If you woke up this morning checking your roof or walking around your car looking for dents, you’re not alone. Yesterday’s severe thunderstorm moved directly over Canton at 11:46 AM, producing 60 mph wind gusts and quarter-size hail before sweeping through the rest of Wayne County. If your home or vehicle was in its path, there’s a right way and a wrong way to handle what comes next.

Here’s what to do — and what to avoid — in the first 72 hours after a storm like this.

Step 1: Document Everything Before You Touch Anything

Before you make any repairs, even temporary ones, your job is to capture evidence. Walk your property as soon as it’s safe and photograph everything you can see: the full roofline from every corner of the house, close-ups of damaged or missing shingles, dented gutters, marked-up siding, damaged deck furniture, and any vehicles. Get inside and check for water stains on ceilings too. Date and time stamps are automatic on your phone — use them.

Save any weather alerts or radar images from yesterday’s storm as well. This documentation will matter if there’s any dispute about when the damage occurred.

Step 2: Check Your Roof — Even If Nothing Looks Wrong From the Street

Hail damage is not always visible from the ground. Southeast Michigan sits in one of the most active hail corridors in the Midwest, and most homeowners never find out the full extent of storm damage because they didn’t know what to look for, or they waited too long to act. Hail impact on shingles causes granule loss — the protective coating gets knocked off, exposing the asphalt underneath — and soft-spot bruising that’s nearly impossible to spot without getting up close.

Before your insurance adjuster arrives, consider getting an independent inspection from a licensed Michigan roofing contractor. The adjuster assesses damage within the policy’s terms; your contractor advocates for you — and having your contractor present when the adjuster inspects can help ensure nothing is missed. Many contractors provide storm inspection at no cost on insurance claims.

Step 3: Call Your Insurance Company Promptly

Michigan law gives you 12 months from the date of damage to file a claim, but don’t wait. Claims filed within days are taken more seriously than claims filed months later. When you call, ask for your claim number, your adjuster’s name and contact information, and confirmation that temporary repair costs are covered. Most policies do cover reasonable temporary measures to prevent further damage — just keep all receipts and don’t start permanent repairs until the adjuster has documented the original damage.

If you’re unsure what your policy covers, this is a great time to reach out to your agent. Tucker’s team is available Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM at 734-697-5544, and we’re happy to walk through your home insurance coverage with you before you talk to an adjuster.

Step 4: Know What Your Policy Actually Covers

Standard Michigan homeowners policies typically cover sudden and accidental storm damage, including wind, hail, falling debris, and water that enters through storm-created openings. Hail damage is usually covered by homeowners insurance, which will pay for roof repairs or window replacements after a storm.

A few common exclusions to know about:

• Wear and tear: If your roof was already aging, coverage may be limited depending on your policy type.
• Flooding and sewer backup: Water that enters through the ground — not through a storm-damaged opening — typically requires a separate policy. (If you’re not sure whether you have this coverage, we’ve written about this gap before — it came up in a big way during the April storms.)
• Deductible structure: Most Michigan homeowners carry deductibles between $1,000 and $2,500. Some policies have percentage-based deductibles of 1–2% of dwelling coverage — on a $300,000 home, that’s $3,000 to $6,000. Know your number before the adjuster’s estimate arrives.

Don’t Forget Your Vehicle

If your car was outside during yesterday’s storm, check it carefully — hood, roof, trunk, and mirrors — for hail dents. Vehicle hail damage is covered under the comprehensive portion of your auto policy, not collision. Comprehensive is optional in Michigan, so coverage depends on whether you’ve added it. Not sure if you have it? Your declarations page will show it, or give us a call and we’ll look it up for you.

Watch Out for Storm Chasers

After major storms in Southeast Michigan, out-of-town contractors flood the area quickly. No contractor can guarantee insurance approval — that decision is made by your insurance company. What a reputable contractor can do is present accurate information and support your claim properly. Be cautious of anyone promising a “free roof” or pressuring you to sign a contract before your adjuster has visited.

Have Questions About Your Coverage?

Tucker Insurance Agency has been helping Canton and Southeast Michigan families navigate situations exactly like this one since 1970. Whether you’re wondering what your current policy covers, whether it’s worth filing a claim, or whether you have the right coverage in place heading into the rest of storm season — we’re here.

Call us today at 734-697-5544, Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Or get in touch online anytime.