Hail & wind damage in the Mid-South

Spring in the Mid-South brings hail and straight-line winds that can age a roof ten years in ten minutes — often without a single leak to warn you. Here's how to tell, and what to do next.

Signs from the ground

• Dented soft metals — gutters, downspouts, roof vents, mailbox, the fins on your AC condenser. If they're dented, the roof was hit too.
• Granules in the gutters or at the bottom of downspouts — the sand-like coating that protects shingles from the sun.
• Missing, lifted or creased shingles after wind, especially along ridges and roof edges.
• Debris — limbs on the roof, torn screens, damaged siding on the storm-facing side.

Signs up close (leave this to a pro)

• Bruises — soft spots where hail cracked the shingle mat underneath.
• Exposed asphalt or fiberglass where granules were knocked off.
• Broken seal strips that let shingles flap in the next wind.

What to do in the first week

1. Take dated photos of everything you can see from the ground and inside — ceilings, attic, soft metals. Your own photos taken right after the storm carry real weight later.
2. Write down the storm date and time; local news or a weather app can confirm hail in your area.
3. Stop active water and keep receipts for anything you spend.
4. Get a licensed roofer to inspect. In Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas, check the contractor's license before anyone climbs your roof.
5. Read your policy's deadlines. Many policies set a time limit for reporting storm damage.

Storm-chaser warning

After every big Mid-South storm, out-of-state crews knock on doors. Ask for a local address, a state license number and proof of insurance, and never pay a large deposit to someone you can't find next month.

This guide is general information from a licensed contractor, not legal or insurance advice. Rules change — check the official source linked above before you rely on it.