Hail rarely gives Williamson County much warning, and the hours after a storm are exactly when clear thinking runs short: adrenaline, a dark yard, maybe a drip somewhere, and the first door knock less than 48 hours out. Print this page during a calm week and let it do the thinking when the noise starts.
Same day: stay grounded, build evidence
The day of the storm has two jobs. Keep everyone off the roof, and turn the evening into documentation, because claims are won with dated photos taken before anything gets moved, tarped, or repaired. Everything below happens from the ground, a window, or the attic hatch.
Same day, from the ground
- Stay off the roof entirely; every check below works from the ground or a window
- Photograph hailstones next to a coin or tape measure before they melt
- Write down the date, the time the storm hit, and roughly how long hail fell
- Photograph each elevation of the house with a timestamp, including sides that look fine
- Photograph gutters, downspouts, and the mailbox up close for fresh dents
- Check window screens for torn mesh and AC condenser fins for flattened patches
- Zoom your phone camera on ridge caps, vents, and flashing and save the frames
- Scan ceilings for new stains and check the attic with a flashlight for drips or daylight
- Photograph damaged fences, patio covers, and outbuildings while the light lasts
- Put buckets under any active drip and move furniture and electronics clear
- Call for emergency tarping only if water is actively coming in
- Save receipts for tarps, towels, fans, and anything else the night costs you
If water is entering, tarping is not optional. Your policy expects you to prevent further damage, and reasonable emergency costs are generally reimbursable with receipts. Published industry cost data puts a proper tarp and dry in at $300 to $1,200; a door knocker quoting several times that the night of a storm is part of why this checklist exists.
Know when a tarp is actually warranted: water reaching living space, exposed or punctured decking, or a skylight or vent that took a direct hit. It is not warranted for granule loss, cosmetic dents, or one lifted shingle over a dry attic. Unnecessary tarping adds fastener holes and cost to a roof that needed neither, so when in doubt, send a roofer one photo before anyone climbs.
About those knocks: some canvassers are legitimate local companies, some follow storms across three states, and the porch is not where you will tell them apart. Take the card, say the roof is already being handled, and sign nothing. Any company worth hiring will still exist after you have checked them out.
The week after: math before claim
Once the house is dry and documented, slow down. The sequence that protects you is inspection first, deductible math second, claim third, and our guides to spotting hail damage and insurance claims cover each step in depth.
Two Georgetown realities shape the week. Same age subdivisions share damage, so compare findings with neighbors whose roofs match yours; their adjuster outcomes are useful evidence. And after a county wide storm, inspection and repair schedules stretch for weeks. A sound tarp buys you that time. A rushed same day signature does not buy you anything.
The week after
- Find the wind and hail deductible on your policy declarations page
- Convert that percentage to dollars using your dwelling coverage and write it down
- Book an inspection with a vetted local roofer or a paid independent inspector
- Ask for a written inspection report with photos of every issue found
- Compare documented damage against your deductible before deciding to file
- Skip the claim if damage falls short; a denied claim still goes on your record
- If you file, ask your roofer to attend the adjuster meeting on the roof
- Keep one claim folder: photos, dates, names, claim number, and every email
- Collect written quotes from at least two companies you have actually vetted
- Refuse any offer to waive or absorb your deductible; that is illegal in Texas
Georgetown Roof Guide editorial team
Independent research for Georgetown homeowners. Cost figures come from published industry data and are estimates, not quotes. Updated July 15, 2026.