This is general guidance for after a storm has passed. It does not confirm damage from any particular storm. If anyone is hurt or in danger, call 911. Free Roof Score is not an emergency service.
1. Wait for the official all-clear
Return home only after officials say it is safe, as the National Weather Service advises. Until then, and even afterward:
- Stay away from downed power lines and anything they touch.
- Do not walk or drive through floodwater. It can hide currents, debris, and electrical hazards (NWS flood safety). Turn around instead.
- Stay out of buildings that look unstable.
- Never run a generator indoors or in a garage.
2. Do not go up, in, or under
Do not climb onto the roof, go into the attic, or put up a tarp yourself after a storm. Wet surfaces, hidden structural damage, and debris make these places dangerous. If water is coming in near wiring, outlets, or light fixtures, or something looks unsafe, keep everyone away from that area. Contact qualified help or emergency authorities. This guide does not give medical, electrical, or structural advice.
3. Write down what you can see from a safe spot
Once officials say it is safe, notes and photos taken from where you can safely stand are optional. Record:
- where you noticed the issue and when
- what you saw, described plainly (for example, "stain on bedroom ceiling" or "shingles in the yard")
- any changes from before the storm, if you know them
Photos and notes do not prove what caused the damage, and they do not decide a claim. Describe what you see without guessing the cause. Ask a roofing company to assess actual condition rather than treating ground-level observations as a diagnosis.
4. Questions to ask any roofing company
- What will you assess, and how will you do it safely?
- When is it safe to start the work?
- Is the proposed work a temporary fix or a permanent repair? What is included and what is excluded?
- What will it cost, how is payment handled, what warranties apply, and what records will I receive?
- For a rental property: who has to approve access and work?
Agree on scope, pricing, and timing directly with the company before work begins.
5. Insurance
Ask your insurer or agent how your policy applies and what they need from you. Free Roof Score does not give coverage or legal advice and does not deal with insurance companies on your behalf.
Property teams
Owners and managers of commercial or apartment buildings should use the commercial or multifamily request pages.
Owner-reviewed matching, not emergency dispatch
A&E reviews each Georgia or Alabama request first and may share it with at most one suitable available independent company, depending on location, project type, and capacity. We cannot guarantee a match, a company's availability, or a response time. Requests are free for homeowners with no obligation to hire, and A&E is compensated by the partner network only when a job moves forward.
Related: roof repair guide, before a hurricane, Isaias forecast snapshot, October 7, 2026.