After the Storm: The First 48 Hours (Don't Sign Yet)
Storm-chasing contractors reach damaged Florida neighborhoods within hours. This is the playbook for the first two days — what to do, in order, before you sign anything.
Last fact-checked: July 12, 2026
Within hours of a storm passing, crews with out-of-state plates are working damaged neighborhoods door to door. They are counting on three things: you're stressed, you're displaced, and you want it fixed now. This guide is meant to be read before the storm — so that in the 48 hours after, you already know the order of operations.
- Hour 0-6: Safety, then documentation. Photograph and video everything before touching anything — roof from the ground, every room, standing water, the neighbor's tree on your fence. Timestamped photos are the backbone of your claim.
- Hour 6-24: Call your insurer first. Not a contractor — your insurer. Report the claim and ask three questions: what emergency mitigation is covered, do they require their own adjuster's inspection before permanent repairs, and what documentation they want. Everything a door-knocker tells you about "how insurance works" is sales copy; your policy is the actual contract.
- Hour 24-48: Mitigate — temporarily, with receipts. You have a duty to prevent further damage: tarp the roof, board the window, extract the water. Hire for the temporary fix only, keep it small, keep every receipt. Do not let a "tarp crew" upsell you into signing for the full roof replacement on the spot.
- Day 2+: Choose your contractor — don't let one choose you. When you're ready for permanent repairs, find and vet the contractor yourself using the 6-point checklist: license on MyFloridaLicense.com, insurance certificate naming you, written estimates, ≤10% deposit, permits in their name, written contract.
Never — no matter how helpful they seem
Never sign anything the same day someone knocks. Never sign an assignment of your insurance benefits or
claim. Never accept an offer to "waive your deductible" (it's unlawful under Florida Statute 489.147).
Never let your insurance check be mailed to a contractor. Never pay a large cash deposit to someone
who "can start today" — that availability is itself a warning sign after a major storm.
Why the rush is the tell
Legitimate local contractors are booked solid after a storm — their existing customers come first.
The crews with instant availability and same-day paperwork are optimized for signatures, not repairs.
Slowing down by 48 hours costs you almost nothing and defeats nearly every post-storm scam.