What to Do in the First 24 Hours After a Hailstorm Hits Your Home

Homeowner inspecting hail damage from the ground after a Regina storm

A hailstorm in Regina can pass in fifteen minutes and leave behind damage that takes months to fully repair. What you do in the hours right after matters, both for your family's safety and for how smoothly your insurance claim goes later. This applies whether you're in Normanview West, Lakeview, or any other Regina neighbourhood. Here's the order we recommend, based on what actually happens after a serious hail event.

Step 1: Confirm Everyone (and Every Pet) Is Safe

Before anything else, check on every member of your household, including pets that may have been outside or startled by the noise. Hail events are often accompanied by high winds and lightning, so don't assume the danger has fully passed just because the hail has stopped.

Step 2: Wait Until It's Actually Safe to Go Outside

Stay indoors until the storm has genuinely passed. Downed power lines, falling tree limbs, and continued lightning risk are real hazards in the minutes after a hailstorm, even once the hail itself stops. If you notice a sagging ceiling, major active leak, or any sign of structural compromise, that's a different situation entirely, see "When This Becomes an Emergency" below.

Step 3: Do a Ground-Level Property Walkaround

Close-up photo documentation of hail damage on siding and shingles

What to Check on the Roof (From the Ground Only)

Do not climb onto your roof. A wet or hail-affected roof is more dangerous than it looks, and hail bruising is frequently invisible from any vantage point, ground or otherwise. From ground level, you can reasonably check for granules collecting at the base of downspouts, obviously missing or visibly lifted shingles, and dents in any metal roof vents, flashing, or accessories you can see clearly.

Siding, Windows, and Eavestroughs

Look for cracks, dents, or holes in siding panels, check window screens and glass for cracks, and check eavestroughs and downspouts for dents or detachment.

Vehicles, Fences, and Outdoor Structures

Hail large enough to damage a roof usually damages other things too. Check parked vehicles, wooden fences, sheds, and outdoor furniture. Consistent damage across multiple surfaces helps establish the storm's severity for insurance purposes.

Step 4: Document Everything Before Anything Is Moved or Cleaned Up

Photograph and video wide shots of each side of the house, close-ups of all visible damage, any hail still on the ground for size reference, and damage to vehicles, fences, and outdoor items. Note the date and approximate time of the storm. Keep any damaged items rather than disposing of them until an adjuster has had the chance to see them.

Step 5: Address Active Leaks or Openings

If water is actively entering your home, the priority shifts to stopping it. Place containers under drips, use towels to limit spread, and keep moisture away from finished surfaces and electronics. Do not attempt to climb onto the roof yourself to tarp it; this is a job for a professional.

Emergency tarp covering a hail-damaged roof section in Regina

Step 6: Call a Local Roofing Contractor for an Inspection

Once you and your property are safe and documented, contact a local roofing contractor experienced with hail damage for an inspection, ideally before your insurance adjuster arrives. A professional inspection tells you whether the damage is significant enough to justify a claim, using chalk-marking and close-up photography that a ground-level look simply can't replicate.

What NOT to Do in the First 24 Hours

Don't climb onto the roof yourself, even to "just take a quick look"
Don't throw away damaged materials without photographing them first
Don't sign anything from a door-to-door contractor on the spot, see our guide on storm-chaser contractors
Don't assume "it looks fine" means there's no damage
Don't wait weeks to start documenting

When This Becomes an Emergency

Call emergency services if you observe a sagging or visibly compromised ceiling, structural damage that makes part of the home unsafe to occupy, downed power lines anywhere on or near your property, or gas odour or suspected utility damage. For anything short of these situations, standard emergency tarping and a scheduled inspection are the appropriate next steps, not a 911 call.

What Comes Next (After the First 24 Hours)

Once your immediate safety and documentation are handled, the next steps are filing your insurance claim and, if needed, vetting the contractor you choose to work with.

How to File a Hail Damage Insurance Claim With SGI

Beware of Storm-Chaser Contractors After a Regina Hailstorm

Frequently Asked Questions

How soon after a hailstorm should I call a roofing contractor?

As soon as you and your property are safe and you've documented visible damage, ideally within the first day or two, and before your insurance adjuster's scheduled inspection if possible.

Is it safe to inspect my own roof after hail?

No. Wet or hail-affected roofing surfaces are unpredictable, and hail bruising is often invisible even to a trained eye without a close-up inspection. Leave roof-level assessment to a professional.

What if I don't see any damage at all?

Absence of visible damage from the ground doesn't rule out roof damage. Hail bruising on shingles frequently shows no visible sign until granule loss or leaks develop months later, which is why a professional inspection is worth scheduling even when your roof looks fine.

Should I call my insurance company or a roofer first?

Either order can work, but having a contractor document the damage before or alongside your insurance report often produces a more accurate and complete claim.

What should I do with hail-damaged items I need to throw away?

Photograph them clearly first, and keep a written list describing each item, in case your adjuster or contractor needs that record later.

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