The First 72 Hours After a Calgary Hailstorm (Action Plan)
Quick Answer: In the first 72 hours after a Calgary hailstorm: document the storm and damage with photos and weather reports (hour 0 to 2), check the interior for water entry (hour 2 to 6), call your insurance company and open the claim (hour 6 to 24), arrange emergency tarping if needed (hour 12 to 48), and get an independent contractor assessment in parallel with the adjuster's inspection (hour 24 to 72). Avoid signing with door-knocking contractors during this window.
The first 72 hours set up everything that follows: insurance queue position, contractor availability, evidence quality, and your out-of-pocket exposure. Calgary's major hailstorms generate tens of thousands of claims within hours; homeowners who act on day 1 land adjuster visits in 1 to 2 weeks, while homeowners who wait a week often face 4 to 6 week delays. This guide walks through the exact action sequence, hour by hour.
At a Glance
Hour 0 to 2: Document the storm before evidence deteriorates
Hour 2 to 6: Inspect interior for water entry signs
Hour 6 to 24: Call insurance to open the claim
Hour 12 to 48: Emergency tarping if water is entering
Hour 24 to 72: Independent contractor assessment
Avoid throughout: Door-knocking contractors and deductible-waiver pitches
Insurance call window: First 48 hours strongly recommended for queue position
Active leak response: Tarp within 12 hours to limit interior damage
Hour 0 to 2: Document Everything
Evidence quality drops fast after a hailstorm. Rain washes granules from gutters, hail melts, and visible damage blends into normal weathering within days.
Photograph the hail itself. Use a coin (a quarter or loonie works) or a ruler for scale. Take 5 to 10 photos of representative hailstones on driveways, sidewalks, or grass. Note the time on the photos (your phone metadata captures this automatically).
Photograph exterior damage. Walk the perimeter of your home in daylight. Capture:
Dented metal flashing, gutters, downspouts, vent pipes
Damaged air conditioner condenser fins
Dented vehicles in the driveway or on the street
Damaged outdoor furniture, grills, mailboxes
Stripped vegetation, broken branches, beaten-down gardens
Cracked or damaged skylights (visible from inside)
Visible roof damage, if any, is apparent from the ground
Save weather records. Environment and Climate Change Canada publishes detailed storm reports including hail size, storm track, and damage zones. Download or screenshot the report for your postal code as soon as it's available.
Save news coverage. Major Calgary storms get TV and online news coverage. Screenshot or save articles confirming the storm date, location, and severity.
This documentation becomes the foundation of your insurance claim. Adjusters who arrive 2 weeks later rely heavily on homeowner documentation when on-the-ground evidence has weathered away.
Hour 2 to 6: Interior Inspection
Water entry can start during the storm and accelerate over the following days as compromised seals fail.
Walk every room. Look for:
New stains on ceilings, especially in upper-floor rooms and around bathroom fans
Damp spots on walls near windows or sliding doors
Water marks at baseboards
Musty smells in closets or storage spaces
Check the attic. With a flashlight:
Look for daylight visible through the roof deck (rare but possible after severe storms)
Check insulation for damp patches
Look around plumbing vent stacks, attic vents, and chimney chases for water marks
Photograph anything you find
Inspect skylights from inside. Look at the glazing for cracks, the interior frame for water entry, and the surrounding ceiling for stains.
Check below skylights and roof penetrations. Water often appears here first because flashing damage is common.
If you find active water entry, move to emergency tarping (Hour 12 to 48 section below) immediately.
Hour 6 to 24: Call Your Insurance Company
The opening call sets up everything that follows.
Have ready before calling:
Your policy number
The storm date and approximate time
Photos already taken
A brief description of visible exterior and interior damage
Capture during the call:
Claim number (write it down immediately)
Adjuster's name and direct contact (cell or email preferred)
Expected inspection timeline
Your specific deductible amount for wind and hail damage
Whether your policy is ACV or RCV
Whether your policy carries a roof and siding limitation endorsement
Tell them:
The storm date and severity (reference the weather report)
What damage is visible
Whether the home is currently watertight or has active water entry
That you'll be getting an independent contractor assessment in parallel
Most Calgary insurers handle claims first-come, first-served during major storm events. Calling on day 1 puts you ahead of homeowners who wait. Major Calgary storms have generated 30,000+ claims in single events; the queue extends quickly.
Hour 12 to 48: Emergency Tarping (If Needed)
If water is actively entering or imminent rain threatens further damage, emergency tarping protects the home until permanent repair.
Two paths:
Professional tarping. Reputable Calgary contractors install emergency tarps after hailstorms. The cost ($300 to $800 typical) is usually reimbursable as part of the insurance claim. This is the safer option in almost every case.
DIY tarping. Possible on simple, accessible roofs in low-risk conditions. The detailed tarping article walks through materials, safety, and method. Never attempt DIY tarping in active weather, on steep roofs, or without proper safety equipment.
Active water entry without tarping makes the eventual repair scope larger because interior damage adds drywall, insulation, and finish work to the claim. Tarping in time limits the damage to the roof itself.
Hour 24 to 72: Independent Contractor Assessment
This step is what separates well-handled claims from poorly handled ones.
Why an independent assessment matters:
Adjusters visit quickly but assess to insurance company guidelines
Independent contractors document damage to repair guidelines
The two scopes sometimes differ, and contractor documentation supports supplemental claims when adjuster scopes come in low
What the assessment includes:
Roof-level inspection with deck-level photos
Written scope of repair with itemized materials and labour
Cost estimate the contractor stands behind
Coordination with the adjuster's inspection where possible
Who to call:
Reputable Calgary contractors with verifiable BBB accreditation, AARA membership, manufacturer certifications (GAF, IKO, Malarkey, Euroshield), and current insurance certificates. The contractor selection article walks through the full vetting checklist.
Who not to call:
Door-knocking contractors who appear at your home in the first 2 weeks after a storm. The pattern is consistent: out-of-province crews, pressure tactics, vague quotes, and "I can save you the deductible" pitches. These are storm chasers; their work is mediocre, their warranties are worthless, and the deductible-waiver pitch is illegal in Alberta.
Throughout the 72 Hours: Avoiding Storm-Chaser Scams
Calgary's post-storm window attracts a specific predator. The pattern:
Out-of-province license plates and addresses
Door-to-door pitches within 14 days of a major storm
Pressure to sign immediately
"We can absorb your deductible" pitches (illegal in Alberta)
Vague quotes without line items
Refusal to provide insurance certificates or local references
50%+ upfront deposit demands
If a contractor exhibits 2 or more of these, walk away. The contractor selection article in the replacement cluster details the full 10-point vetting checklist.
What Happens After 72 Hours
The active 72-hour window ends, but the first 72 hours after a Calgary hailstorm can have a lasting impact on how smoothly the insurance claim and repair process moves forward. Homeowners who document damage, report the claim, and arrange an independent assessment early are better positioned as the claim progresses.
Week 1 to 2: Adjuster inspection scheduled and performed
Week 2 to 4: Adjuster writes scope and insurer issues payout authorization
Week 2 to 6: Repair scheduling and material ordering
Week 4 to 8: Active repair work
Week 6 to 10: Final invoice and depreciation recovery (if RCV)
Storm-affected Calgary homeowners who acted in the first 72 hours typically complete the cycle in 6 to 8 weeks. Those who delayed often run 10 to 16 weeks because of queue position and damage progression.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the storm happened overnight and I didn't see it?
Document what you can the next morning. Save weather records, photograph any visible damage and hail remnants, and check the interior for water entry. Most Calgary storms are widely reported even when they happen at night.
Should I climb on the roof to check damage?
No. Ground-level signs (granule debris, dented metal components, vehicle damage) plus a professional contractor assessment provide all the information needed. Roof access without fall protection is a real safety risk.
Can I get repairs started before the adjuster visits?
Permanent repairs should wait for adjuster authorization to avoid disputes about scope or pre-existing condition. Emergency stabilization (tarping, temporary patching) doesn't require pre-authorization and is generally reimbursable as part of the claim.
What if I missed the first 72 hours and it's been a week?
The 72-hour timeline is ideal, not mandatory. Most Alberta policies allow 1 to 2 years to file a hail damage claim. Acting in week 1 is still much better than waiting longer; document, call your insurer, and get a contractor assessment as soon as possible.
About Angel's Roofing: Angel's Roofing provides Calgary residential hail damage roof repair throughout Calgary and surrounding areas, specializing in fast post-storm response with written damage assessments and emergency tarping for homeowners requiring trusted protection in the first 72 hours.
Ready to act on Calgary hail damage to your home? Angel's Roofing helps Calgary homeowners protect their investment with same-week assessments, emergency tarping, insurance coordination, and 25+ years of post-storm experience.
Contact us today at 403-569-2643 to book your complimentary hail damage assessment.
Disclaimer: Roofing involves safety risks; consult licensed professionals for work beyond ground-level visual checks. Costs and specifications provided are estimates based on typical Calgary market conditions and may vary based on specific project requirements and current material pricing.
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