Storm season is here again. If your roof gets damaged by hail, or if you’re worried that it may have already been damaged, what should you do? It’s always helpful to review the steps you should take after a severe storm. Hopefully, you won’t need this information—but if you do, you’ll be prepared.

1. Call your roofer

Do this even before calling your insurance company. It’s possible that there is no damage, and most homeowners we’ve spoken to are happy to avoid starting a claim unnecessarily.

Have a trusted, experienced roofer inspect your roof. Even if you’ve gone up to check things out and they look okay to you, there are things that a roofer might find that you wouldn’t know to look for. If your roofer says that your roof is okay, you can both toast your roof for being defiant before Mother Nature! On the other hand, if your roofer says that there’s sufficient damage to make a claim, proceed to step two.

2. Call your insurance company

Call and make a claim. Be ready to provide the date of the storm. Your company will send an adjuster to inspect your roof. They will make the final determination whether the roof needs to be repaired or replaced. We can’t speak for other roofing companies, but we’re happy to offer insight about your roof or attend the inspection at this point.

3. Decide when to replace the roof

If the roof is so damaged that it needs to be replaced right away, then of course, replace it as quickly as your roofing company can get to it. Otherwise, you have a choice to make. Many people opt to wait until the spring storm season is finished and have the roof replaced in summer. Others wait longer until the fall storm season is finished and have the roof repaired before winter sets in. If you want to wait, it’s still best to call your insurance company and schedule it ahead of time.

We hope that the storms pass by you this year. But what happened in Plano, Texas, last year could easily happen here, too. One brutal hail storm was followed by two more that caused billions in damages. It’s always good to know what to do and who to call when the hail drops.