Prioritize safety first (avoid downed lines and standing water), photograph the visible damage if it's safe to do so, and get emergency tarping in place to stop ongoing water intrusion — that mitigation step is often required under your own policy and protects both the structure and your claim.

Wind-lifted or creased shingles, debris punctures, and displaced tiles point to storm damage; gradual granule loss or slow underlayment failure with no storm nexus reads as wear and tear. This distinction is exactly what insurers scrutinize, so getting it documented accurately matters.

As of 2023, generally one year from the date of loss for an initial claim, measured from the storm's NOAA-verified landfall date — not when you noticed the damage. Supplemental claims generally have an 18-month window.

Be cautious — this is the classic "storm chaser" pattern, and it's worth verifying any contractor is locally licensed and will still be reachable months later, rather than signing assignment-of-benefits paperwork on the spot.

Emergency mitigation like tarping is typically covered under most policies as a required step to prevent further damage — keep receipts and documentation, since this is generally reimbursable as part of the claim.

You can dispute the determination with your own documentation and, if needed, an independent contractor's assessment distinguishing storm-caused damage from wear and tear — this is a common point of disagreement and one reason contemporaneous, storm-dated photos matter so much.

We can communicate directly with your insurer or adjuster where you authorize it, and write the scope of loss in a way that aligns with how adjusters typically process these claims.

Possibly, but if the damaged materials can't be reasonably matched to the rest of the roof, Florida's matching statute may require the insurer to address adjoining areas for a uniform appearance rather than leaving a visibly mismatched patch.