A spring storm rarely does one kind of damage. Hail opens the roof, wind takes the fence and a section of siding, rain comes through the opening and soaks a bedroom ceiling, and the street floods enough to push water under the garage door. Each of those is handled differently under a standard homeowner policy, and understanding the distinctions before you file makes the claim smoother. This is general information, not coverage advice; your policy and your carrier govern your claim, and your agent can explain how it applies to you.
Wind and hail: usually its own deductible
Most Texas homeowner policies now apply a separate wind and hail deductible, commonly a percentage of the dwelling coverage limit rather than a flat dollar amount. On a home insured for $400,000 with a 2 percent wind and hail deductible, the first $8,000 of the roof and exterior damage is yours. That figure surprises many homeowners who remember a $1,000 deductible from years ago. Check your declarations page now, before the season, so the number is not news.
Some policies also carry a cosmetic damage exclusion for metal roofing or siding, meaning dents that do not affect function may not be covered. If you have a metal roof, ask.
Interior water intrusion: part of the storm claim
Rain that enters through storm damage is generally covered as part of the same wind and hail loss, because the storm created the opening. The interior work, including drying wet insulation and drywall, repairing ceilings and walls, and addressing wet flooring, is scoped alongside the roof. It is important that the opening be covered promptly and the interior dried quickly; delay can turn a covered storm loss into a mold question, and mold coverage is often limited by a sublimit.
Rain that enters because of pre-existing deterioration, such as a roof that had already failed from age, is a different story. Carriers distinguish between storm-created openings and wear and tear, and documentation of the storm damage itself is what supports the claim.
Flood and surface water: a separate policy
Water that rises from outside, whether a creek overflowing, runoff coming across the yard, or water backing up through the street drainage and under a door, is flood, and standard homeowner policies exclude it. Flood coverage is a separate policy through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private flood carrier, and it has its own waiting period, deductible and rules. If the same storm put water through your roof and water across your garage floor, those are two claims under two policies, and the cause of each patch of water damage has to be established.
Sewer backup during a storm
Heavy rain can overwhelm municipal sewers and push water back into homes through floor drains and low fixtures. This is commonly excluded from the base policy and covered only by a sewer and drain backup endorsement. It is also Category 3 water under the IICRC S500 standard and requires professional cleanup regardless of how the claim is handled.
Practical steps that help every part of the claim
- Fix the date of loss. Multiple storms in a season are common. Note the date and time of the storm that caused the damage and keep the National Weather Service storm report for that day.
- Document before repairs. Photos of the roof from the ground, of hail on the ground with scale, of interior damage, and of any temporary tarping. Keep receipts for emergency mitigation.
- Separate the causes. Tell the adjuster plainly which damage came through the roof and which came in at ground level; do not let them blur together in the scope.
- Do not skip mitigation waiting for the adjuster. Policies require reasonable steps to prevent further damage. Tarping and drying are expected and their cost is normally part of the claim.
- Know your options if you disagree. Most policies contain an appraisal clause for resolving disputes about the amount of loss, and Texas licenses public adjusters who can represent policyholders for a fee. Those are decisions for you and your agent, not for your contractor.
How we support the claim
Fire & Water Restoration Plus handles the emergency tarping, the structural drying, the roofing and the interior rebuild as one project, which means one scope for the adjuster with consistent measurements and photographs. We separate storm-created damage from ground-level water in our documentation so each part of the claim is evaluated on its own facts. Coverage decisions rest with your carrier; our job is to make sure the record is complete. Our earlier guides on what to do in the first hours after a storm and how a water claim proceeds cover the rest of the process. For a storm loss at any hour, call 972-455-8252.