How to Document Storm Damage in the First 48 Hours
The steps you take right after a loss determine what you can prove later. Follow this checklist before you call anyone.
Safety first: only enter your property if it is structurally sound and utilities are off. Then start documenting immediately — memory fades and evidence disappears.
Photograph every room, every elevation of the exterior, and every damaged item from multiple angles. Take short video walk-throughs with narration. Save receipts for tarps, board-up, hotels, and any emergency mitigation.
Do NOT throw damaged items away until they've been documented and, ideally, inspected. Do not sign an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) with a contractor before you understand what you're signing. Call a licensed public adjuster before you give a recorded statement to the carrier.