After a hurricane hits, your first instinct is usually:
“Let’s clean this up as fast as possible.”
Totally understandable.
But before you start hauling debris to the curb or ripping out wet drywall, there’s one step that can make or break your insurance claim:
Take photos. A lot of them.
Because once it’s gone…you can’t prove it.
Here’s a simple, no-stress guide to what you should document before cleanup starts.
Start With the Big Picture
Before zooming in on details, take wide shots of everything.
Walk around your property and capture:
- The entire house from multiple angles
- The roof (if you can safely see it)
- The yard, fence, driveway, and surrounding area
- Fallen trees or large debris
Think of this as telling the “story” of what happened.
If your home took on water or wind damage, these wide shots help show how severe the storm impact actually was, not just isolated damage.
Then Get Close-Ups of the Damage
Now zoom in.
Take clear, detailed photos of:
- Missing or damaged shingles
- Broken windows or doors
- Cracks in walls or foundation
- Water stains on ceiling or walls
- Warped flooring or cabinets
If something looks damaged, document it, even if you’re not 100% sure it’s serious.
Insurance companies often look for reasons to minimize claims. The more detail you have, the better.
Don’t Forget Inside the House
A lot of people focus on the outside and forget what matters just as much, inside damage.
Be sure to photograph:
- Standing water or moisture
- Wet carpets or rugs
- Damaged furniture
- Appliances affected by water or power issues
- Personal items (electronics, clothing, etc.)
Open drawers, closets, and cabinets if they were affected.
It may feel like overkill, but this is exactly the kind of documentation that supports your claim later.
Capture the Water Line (If There Was Flooding)
If water got into your home, this one is huge:
Take photos showing how high the water reached.
Look for:
- Water lines on walls
- Mud lines
- Debris marks
This helps establish the extent of flooding, and can impact how your claim is evaluated.
Document Temporary Repairs
Sometimes you need to act fast to prevent more damage.
That’s fine, but document it first.
Before you:
- Put a tarp on the roof
- Remove drywall
- Throw out damaged items
Take photos of everything as it was.
Then take additional photos showing the temporary fix.
This shows both:
- The original damage
- The steps you took to prevent things from getting worse
Take More Photos Than You Think You Need
This is not the time to be selective.
There’s no downside to having too many photos, but there is a downside to missing something important.
A good rule of thumb:
If you’re wondering whether to take a photos…take it.
Bonus Tip: Use Video, Too
Photos are great, but video can add helpful context.
Walk through your property and narrate what you’re seeing:
- “This is the living room—water came in through this wall…”
- “These cabinets were completely soaked…”
It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just be honest and clear.
Why This Matters More Than People Realize
Here’s the reality:
Once cleanup starts, you lose evidence.
And insurance companies don’t always take your word for it—they rely on documentation.
We’ve seen situations where:
- Damage was thrown out before being photographed
- Repairs started too soon
- Important details were never documented
And later…those losses became harder to recover.
Not because they weren’t real, but because they weren’t documented.
Final Thought
No one wants to deal with photos and documentation after a hurricane.
But taking an extra 30-60 minutes to capture everything can save you a lot of frustration later.
Clean-up can wait.
Documentation comes first.
