Posted on April 30, 2022 by Phillip Camerer

Tornado season is upon us in the four-state region, and for homeowners and businesses alike, that can mean suffering structural damage to your roof. For anyone who’s experienced a tornado up close and personal, it is very much a traumatic experience.

High winds range from as low as 40 miles per hour (mph) to as high as 318 mph. The National Weather Service characterizes a weak tornado as ranking as a zero with minimal roof damage. You are more likely to see a tree limb breaking away and hurled into a nearby roof.

But as soon as tornados reach an F scale of one, better known as an F1, roof damage is possible. In comparison, roof damage is imminent when a tornado is an F2 or higher on the Fujita Scale or F Scale.

With all science has learned about tornadoes, there are a few things a local living in “tornado alley” knows, tornadoes are highly unpredictable, indiscriminate destructive forces of Mother Nature. But to live through one is an entirely different story that no one would wish on another human.

After the Tornado

If your home or business was subjected to destructive winds, you know the thousands of dollars it can cost to repair that damage. For anyone who lived in or near Joplin, Missouri, nearly a decade ago, you wouldn’t be surprised to learn that the 2011 F5 tornado still ranks as one of the top three highest tornado catastrophes in U. S. insured losses.

After a tornado of that caliber hits, victims are shaken and wondering where to turn and what to do first. In most cases, families and business owners need to relocate temporarily. Then call your insurance company as soon as possible to report the loss.

Working With Insurance Companies

It’s bound to be emotional when you finally call the insurance company to report a tornado that hit your home or office. However, insurance agents and insurance adjusters all recognize that deep empathy is an essential factor in helping you heal and move forward.

In most cases, your insurance company sends out an adjuster to your home to inspect and assess the damage. The cost of the repairs will limit the insurance claim to the amount of coverage on the policy.

Roof repairs are rarely straightforward following a catastrophic loss from a tornado striking your home. In many cases, unseen damage isn’t going to be caught by an insurance adjuster. 

More often than not, it will be the roofing contractor you hire. Your best course of action is to connect your roofer with your insurance company so they can keep that claim open until repairs are complete.

Working with Contractors

Some of the damage that roofing contractors, or general contractors, run across that insurance adjusters often miss is water damage and electrical wiring issues. Depending upon who built your home, some electrical contractors and home building developers electrical through the roof.

If so, electrical damage could have occurred throughout the home, if even only it’s a partial roof replacement. Fortunately, the construction industry is often small, and in rural communities, most roofers know someone whole specializes in electrical repairs.

Even if you’re not looking to have your entire roof replaced, what roofing material remains can also dictate the cost of the repairs. Such as in metal roofs and asphalt shingles vary significantly in price. The same is true too about commercial roofing repairs.

Who to Call

After a tornado hits with wind speeds over 110 mph, your family’s safety is your priority. Then call your insurance agent and contact a roofing contractor immediately afterward.

Other families are bound to be in the same position, and roofing contractors could book out for months. One good roofing source is the team at Phillip Camerer Roofing. They have been serving the Joplin, Missouri, families, and businesses for over 18 years. If you need a master roofing company, contact the team at Phillip Camerer Roofing today.