As Bob walked the church grounds early this morning in Ft Worth, he could already see it was going to be a long day. The hailstorms that had rolled through overnight were no ordinary Texas thunderclap. The brought extensive damage this time around.
Shattered skylights, dented HVAC units, and granules from the asphalt shingles now filled the gutters and sidewalks. Then he saw the shingles on the ground that had been produced by the severe weather beating the entire roof. His heart sank.
As the administrative pastor, Bob knew something needed to be done. Quickly. But what exactly? Who should he call first? What needed to happen before the insurance company would even talk to him?
The day after a hail storm hits your church is not the time to start learning the basics of your hail insurance policy. It’s a time for action. But it has to be the right action in the right order. That’s what helps your claim go smoothly and helps your church get back to normal faster.
Start With Documentation
Before anyone climbs on a ladder or calls a contractor, the most important thing to do is to perform a self roof inspection and document the damage. Walk the property and take clear photos of everything you can see. Look for window damage, missing shingles, damaged AC units, dented gutters, or anything else that was affected by the storm damage. If water got inside, take photos of the interior as well.
Bob walked through the sanctuary, fellowship hall, and Sunday school rooms with his phone out, snapping pictures of the ceiling tiles that had water spots and the soaked carpet in the hallway near the kitchen after the large hail had done damage to roofs of all of the buildings.
He wasn't just taking one or two pictures. He was documenting everything from multiple angles, and even made short videos where it made sense. That level of detail will always come in handy later when it is time to discuss the damage from hail with your insurance adjuster.
He also made notes of what he could see from the ground. He didn’t climb onto the roof. That part could wait until a professional could assess it safely. What mattered most was getting a record of how extensive damage is done to your church building. This is the kind of evidence that helps avoid delays when hail damage claims are filed. It also gives the insurance adjuster a head start on understanding the scope of the problem.
Secure the Property to Prevent More Damage
Once the damage from strong winds and severe weather is complete, the next priority is stopping things from getting worse. Bob was in contact with an expert roofing contractor to secure the leaks that lead to the water intrusion. They were covering them with tarps. He was also working to cover the broken glass to eliminate additional potential risks of leaks and harm to a visitor to the church. If water got inside, do what you can to start drying things out.
These mitigation steps will not only secure your church building, but they will also help lower the risk of hidden damage that will be a major problem later. Insurance companies expect you to take reasonable action to prevent more damage from occurring after the storm has passed and these steps do that.
Bob worked with a few volunteers to move electronics away from wet areas and placed fans where they could help dry things out. One of the deacons had a tarp in his truck and helped cover the worst spot on the roof until the roofer could take a better look. They didn’t start repairs. They didn’t throw anything away. They just stabilized the scene while scouting for other signs of hail damage.
It’s important to know that insurance policies often require policyholders to take these kinds of steps. Failure to do so could affect how the claim for hail damage is handled. But that doesn’t mean you should jump straight into hiring contractors. That comes later. First, focus on preventing more roof damage, then move to the next step.
Review Your Policy With Your Church Insurance Policy Specialist
This is where a lot of churches get stuck. They file a claim before really understanding what their policy says. That’s how you get surprised by exclusions, deductibles, or limits you didn’t know were in place.
Bob didn’t want to make that mistake. So before he called in the claim, he reached out to his church insurance agent at Insurance For Texans. That’s when things started to come into focus. Together, they reviewed the current policy to confirm exactly what his coverage for hail damage is, what the deductible would be, and what next steps should be taken first with storm damage restoration services.
For example, Bob learned that his church had a wind and hail deductible that was a separate amount for each church building. And because of how the policy was written, certain parts of the roof were subject to actual cash value instead of replacement cost. That changed how he approached the claim. Instead of assuming the carrier would pay full value, he could now prepare the board for the likely outcome and plan accordingly.
A good Texas-based church insurance agent doesn’t just sell policies. They help walk you through the moments that matter. That includes answering questions after a severe hail storm, helping you avoid costly missteps, and making sure you’re not walking into a commercial property damage claims process blind.
Why Local Knowledge Matters
Bob had learned these lessons the hard way several years ago after a smaller storm. He had worked with an out-of-state agency back then. They didn’t understand Texas hail, didn’t return calls quickly, and left Bob dealing with adjusters on his own. It was frustrating and costly.
This time around was different. His Texas-based church insurance agent knew the weather patterns, knew how local carriers were handling claims, and even knew which roofers were reputable in the area. That made all the difference.
When you work with someone who understands Texas weather and the unique needs of Texas churches, you don’t just get a policy. You get a partner. Someone who can help you respond quickly, document properly, and make informed choices when it matters most. That is what True Texas Church Insurance does for folks like Bob all over Texas.
Your church deserves that kind of help whether you are in Ft Worth, Midland, or someplace else in this great state. Because the day after a storm should be about protecting your ministry, not stressing over fine print and claim forms for potential damages.
Click the button below to connect with a Texas-based church insurance expert who knows how to navigate hailstorms and help your church get the protection it needs.