Storm Damage Claim Checklist for East Tennessee Homes and Businesses

Published September 29, 2026. Last reviewed September 29, 2026. By Ridge & Valley Editors.

Summary: After storm damage in East Tennessee, make sure everyone is safe, then document the damage with photos and video before cleanup, take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, keep every receipt, and report the claim to your insurer promptly. Most property policies require you to protect the property from more damage and to cooperate with the insurer’s inspection. Verify any contractor’s license and insurance before signing, and read any agreement that would give a contractor rights to your claim.

East Tennessee sees spring hail and wind, summer thunderstorms, winter ice, and flash flooding. The steps below apply to most home and business property claims. Your own policy’s “duties after loss” section controls, so read it too.

Before anything else: safety

Stay away from downed power lines and report them to your utility.
Do not enter a building with structural damage or standing water near electrical service.
If you smell gas, leave and call the gas company from a safe distance.

Step 1: Document before you clean up

Take wide shots of each side of the house or building, then close-ups of each area of damage.
Record a slow video walk-through, narrating what you see.
Photograph the cause when you can: hail on the ground, a fallen limb, a water line on the wall.
Photograph damaged belongings before you move or discard them, including model and serial numbers when visible.
Note the date and time the damage happened.

Step 2: Prevent further damage

Property policies generally require you to take reasonable steps to protect the property from additional damage. That can mean tarping a roof, boarding a window, shutting off water, or running fans and dehumidifiers. Photograph the temporary repairs and keep the receipts; reasonable costs are often part of the claim. Avoid permanent repairs until the insurer has had a chance to inspect, unless waiting would cause more damage.

Step 3: Report the claim promptly

Contact your insurer or agent as soon as you can. Write down the claim number, the name of everyone you speak with, and the date. Ask what the insurer needs from you and when to expect an adjuster.

Step 4: Track your expenses

Keep a folder, paper or digital, with:

Receipts for temporary repairs, supplies, and equipment rental.
Hotel, meal, and other extra living costs if the home is not livable. Many homeowners policies include additional living expense coverage, subject to limits.
A room-by-room list of damaged belongings with approximate age and value.

Step 5: Meet the adjuster prepared

Have your photos, video, and list of damaged items ready.
Walk the adjuster through every area of damage, including the attic, crawlspace, and outbuildings.
Ask for a copy of the estimate and how depreciation and your deductible were applied.
Many East Tennessee homeowners policies carry a separate wind and hail deductible, sometimes written as a percentage of the dwelling coverage amount. Check your declarations page so the number is not a surprise.

Step 6: Vet contractors carefully

Verify the contractor’s license with the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors.
Ask for a certificate of liability insurance, and proof of workers’ compensation if they have employees.
Get written estimates, and compare them to the insurer’s estimate line by line.
Read any contract before signing, especially terms that assign your insurance benefits to the contractor or authorize them to negotiate with your insurer.
Avoid paying the full cost up front.

If you disagree with the claim decision

Ask the insurer to explain the decision in writing and to point to the policy language it relied on.
Provide any additional documentation, such as contractor estimates or photos.
Ask whether your policy includes an appraisal process for disputes over the amount of loss.
If you cannot resolve it, you can contact the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance at 1-800-342-4029.

Printable checklist

Everyone safe; utilities checked.
Photos and video of all damage before cleanup.
Temporary repairs made and photographed; receipts saved.
Claim reported; claim number and contact names recorded.
Expense folder started, including extra living costs.
Damaged belongings listed room by room.
Deductibles on the declarations page reviewed.
Contractor license and insurance verified before signing.

Sources

Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, File a Complaint
Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors, tn.gov/commerce/regboards/contractors
Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, tn.gov/tema