reported and when.
Storms are stressful, but you do not have to handle the aftermath alone. If hail has hit your Memphis area home, call 5ash Roofing for a free, no-pressure inspection. We have walked Memphis families through storm recovery for over 20 years, and we are proud to be the neighbors you can count on when the weather turns.
