After a nor'easter or summer storm rolls through New Jersey, here's exactly what to do if you suspect roof damage — in order.
1. Stay safe
Don't climb a wet or damaged roof. Check for hazards like downed power lines. Assess from the ground and from inside your attic.
2. Look for the signs
- Missing, lifted, or cracked shingles; shingles or debris in the yard.
- Dented gutters, vents, or flashing (possible hail).
- Water stains on ceilings or in the attic.
- Granules washed into gutters and downspouts.
3. Document everything
Photograph the damage and note the storm date. Good documentation is the foundation of a smooth insurance claim.
4. Get a free professional inspection
Have a licensed roofer inspect and document the damage. Many homeowners can't see the full extent from the ground. Lightning offers free storm inspections across NJ.
5. Protect the home temporarily if needed
If there's an active leak, a roofer can tarp or make an emergency repair to prevent further interior damage while the claim is processed.
6. File your insurance claim
Report the damage promptly and follow our roof insurance claim guide. Remember — you choose your own contractor, not the insurer's.
Avoid storm chasers
Out-of-town crews flood NJ neighborhoods after big storms with high-pressure pitches and requests to sign over your claim. Stick with a local, licensed, GAF-certified roofer. Get a free storm inspection.
The first 48 hours
- Stay off the roof. Storm-damaged decking is not safe to walk, and nothing you can see from up there changes the next step.
- Document from the ground and from inside. Photograph every elevation, the yard debris, and any interior staining. Time-stamped photos are the strongest evidence you will have.
- Stop the water, temporarily. A tarp or an emergency repair is expected of you — insurers require reasonable steps to prevent further damage. Keep the receipt.
- Call your insurer, then get an independent inspection before the adjuster arrives.
- Do not sign anything a door-knocker puts in front of you.
What storm damage actually looks like
- Wind: missing or lifted tabs, usually starting at rakes and ridge; creased shingles that look intact until you lift them.
- Hail: soft dark bruises where granules are gone and the mat is exposed; matching dents on gutters, vents and any metal on the property.
- Impact: punctures from limbs, often small and easy to miss from the ground.
- Ice: staining along the eaves and on upstairs ceilings near exterior walls — usually an ice dam, not a hole.
Emergency repair versus permanent repair
These are separate jobs and should be separate line items. An emergency tarp buys time and protects the claim; it is not a repair. Be wary of anyone who wants to convert an emergency call into a signed full-replacement contract on the same visit.
Which New Jersey towns take coastal storms directly
| County | Coastal municipalities | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic | 9 | Absecon, Atlantic City, Brigantine, Linwood, Longport, Margate City, Northfield, Somers Point, Ventnor City |
| Cape May | 9 | Avalon, Cape May, Cape May Point, Ocean City, Rio Grande, Sea Isle City, Stone Harbor, Villas, Wildwood |
| Monmouth | 23 | Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Atlantic Highlands, Avon By The Sea, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Brielle, Deal, Fair Haven, Highlands… |
| Ocean | 17 | Barnegat, Barnegat Light, Beach Haven, Beachwood, Brick, Island Heights, Lanoka Harbor, Lavallette, Mantoloking, Ocean Gate… |
58 New Jersey municipalities sit on tidal water. Those are the ones where corrosion-resistant flashing and fasteners and high-wind fastening are worth paying for; inland towns do not need them.