Iowa weather doesn't pull punches. Between spring hail, summer derechos, and high winds, roofs across Eastern Iowa take a beating every year. If a storm just rolled through, here's exactly what to do — and how to protect both your home and your wallet.
If you have an active leak, water coming in, or visible structural damage, address the immediate problem first — move belongings, place a bucket, and call a local roofer for emergency tarping. Don't climb on a wet or damaged roof yourself.
You often can't see roof damage from the ground, but these are the red flags:
Even minor-looking hail can shorten a roof's lifespan by stripping the protective granules — which is why a professional inspection matters.
Take dated photos of any visible damage (roof, gutters, screens, siding, even your car if it was hit — that helps establish a hailstorm occurred). Note the date of the storm. Good documentation is the backbone of a clean insurance claim — the more you have, the smoother the process.
Here's what to capture:
Keep the camera's date stamp on and don't delete the originals off your phone — the file metadata records when and where each photo was taken, which can matter later. Leave the rooftop close-ups to a professional.
This is where a local, reputable roofer earns their keep. Passion Exteriors provides a free storm-damage inspection and gives you a detailed, written report documenting exactly what we find. You can submit that documentation to your insurance company, and we're glad to be on-site to walk your adjuster through the damage and the repairs needed. You file and manage the claim directly with your insurer — we're simply your roofing expert in your corner.
A ground-level look tells you almost nothing. We get up top and go over the roof methodically, looking for:
When we're done, you get a written report in plain language: what we found and where, dated photos of the damage, whether it looks storm- or age-related, and our recommended repair scope. That's the document you hand to your insurer.
Every claim moves at its own pace, but here's how it typically unfolds:
After a major regional storm, expect everything to take longer — adjusters and reputable local crews get booked up fast, so getting your inspection on the calendar early puts you near the front of the line.
If a storm leaves your roof open to the sky, a proper emergency tarp stands between a bad day and a ruined ceiling. Tarping is temporary — it doesn't fix the roof, but it keeps water out until the permanent repair is scheduled and stops a small opening from becoming interior water damage, mold, and rot. Don't tarp a wet or steep roof yourself; call a local roofer who can secure it safely, and take photos of the damage before the tarp goes on, since that documents the original storm damage. When you call us after hours about an active leak, tarping and drying you in is the first thing we handle.
After a big Iowa storm, out-of-state crews flood the area knocking on doors with high-pressure pitches. Be cautious:
Choose a local, licensed, insured contractor with verifiable reviews and a real address. Your roof — and any warranty — is only as good as the company behind it.
Eastern Iowa sees more than its share of severe weather. Iowa's hail season runs mainly from April through June, with May and June the most active months — though hail can fall into summer. Then there's the wind. Iowa's most infamous storm is the August 10, 2020 derecho, documented by NOAA as the costliest thunderstorm event in modern U.S. history — roughly $11 billion in damage as it tore across the Midwest. Winds near Cedar Rapids were estimated at up to 140 mph, and the storm damaged roofs across entire neighborhoods in Linn County. But you don't need a once-in-a-generation storm to lose shingles — a routine Iowa thunderstorm with 60–70 mph gusts and quarter-size hail can strip granules and open up leaks. That's why a documented inspection after any significant storm is worth the phone call.
It depends entirely on your policy — every insurer sets its own deadline for reporting storm damage, and some are stricter than others. The safest answer is to read your policy or call your agent and ask as soon as you notice damage. As a rule of thumb, the sooner you file, the smoother it goes, since fresh damage is easier to document and tie to a specific storm.
We can't promise it won't — how a claim affects your premium depends on your insurer, your policy, your claims history, and whether the storm was a widespread event. Many carriers treat weather-related claims differently from at-fault ones, but the honest answer is that it varies, so ask your agent how a storm claim would affect your specific policy before you decide.
We inspect and document the damage, give you a written report to submit, and are glad to be on-site to walk your adjuster through what we found. You file and manage the claim directly with your insurer — we're your roofing expert in your corner, not a substitute for your insurance company.
A small storm-damaged spot becomes a leak, and a leak becomes rot, mold, and a much bigger bill. If a storm hit your area, get your roof looked at while the damage is fresh.
Schedule your free storm-damage inspection or call (319) 536-1924. We serve Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Iowa City, and all of Eastern Iowa & Illinois. Learn more about our storm & hail damage repair services. You can also request your free estimate online.
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