The first 72 hours after storm damage in Virginia: a homeowner's checklist

When a storm rolls through the Shenandoah Valley and leaves your roof torn up or water in your living room, the first few days matter more than most homeowners realize — not just for your safety, but for the claim you're about to file. Here's what to do, in order.

1. Make it safe, then stop the bleeding

Your first job is preventing further damage. Most policies require you to take "reasonable" steps to mitigate — a tarp over an open roof, water shut off, the wet stuff moved. Keep receipts for anything you buy; those costs are usually reimbursable.

2. Document everything before you clean up

• ✓Photograph and video every angle of the damage — wide shots and close-ups.
• ✓Get the date. Tie the damage to the specific storm event; carriers will ask.
• ✓Don't throw anything away yet. Damaged property is evidence.
• ✓Write down a timeline while it's fresh: when it happened, what you saw.

3. Be careful what you say to the insurer

You should report the loss promptly — but you are not required to give a recorded statement or accept the first inspection's findings on the spot. The adjuster the carrier sends works for the carrier. You are allowed to have your own.

4. Get an independent read before you settle

The single most common mistake we see is a homeowner accepting the first estimate because they don't know it's low. A quick independent review costs you nothing and often finds thousands the first inspection missed.