What to Do in the First 24 Hours After a Severe Storm

The 24 hours after a severe storm in Tampa Bay are the most expensive 24 hours of any year, in the sense that small decisions you make in that window can change your claim outcome by tens of thousands of dollars. Here is the short version of the playbook our crews give every homeowner who calls us after a storm.

For the longer version with hour-by-hour detail, our First 48 Hours After a Hurricane guide goes deeper.

Hour 0 to 6: do not touch anything

Resist the urge to go outside immediately. The most dangerous time on your property is right after a major storm passes. Power lines may be live and on the ground. Trees that look stable may be one gust away from coming down. Roofs that look intact may be ready to give way.

What to do in this window:

• Stay inside until local authorities give the all-clear.
• Check on family and neighbors, especially older neighbors.
• Smell for gas. Listen for water.
• Do not climb on the roof. A wet, debris-strewn roof is more dangerous than the storm was.

Hour 6 to 12: document before you mitigate

Florida policies require homeowners to take "reasonable steps to prevent further damage." That is mandatory. But you also need to document everything before you touch it. Insurance disputes nearly always come down to whose evidence is dated and clear.

The documentation order:

1. Wide-shot photos of every side of the house, plus the roof from each angle (zoom in from the ground, do not climb).
2. Close-up photos of any visible damage.
3. Interior photos of every room, including ceilings. Hidden moisture often shows up later as stains.
4. A notes file with the storm name, time of impact, and date.

This takes about 20 minutes if you are systematic. It is the most valuable 20 minutes of your year if you ever need to file a claim.

Hour 12 to 24: mitigate, file, do not sign

Now you can act. The priorities, in order:

• Tarp the roof if there are exposed openings. If you cannot do it safely, call us. Storm Authority dispatches emergency tarping 24/7 across the Tampa Bay area.
• Move undamaged contents away from any leak path.
• Board up broken windows and doors.
• Save all receipts for tarps, plywood, hotels, food, and supplies. Many of those costs are reimbursable.
• Call your insurance carrier or use their app to start the claim. Get a claim number; write it down.

What not to do in this window: sign any contract from a contractor knocking on your door. It is normal to feel pressure right after a storm. Reputable Tampa Bay roofers will not pressure you. Verify any contractor at MyFloridaLicense.com before signing anything.

The 24-hour window matters because of the claim timeline

Florida law gives you up to one year to file an initial claim, but waiting works against you. Carriers are less skeptical of claims filed in the first few days, evidence is fresher, and your contractor can still meet the adjuster on-site with clear documentation.

If you are inside the 24-hour window now and reading this, the next phone call should be to your insurance carrier. The second should be to us if you need emergency tarping. The third can wait until tomorrow.

Request an emergency inspection or tarping