Protect people and preserve the event record before choosing work

Roof check

From a protected ground or interior position, record the event date, time, warnings, wind or hail reports, visible debris, displaced material, water entry, sounds, affected rooms, and changes after the event. Do not approach downed wires, leaning trees, loose exterior pieces, sagging ceilings, standing water near electricity, or an unstable structure. Use emergency and utility channels for immediate hazards.

Season planner

Conditions after a storm can make ladders, roofs, tarps, and loose materials especially dangerous. Keep people away from fall and debris zones. If temporary protection is needed, ask a qualified provider what can be performed safely, the exact area covered, attachment method, monitoring plan, limitations, and path to permanent work. A temporary measure is not a completed roof repair.

Visible warning signs

Create separate records for pre-existing condition, storm observations, professional roof findings, emergency protection, permanent repair, interior drying, contents, trees, utilities, and other trades. Use confirmed, reported, suspected, and undetermined accurately. The roofer documents roof observations; the insurer applies the policy; the City decides permits. None of those roles should be blended in marketing language.

Roof system choices

Wisconsin OCI advises policyholders to notify the insurer promptly, photograph damage, create an inventory, keep receipts, and coordinate before disposal. Follow the actual policy and insurer instructions. A contractor should not be represented as the insurer or coverage decision-maker. Ask before signing any assignment, authorization, contingency, or completion document tied to claim proceeds.

Project path

City of Madison storm guidance discusses permits and state contractor credentials for applicable work. Check the current pages for the property and scope. Be cautious with unsolicited access or pressure. Record the provider legal name, salesperson, credentials, insurance, written scope, price method, permit role, start conditions, and any temporary work already completed.

Questions before work

Ask the inspector to label each observation by roof face, slope, elevation, material, and photograph. Which condition is newly observed, which is prior or uncertain, and what method supports the conclusion? What area was inaccessible? Which work prevents further entry, and which work restores the assembly? Request separate pricing for temporary and permanent tasks.

Closeout record

Keep weather reports or official alerts used, ground and interior photos, insurer claim references, professional reports, temporary-protection log, receipts, contracts, permits, inspections, product records, repair photos, and correspondence. Do not discard material solely for evidence without considering safety and insurer instructions. Close the file with unresolved items clearly assigned.

Decision notes

If several inspectors visit, keep each report intact and compare roof-face labels, access, photographs, and stated limitations. Do not merge different opinions into one anonymous summary. Ask a provider to correct its own report when an image or location is mislabeled. A clear chain of authorship helps the owner, insurer, engineer, and repair contractor discuss the same evidence without assigning a conclusion to the wrong party.

For urgent spending, record who authorized the work, why delay was unsafe, the limited area addressed, materials used, receipt, and any provider statement about temporary life or monitoring. Wisconsin consumer and insurance guidance still matters during a stressful event. Do not sign a broad permanent contract simply because a narrow emergency protection task must occur quickly.

After the property is safe, set one controlled inspection schedule so roofs and interiors are not opened repeatedly by uncoordinated visitors. Decide who may access each area, who receives reports, and how new evidence is distributed. Preserve original files and timestamps. A shared index can reduce disagreement about which photograph came before temporary protection or cleanup.