What to Do After Hail or Wind Damage in Minnesota

Minnesota storms can move through in minutes and still leave your home dealing with the aftermath for weeks. Hail dents shingles and gutters, high winds lift roofing and tear at siding, and heavy rain finds every weak point. If a storm just rolled through, you're probably wondering what you actually need to do next, and in what order.

This guide walks you through it step by step: how to stay safe, what to document, how to spot visible storm damage, and when to schedule a professional inspection. Work through it in order, and you'll be in a strong position no matter how severe the damage turns out to be.

First, Make Sure Everyone Is Safe

Before you inspect anything, confirm that people come first. Stay inside until the storm has fully passed and any severe-weather warnings have expired. Watch for downed power lines, and never touch or approach one, treat every downed line as live and call your utility. Be careful of standing water, broken glass, and debris around the property. If you smell gas or suspect a structural issue, leave the home and call the appropriate emergency service before doing anything else.

No amount of damage documentation is worth a risk to your safety. Everything below can wait until you're sure the situation is stable.

What to Do in the First 24 to 48 Hours After a Storm

The first day or two is when a little organized effort pays off the most. Here's what matters, in order.

Document what you can see

Take clear photos and video of anything that looks damaged, from the ground and from a safe vantage point. Capture the whole house as well as close-ups: dented gutters, shingle debris in the yard, dinged siding, cracked windows, fallen branches. Note the date and time. Good documentation right after the event creates a clear record of the storm's impact while everything is fresh.

Do a safe, ground-level walkaround

Walk the perimeter of your home and look up, not up on a ladder. Storm damage is often visible from the ground if you know where to look, and we cover exactly what to look for in the next section. Stay off the roof entirely; wet or hail-damaged roofing is dangerous, and a professional inspection will cover it safely.

Prevent further damage where it's safe to do so

If water is actively getting in, reasonable temporary measures can limit additional damage, moving belongings away from a leak, placing a bucket, or covering a broken window from the inside. Only do what you can do safely from the ground or indoors. Leave tarping a roof or any elevated work to professionals with the right equipment.

Write down the storm details

Jot down the date, the approximate time, and what you experienced, hail (and roughly what size), wind, heavy rain, or a combination. These details are useful later when you're describing the event, and they help a contractor understand what to look for during an inspection.

How to Spot Visible Storm Damage on Your Home

You don't need to be an expert to notice the common signs. Here's what visible hail and wind damage tends to look like on each part of your exterior. For a deeper visual breakdown, see our guide on what hail damage looks like on roofs.

Roof

From the ground, look for shingles that are missing, lifted, curled, or lying in the yard. Hail can knock the protective granules off shingles, so also check for granule buildup in your gutters and at the bottom of downspouts, an early sign of impact or wear. Bruised or pockmarked shingles are common after hail but are usually confirmed up close during an inspection.

Siding

Check for cracks, dents, holes, or chipped areas, especially on the sides of the house that faced the storm. Wind can loosen or detach siding panels, and hail can leave dimples or splits that let moisture behind the panel over time.

Gutters and downspouts

Look for dents, dings, and sagging sections. Gutters are often one of the most visible places hail leaves a mark, and clogged or damaged gutters can lead to bigger water problems for your roofline, siding, and foundation if left alone.

Windows and other components

Inspect for cracked or broken glass, damaged screens, and dented frames or trim. Don't forget items like vents, flashing, and fascia, which can be knocked loose by strong winds.

When to Schedule a Professional Storm Damage Inspection

If you see any visible damage, or if a significant hail or wind event hit your area even without obvious signs, it's worth having a professional take a closer look. Storm damage isn't always visible from the ground, and catching it early helps prevent a small issue from becoming a larger one over Minnesota's freeze-thaw seasons.

A professional storm damage inspection covers the areas you can't safely reach and documents what is observed across your roof, siding, gutters, windows, and other exterior systems. Archway Contracting provides free storm damage inspections across Ham Lake, Blaine, Andover, and the Twin Cities, giving you a clear picture of any visible damage and honest repair recommendations, so you can decide on next steps with real information rather than guesswork.

Understanding Your Next Steps After Storm Damage

Once you know what damage exists, you can plan the path forward. Many Minnesota homeowners review their homeowners insurance policy after a significant storm to understand what their coverage includes, and you can always contact your own insurance provider directly with questions about your policy. Keeping the documentation you gathered, your photos, dates, and notes, organized makes that process smoother.

Archway's role is straightforward: we inspect the exterior, document the visible damage we observe, and provide repair recommendations. From there, you're in control of how you'd like to proceed. Our focus is on doing the exterior work correctly and helping you protect your home, not on interpreting your coverage.

Minnesota Storm Considerations

Minnesota sits in a part of the country that sees frequent severe weather, and our summers regularly bring hail and high winds capable of damaging exteriors. What makes storm damage especially worth addressing here is what comes after: our long freeze-thaw season. Moisture that sneaks in through a hail-cracked shingle or a wind-loosened siding panel can freeze, expand, and worsen with every cold snap. Damage that looks minor in July can become a real problem by February.

That's also why timing matters. Reputable local crews book up quickly after a major storm rolls through a region, so scheduling an inspection sooner rather than later helps you get on the calendar and address issues before the next round of weather, or the next season, arrives.

What should I do first after a hailstorm?
Make sure everyone is safe and stay clear of downed power lines and debris. Once it's safe, document any visible damage with photos and video, do a ground-level walkaround, take reasonable steps to prevent further damage indoors, and write down the storm's date and details.
How can I tell if my roof has hail damage?
From the ground, look for missing, lifted, or curled shingles, shingle debris in the yard, and granule buildup in your gutters and downspouts. Bruised shingles are common but are usually confirmed up close, so a professional inspection is the reliable way to know.
Is storm damage always visible from the ground?
No. Some hail and wind damage isn't obvious from below, which is why a professional inspection is worthwhile after a significant storm even if you don't see clear signs. Catching hidden damage early helps prevent bigger problems later.
How soon should I schedule a storm damage inspection?
Sooner is better. Local crews fill up fast after major storms, and addressing damage before Minnesota's freeze-thaw season can keep a small issue from growing. If you see visible damage or a strong storm hit your area, it's worth scheduling promptly.
Does Archway Contracting handle my insurance claim?
No. Archway inspects your exterior, documents the visible damage observed, and provides repair recommendations. Questions about your policy or coverage are best directed to your own insurance provider.

In Summary

After hail or high winds, a calm, orderly response makes all the difference: stay safe first, document what you can see, look for the common signs of damage, and bring in a professional to check what you can't safely reach. Given Minnesota's weather and our demanding freeze-thaw winters, addressing storm damage early is one of the best ways to protect your home.

Schedule Your Free Storm Damage Inspection

If a storm hit your home, Archway Contracting can inspect your roof, siding, gutters, windows, and exterior for visible storm damage, then give you clear, honest repair recommendations. We're a local team serving Ham Lake, Blaine, Andover, and the Twin Cities, here long after the storm has passed.

Schedule a free storm damage inspection and get clear answers about your home.

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