Before You Clear Storm Damage, Document It

The instinct after a storm is to start clearing. Ten minutes of documentation first is the difference between a claim that goes smoothly and one that becomes an argument.

Safety is still first

None of this is worth an injury. Before you photograph anything:

• Treat every downed line as live and stay well clear
• Look up before walking anywhere — hanging broken limbs are where most post-storm injuries happen
• Do not enter a structurally damaged building or a partially collapsed structure
• Watch for standing water near electrical equipment
• Do not run a generator in a garage or near an opening

What to photograph

1. 1**Wide shots first**, showing the whole property and where each damaged item sits in relation to the house. Context is what an adjuster needs to understand the event.
2. 2**Medium shots** of each damaged element — the fence line, the pool cage, the roof, the tree.
3. 3**Close-ups** of specific damage — a torn shingle, a snapped post, a punctured screen, water staining inside.
4. 4**Video**, walking the property narrating what you are seeing. It captures things stills miss and it timestamps naturally.
5. 5**The interior**, if water got in — ceilings, walls, floors and contents.
6. 6**Serial numbers and model plates** on any damaged equipment.

Then take reasonable steps to prevent more damage

Insurance policies generally expect you to mitigate — that is, to stop the damage getting worse. The cost of doing so is typically covered.

• Tarp a compromised roof if it is safe to do so, or have it done
• Board or cover broken windows and openings
• Move belongings away from active leaks
• Get water out and air moving — mold begins within a day or two in Florida humidity
• Shut off water or power to a damaged area

Photograph the damage before the temporary repair, and keep every receipt.

Open the claim promptly

Most policies require prompt notice. Call your insurer, get the claim number, and keep a log of every conversation with dates and names.

Understand your deductible

Florida policies frequently carry a separate hurricane or wind deductible, often calculated as a percentage of the dwelling coverage rather than a flat amount. It is worth knowing that number before you assume a claim is worth filing.

For smaller damage, the repair may fall below the deductible entirely.

Then, and only then, clear

Once it is documented and the claim is open, clearing can start. Before you pay to haul anything:

• **Check local storm debris collection.** After a declared event, governments across Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco frequently collect curbside on a separate schedule, sorted into vegetative, construction and appliance streams. It may cost you nothing.
• **Follow the sorting rules** if you use it — a mixed pile often gets left.
• **Watch the deadline.** These programs run for a defined period.

Our hurricane debris cleanup guide covers the pattern in more detail.

Be careful who you hire

Out-of-area crews arrive after every storm. Verify licensing and insurance, get it in writing, never pay large sums up front, and be very cautious of anyone offering to cover your deductible — that is fraud and it exposes you.

When you are ready to clear

We are local, we are here next year, and we haul storm debris across the tri-county area. Call (727) 779-8919.