Storm Damage Roof Repair in Westchester: What to Do in the First 48 Hours

Westchester County gets hit by nor'easters, tropical storm remnants, summer microbursts, and heavy winter ice. When a storm takes shingles off your roof or puts a tree branch through it, the clock starts ticking.

What you do in the first 48 hours determines whether your insurance claim goes smoothly, whether secondary water damage compounds the problem, and whether you end up hiring a legitimate contractor or getting taken by a storm chaser.

Here is the step-by-step process.

Before you move debris, before you make phone calls, before you do anything: take photos and video.

From the ground: Walk the perimeter of your house and photograph all visible damage. Missing shingles, dented gutters, broken tree limbs on the roof, damaged siding, broken windows. Get wide shots and close-ups.

From inside: Check every room on the top floor for water stains, drips, or wet spots on ceilings and walls. Photograph everything. Check the attic if you can safely access it and look for daylight coming through, wet insulation, or standing water.

The yard: Document fallen trees, fence damage, and any debris that came off your roof. This supports your insurance claim.

Date and time stamp: Make sure your phone's date and time stamp is on. If not, note the date and time when you took each photo.

This documentation becomes the foundation of your insurance claim. Without it, you are relying on the adjuster's inspection, which may happen days or weeks later after conditions have changed.

Your homeowner's insurance policy requires you to take 'reasonable steps' to prevent further damage. This is called your duty to mitigate. If you leave a hole in your roof open for two weeks and water damage spreads, the insurance company can deny coverage for the secondary damage.

Temporary repairs you can do or have done:

- Tarp the damaged area. A blue tarp weighted down with boards or sandbags keeps water out until permanent repair. Most hardware stores stock tarps. If you cannot safely get on the roof, any roofer will do an emergency tarp job for $200 to $500. - Board up broken windows or holes. Plywood screwed over openings. - Move belongings away from leaks. Get furniture, electronics, and valuables out from under active drips. - Run a dehumidifier. If water got inside, start drying immediately to prevent mold growth.

Keep receipts for everything you spend on temporary repairs. These costs are typically reimbursable under your insurance policy.

Call your homeowner's insurance company as soon as possible. Most policies require you to report damage 'promptly,' which generally means within 24 to 72 hours.

When you call: - Have your policy number ready - Describe the damage clearly - Mention the date and type of storm - Ask about your deductible (typically $1,000 to $2,500 for standard policies, sometimes higher for wind/hail) - Ask for a claim number and the name of your adjuster

The insurance company will send an adjuster to inspect the damage. This can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks depending on how widespread the storm was. In a major event affecting hundreds of homes, adjusters get backlogged.

Important: do NOT sign any contracts with a roofing company before the adjuster inspects. The adjuster's assessment determines what the insurance company will pay for. If you have already agreed to a price with a contractor, you have lost negotiating leverage.

The adjuster works for the insurance company, not for you. They are not trying to cheat you, but their job is to assess the damage accurately, which sometimes means conservatively.

Tips for getting a fair assessment:

Be present during the inspection. Walk through the damage with the adjuster and point out everything you documented.

Provide your photos and video. Share the documentation you took right after the storm. This shows conditions before any cleanup or weathering changed the picture.

Get your own estimate too. Have a local roofer inspect the damage and provide an independent estimate. If the adjuster's number comes in lower, you have a basis for negotiation.

Understand what is covered. Wind and hail damage is covered by standard homeowner's policies. Flood damage is NOT covered unless you have a separate flood policy. If the storm involved rising water (common in Mamaroneck and low-lying areas of New Rochelle), the roof damage may be covered but the water damage inside may not.

You can dispute the claim. If you disagree with the adjuster's assessment, you can request a re-inspection, hire a public adjuster (they work for you, not the insurance company, and typically charge 10 to 15% of the claim), or file a formal dispute.

The best time to find a roofer is before you need one. But if the storm already happened, here is how to find someone fast without getting burned:

- Ask neighbors. If the storm was widespread, others on your street are dealing with the same thing. A roofer who does a good job on one house often picks up work from neighbors. - Check our directory. We list roofing contractors across Westchester with reviews and ratings. - Verify credentials. Home Improvement Contractor registration with Westchester County, current insurance, and recent local work. See our license verification guide for details. - Get at least two quotes even though you are in a hurry. The first company to show up is not always the best option. - Do not sign an Assignment of Benefits (AOB). Some contractors ask you to sign over your insurance benefits to them. This gives them control of your claim and can limit your options if you are unhappy with the work.

Emergency tarp and temporary repair can happen within hours. Permanent repair typically takes 2 to 6 weeks depending on material availability and contractor schedule. That timeline is normal after a storm; do not let anyone pressure you into rushing the permanent fix.