What To Do After Storm Damages Your Roof in Louisiana

A storm just rolled through. You’ve got water dripping through your ceiling, shingles on your lawn, or worse — visible sky where your roof used to be. Knowing what to do after storm damages your roof in Louisiana can save you thousands of dollars, protect your insurance claim, and keep your family safe while repairs get sorted out.

This guide gives you the exact steps to take — in order — from the moment the storm passes to the point where your contractor is on the job. We’ll also cover the legal protections Louisiana has put in place to protect you from storm chaser contractors, and what to expect from a legitimate inspection and repair process.

Step 1: Ensure Safety Before Going Outside

After a severe storm, your first priority is safety — not your roof.

Wait for the all-clear:

Stay inside until lightning has stopped and wind has died down
Watch for downed power lines before walking around your property
Check your attic for active water intrusion or structural damage before entering upper floors

Look for danger signs:

Sagging ceilings may indicate pooled water — evacuate if this is severe
Structural sounds (creaking, cracking) after high winds warrant professional assessment before you re-enter
Gas odors require immediate evacuation and a call to your utility company

Once it’s safe to go outside, begin your damage assessment and documentation immediately.

Step 2: Document Everything — Before You Touch Anything

The single most important thing you can do what to do after storm damages your roof in Louisiana is document the damage thoroughly before making any repairs (even temporary ones).

Your documentation checklist:

Roof exterior (from the ground and, if safe, closer):

All roof planes — missing, lifted, creased, or torn shingles
Damaged flashing at chimneys, vents, skylights, and valleys
Gutters — look for large accumulations of granules (indicates shingle impact)
Metal vents, gutters, and AC units — check for dents from hail
Wide shots showing the full roof slope and any obvious damage zones

Attic interior:

Wet or darkened roof sheathing
Wet insulation
Any visible light through the deck (indicates hole or gap)

Interior:

Ceiling stains or active drips
Water on floors near exterior walls or at light fixtures
Any damage to belongings

Best practices:

Enable timestamps on your camera before you start
Shoot both close-ups and wide context shots
Save immediately to cloud storage
Write a brief written log: date, time, type of storm (wind, hail, tornado), conditions you observed

Step 3: Make Emergency Temporary Repairs — and Document Those Too

Louisiana law and most insurance policies require homeowners to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage after a storm event. This means you can and should make temporary repairs — but you must document them.

Acceptable temporary repairs:

Tarping over exposed areas or holes
Boarding up broken windows
Placing buckets or tarps inside to catch active drips
Removing water to prevent mold growth

Important rules:

Document the damage before installing the tarp — don’t cover damage before photographing it
Save all receipts for emergency materials (tarps, lumber, supplies)
Do not make permanent repairs until your insurance adjuster has inspected the damage

If you’re not comfortable getting on your roof, many licensed roofing contractors offer emergency tarping services. JP Home Partners can connect you with a vetted contractor for emergency storm damage response.

Step 4: File Your Insurance Claim Promptly

After documenting the damage and making emergency temporary repairs, contact your insurance company to open a claim.

When to file:

As soon as possible — ideally within 24–72 hours of the storm
Most policies require “prompt” notice; specific timeframes vary (often 30–60 days)
Louisiana’s property damage statute of limitations is 2 years for damage occurring on or after July 1, 2024 — but don’t rely on this as your filing window. Your policy’s notice requirements are shorter and must be met

What to have ready:

Your policy number
Date and description of the storm
Your documentation (photos, video, written log)
A list of damaged areas and any emergency expenses

After filing, you’ll receive a claim number and adjuster assignment. Request a specific inspection date and plan to be present. See our detailed guide: How to File a Roof Insurance Claim in Louisiana.

What to Expect From Your Contractor’s Visit

Once your claim is filed and your documentation is complete, schedule an inspection with a licensed Louisiana roofing contractor. Here’s what a legitimate inspection looks like:

What a good contractor will do:

Inspect the full roof system, not just visible damage points
Check the attic for moisture, structural damage, and deck condition
Provide a written assessment and, if you want, a repair estimate
Explain their findings clearly and answer your questions
Verify they can pull required permits before work begins

Red flags to watch for:

Pressure to sign anything before you’ve received your insurance adjustment
Offers to waive your deductible (this is insurance fraud)
No Louisiana license number to provide
Door-to-door solicitation immediately after a storm with pressure to “sign today”
Claims they can handle everything with your insurance company as a “claim specialist” — as of 2025, this is prohibited under Louisiana law

The Storm Chaser Warning: Louisiana’s New Licensing Law (Effective January 1, 2026)

After major storms, Louisiana — like every Gulf Coast state — sees an influx of out-of-state contractors who move from disaster zone to disaster zone. Many are unlicensed, uninsured, and do substandard work. Some take deposits and disappear.

Louisiana enacted Act 422 to address this directly. Effective January 1, 2026:

Any contractor performing residential roofing work valued at $7,500 or more must hold a Residential Roofing or Residential Construction license from the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC)
Violations include starting work without a permit, misrepresenting project scope or value, and failing required inspections
The LSLBC now has expanded authority to fine and stop unlicensed work

This law is a significant protection for Louisiana homeowners — particularly after storms when demand surges and bad actors flood the market. Always verify any contractor’s LSLBC license before signing a contract. See our full guide: How to Verify a Louisiana Roofing Contractor’s License.

Emergency Repair vs. Waiting for Insurance: What to Know

A common question after storm damage: should you make full repairs right away, or wait for your insurance company?

The right answer: Make temporary emergency repairs immediately to stop further damage. Hold off on permanent repairs until your adjuster has completed their inspection.

Here’s why this matters:

Making permanent repairs before your adjuster inspects can complicate or invalidate your claim
Your insurer needs to see the actual damage to properly assess it
However, failing to make temporary repairs (tarping, water mitigation) and allowing secondary damage to worsen can also affect your claim — insurers can reduce payment for damage you “allowed” to occur

What to do:

Document all damage thoroughly
Make emergency temporary repairs (tarp, board, pump water)
File your claim and schedule your adjuster inspection
Get your licensed contractor’s written assessment (which can be submitted with your claim)
Begin permanent repairs once you have the adjuster’s scope of loss or written authorization from your insurer

For insurance claim assistance and storm damage repair in Louisiana, JP Home Partners connects you with vetted, LSLBC-licensed contractors who know the claims process and can help ensure your documentation is thorough.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a storm damage claim in Louisiana? Louisiana’s statute of limitations for property damage is 2 years for damage occurring on or after July 1, 2024. However, your insurance policy’s notice requirements are typically 30–60 days — check your policy and file as soon as possible. Delaying gives insurers grounds to dispute whether the damage was storm-related.

Should I get on my roof to check for damage? Only if you can do so safely and have the right equipment. Most homeowners should document what’s visible from the ground and from the attic, and let a licensed contractor handle the roof inspection. Contractors who inspect storm damage should do so free of charge or as part of their estimate process.

What if a contractor shows up at my door after a storm? Door-to-door solicitation after storms is a red flag for storm chasing behavior. That said, not every contractor who knocks is a bad actor. Always ask for their LSLBC license number, verify it at lslbc.louisiana.gov, check their insurance, get a written contract, and never pay more than a small deposit upfront. Learn more: How to Verify a Louisiana Roofing Contractor’s License.

Can a contractor waive my deductible? No. Waiving an insurance deductible to win a roofing job is illegal in Louisiana. If a contractor offers to “work with your insurance” in a way that eliminates your deductible, walk away — this is a red flag for insurance fraud that can put you at legal risk.

What if my roof is not leaking — do I still need to file a claim? Possibly. Storm damage — particularly hail damage — can compromise your roof’s integrity without causing an immediate leak. Granule loss, bruised shingles, and cracked tabs accelerate your roof’s aging and may lead to leaks months or years later. A licensed contractor inspection shortly after a major storm can identify damage you might not see from the ground.

Ready to connect with a vetted Louisiana roofing contractor? Get Your Free Quote — it takes 2 minutes and there’s no obligation.

JP Home Partners is a referral service. We connect homeowners with independently licensed and insured Louisiana roofing contractors.