Hurricane Polo has grown into a powerful Category 5 storm off Mexico, with the CBS News report warning of possible “life-threatening flooding.” The storm's location and path belong to that specific report, but the household lesson travels well: when severe weather passes, the first look at a damaged roof should begin with personal safety and a written record.
The CBS News report on Hurricane Polo is a reminder that wind and water can create hazards both obvious and hidden. A homeowner does not need to climb onto wet shingles to begin documenting damage. In fact, the safer and more useful first inspection is usually made from the ground, from inside the house, and from places that can be reached without crossing standing water or touching loose electrical equipment.
Start with time, place, and conditions
Open a notebook or a document on your phone. Record the date and local time when you first noticed the problem. Note whether rain is still falling, whether water is entering the house, and whether wind has made the yard unsafe. If an official weather alert is still active, preserve a screenshot or write down its source and time.
Do not guess about when the damage occurred. Write what you observed and when you observed it. “Water stain noticed in the upstairs hall at 7:20 a.m.” is stronger than a broad statement that the storm ruined the roof overnight.
Photograph the exterior without climbing
Take wide photographs of every side of the house from a safe position. Then take closer pictures of visible trouble, including missing shingles, bent gutters, fallen branches, damaged flashing, displaced vents, or debris on the roof. Include nearby landmarks in some frames so the location is clear.
Do not walk beneath hanging limbs, approach a downed wire, or stand where roofing material may fall. If damage cannot be photographed safely, write down why. A missing picture is better than an injury.
Trace water inside the house
Photograph each interior leak before moving furniture or setting out containers, if a brief delay will not worsen the loss. Begin with a wide view that identifies the room. Follow with close views of stains, dripping water, wet flooring, damaged belongings, and any visible path the water followed.
Write the time beside each observation. Water can travel along rafters and walls, so the interior wet spot may not sit directly below the exterior opening. Describe what you see without declaring a cause you cannot yet establish.
Record temporary protection
Reasonable temporary steps may prevent additional damage. These can include placing a bucket under a drip, moving dry belongings away from water, or arranging a temporary covering through a qualified contractor. Photograph conditions before and after each step. Keep receipts for materials and emergency work.
Do not make permanent repairs before the damage has been documented and the insurer has explained its inspection requirements. Do not discard damaged material unless sanitation or safety requires it. If something must be removed, photograph it first and note where it was stored or why it was discarded.
Prepare questions for the insurer
When reporting the loss, ask for the claim number, the adjuster's name and contact information, the expected inspection process, and instructions for emergency repairs. Ask whether the company wants photographs uploaded through a portal and whether damaged materials should be retained.
Write down each call, including the date, time, number called, person reached, and next promised step. Repeat important instructions back in plain language. This is recordkeeping, not an argument over coverage. The policy and the insurer's review will govern what is covered.
Compare estimates by scope
A contractor's estimate should identify the work proposed, the materials involved, and the areas being repaired or replaced. Two totals cannot be compared fairly if one includes gutters, decking, ventilation, or interior repairs and the other does not.
Ask contractors to separate temporary work from permanent work. For practical assistance, homeowners may get help documenting roof storm damage. That conversation should support the homeowner's record, while decisions about coverage remain with the insurer.
Use this printable log
Copy or print the following lines for every important event:
Date and time: __________
Location or room: __________
What I observed: __________
Photo or video file name: __________
Temporary action taken: __________
Receipt amount and vendor: __________
Insurer or contractor contacted: __________
Person reached: __________
Next step and due date: __________
Keep the log, photographs, estimates, receipts, and insurer messages together. The purpose is simple: preserve what happened, what you did, and what others told you. A sound claim record begins with facts gathered safely, not with a trip onto a damaged roof.