Step 1: Stay safe
Don't go on the roof, especially while it's wet or windy. If water is coming through near lights, switches or the switchboard, keep clear and turn that circuit off if it's safe to do so. If a ceiling is sagging with water, keep people out of the room.
Step 2: Limit the damage
Buckets, towels and tarps on the floor. Move furniture, electronics and valuables. Insurers generally expect you to take reasonable steps to stop more damage.
Step 3: Take photos
Photograph damage inside (ceilings, walls, floors, belongings) and anything you can safely see outside, like tiles on the ground or lifted tiles visible from the street. Date-stamped photos help.
Step 4: Tell your insurer
Lodge the claim as early as you can and ask about their process. Some insurers send their own assessor, some want a quote from your roofer, and some do both. Ask whether you can go ahead with urgent make-safe repairs.
Step 5: Get a roofer's report and quote
A good report shows what's damaged, with photos, and separates storm damage from general wear. That makes the claim clearer for everyone. We provide a photo report and written quote you can send to your insurer. More about our storm damage repairs.
Storm damage vs wear and tear
Insurance policies generally treat sudden damage differently from gradual deterioration. A tile blown off in a storm is different from ridge mortar that has been crumbling for years. Storms often reveal existing wear, so an honest report that separates the two avoids problems with your claim. Your insurer and your policy wording decide what's covered.