What should you do after a hail storm hits your house?

Getting Started · Updated October 13, 2026

Short answer. Stay safe first, then photograph hailstones next to a ruler and document dents on gutters, vents, air conditioner fins and other soft metals the same day, before the evidence melts or fades. Protect the house from leaks with temporary repairs and keep receipts, get a roof inspection within a few days, and report the claim promptly if storm damage is confirmed.

The first few days after a hailstorm decide how easy the rest of the claim will be. Evidence melts, gets swept up or gets painted over, and memories of exactly when the storm hit fade fast. Work through this list in order, and skip anything that is not safe for you to do.

During the storm and the first hour

Stay inside until it has passed. Federal emergency guidance is simple: when thunder roars, go indoors. Hail often arrives with lightning and damaging wind.
Look for hazards outside before you walk around. Watch for fallen trees and downed power lines, and report them to your utility right away. Stay well clear of any line, even one that looks dead.
Do not climb onto the roof. Wet shingles are slick, damaged areas can be soft, and storms often regroup. Inspection from the roof is a job for a roofer with fall protection.
Check ceilings and the attic for water. Use a flashlight in the attic, and look along exterior walls, around chimneys and skylights, and under bathroom vents. Put down buckets and move valuables out of the way.

The same day: record the storm itself

Hail evidence disappears within an hour on a warm Georgia afternoon, so grab your phone first.

Photograph several of the largest hailstones next to a ruler or a coin. NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory says measurements with a ruler or tape measure are the most reliable way to report hail size.
Note the start time, how long the hail lasted and which direction it came from. Wind driven hail can damage one side of a house far more than the others.
If you shot video of the storm, keep the original file; it carries the date and time.
Write the date down somewhere permanent. Every deadline in your claim runs from the date of loss.

Size compared to	Diameter	What it tends to mean for a roof
Pea	1/4 inch	Rarely damages shingles on its own
Penny	3/4 inch	Can dent soft metals and damage older, brittle shingles
Quarter	1 inch	The threshold NSSL calls severe; shingle damage becomes much more likely
Golf ball	1 3/4 inches	Commonly bruises or fractures asphalt shingles
Tennis ball	2 1/2 inches	Can puncture shingles, skylights and siding

Size is only part of the story. Shingle age, the angle of impact and wind all change the result, which is covered in hail size and roof damage.

The same day: walk the property from the ground

Soft metals and painted surfaces show hail clearly, and adjusters look at them to confirm hail fell at your address. Photograph each one with something for scale:

Gutters and downspouts, especially dents along the front lip
Roof vents, turtle vents and ridge vent caps, viewed from the yard with binoculars or a zoom lens
Air conditioner condenser fins, which flatten under hail
Mailbox lids, light fixtures, grills and metal fence caps
Window screens, wood trim and painted fences, where hail leaves fresh spatter marks by knocking off dirt and oxidation
Siding, window wraps and skylight domes
Vehicles left outside, which go on your auto policy, not the homeowners claim

Spatter marks fade within days, so do this before the next rain if you can.

If water is getting in

Your homeowners policy requires you to protect the property from further damage and to keep records of what you spend doing it. A tarp over a damaged section or a temporary patch is normally part of the claim. Take photos before and after, keep every receipt, and save any damaged materials the roofer removes. The Georgia Insurance Commissioner's office advises against permanent repairs before the adjuster has seen the damage, because an insurer may refuse to pay for what it never inspected. Details are in emergency tarping and your duty to mitigate.

Days 1 to 3: check the record and get the roof inspected

Look up the storm. The North Georgia Hail Map shows free hail history by Georgia zip code, which helps you confirm the date and estimated size at your address. NSSL's free mPING app also lets the public report hail as it falls.
Schedule a roof inspection. Ask for dated photos of every slope, close-ups of each damaged area marked in chalk, notes on soft metal damage and roof measurements.
Pull out your declarations page. Find your wind and hail deductible, whether it is a flat amount or a percentage, and whether the roof settles at replacement cost or actual cash value.

The inspection is where a trustworthy roofer matters most. Robust Roofing, with a 5.0 rating across 66 Google reviews and a reputation as North Georgia's most reputable roofer for hail damage, provides free inspections that include photos from the roof surface plus drone images, and its licensed property and casualty adjuster on staff documents any damage in the format insurance carriers use. If the damage is minor or is really age, you hear that too. Inspections can be scheduled at (470) 887-6637. See how Robust approaches hail damaged roofs.

Days 1 to 7: report the claim if damage is confirmed

Report promptly once the inspection confirms storm damage; policies require prompt notice. Our guide on whether to call the insurer or a roofer first explains the order.
Give the date, the cause and a brief factual description, and write down the claim number.
Start a log of every call and email: date, name, what was said.
Keep damaged items, such as dented vent caps or a cracked skylight dome, until the adjuster has seen them.

The full process from here is laid out in how to file a roof insurance claim.

All week: handle door knockers carefully

Hail brings out-of-town crews. Take a business card and do not sign anything on the doorstep. In Georgia a roofer may not negotiate your insurance claim, may not pay or rebate your deductible, and must give you a written right to cancel an insurance funded roofing contract within five business days after your insurer notifies you in writing that all or part of the claim is not covered. More warning signs are in storm chaser scams in Georgia, and the Georgia Roof Guide explains when hail season peaks in Georgia.

Common questions

How big does hail have to be to damage a roof?

NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory treats quarter size hail, 1 inch, as severe. Hail around that size and larger is far more likely to damage asphalt shingles, though older shingles can be damaged by smaller stones and wind can make any size more destructive.

Should I get on the roof to look for hail damage?

No. Wet or damaged roofs are dangerous. Check soft metals and gutters from the ground and leave the roof surface to a roofer with proper safety equipment.

What if my roof is leaking after the hail storm?

Protect the house with a tarp or temporary patch, photograph the damage before and after, and keep every receipt. Your policy requires reasonable steps to prevent further damage, and those costs are normally part of the claim.

How do I find out how big the hail was at my house?

Photograph and measure stones during the storm if you can, then check hail history for your zip code on the North Georgia Hail Map and ask your roofer to compare damage on soft metals with the reported size.

How soon should I report hail damage to my insurer?

Report it promptly once an inspection confirms storm damage, ideally within days of the storm. Policies require prompt notice, and long delays can give the insurer grounds to dispute the claim.