After the Storm: Room-by-Room Damage Assessment Checklist

How to Assess Your Home for Hurricane Damage: A Professional Checklist

The hurricane has passed and it is time to assess your home. This is one of the most important steps in the recovery process — thorough documentation protects your insurance claim, identifies safety hazards that could injure your family, and helps restoration professionals prioritize their work when they arrive.

This room-by-room checklist is based on the assessment protocol used by WrightWay Emergency Services when our crews respond to storm-damaged homes across Southwest Florida. Use it as a guide, but remember: if you see structural damage, standing water mixed with electrical hazards, gas leaks, or any condition that feels unsafe, stop and call for professional help immediately.

Before You Enter the Home

Walk around the entire exterior first. Do not enter the home until you have assessed it from outside.

Exterior Safety Check

• Structural integrity: Look for leaning walls, shifted foundation, separated roof sections, or any signs that the structure is unstable. If the building appears structurally compromised, do NOT enter.
• Downed power lines: If any power lines are on or near your property, stay at least 35 feet away and call your utility company. Assume all downed lines are live.
• Gas smell: If you smell natural gas or propane, do not enter the home, do not flip any switches, and call 911 and your gas provider from a safe distance.
• Standing water around the home: If floodwater surrounds the building, it may be contaminated with sewage, chemicals, or hiding electrical hazards. Do not wade through it without protective boots.
• Animal and insect hazards: Displaced snakes, fire ants on floating debris, and wasp nests knocked from eaves are common post-hurricane hazards in SW Florida.

Exterior Assessment

Photograph and document everything you find. Take wide shots showing the overall condition and close-ups of specific damage.

Roof

• Missing, cracked, or displaced shingles/tiles — note approximate area affected
• Exposed roof decking (plywood visible through gaps in covering)
• Sagging or deformed roof lines indicating structural failure
• Damaged or missing flashing around vents, chimneys, or skylights
• Debris on the roof (tree limbs, other objects that may have caused punctures)
• Gutter and soffit damage

Walls and Foundation

• Cracks in stucco, concrete block, or siding
• Holes or punctures from wind-borne debris
• Water stain lines indicating flood height (photograph these with a measuring tape for scale)
• Shifted or cracked foundation
• Separation between walls and foundation or walls and roof line

Windows and Doors

• Broken or cracked glass
• Bent or damaged frames
• Water intrusion around window and door frames (visible staining or dampness)
• Missing or damaged hurricane shutters
• Garage door damage (one of the most common failure points)

Landscaping and Property

• Downed trees — note if they have struck the home, fence, vehicles, or utility lines
• Fence damage
• Pool screen enclosure damage
• Pool equipment condition
• Driveway or walkway cracks or displacement
• AC condenser unit (check for debris damage, flooding, or displacement)

Interior Assessment — Room by Room

Work systematically through every room. Do not skip rooms that appear undamaged from the doorway — check ceilings, walls, and floors in each space.

Every Room: Check These Items

• Ceiling: Water stains, sagging, bubbling paint, visible cracks, or active dripping
• Walls: Water stains (especially near the ceiling and around windows), bubbling or peeling paint, soft or spongy drywall (press gently with your hand)
• Flooring: Standing water, damp carpet, warped hardwood, buckled laminate, loose tiles
• Windows: Water on sills, moisture between panes (indicates seal failure), damaged frames
• Electrical: Outlets or switches that are wet, discolored, or smell burnt — do NOT touch them. Note their location for an electrician.
• Odor: Musty or moldy smell indicates hidden moisture. This is especially important in closets and behind furniture.

Kitchen

• Check under the sink for water intrusion
• Inspect appliances for water damage (especially behind and underneath the refrigerator and dishwasher)
• If power was out for extended periods, assess food safety (discard perishables that exceeded 40 degrees F for more than 2 hours)
• Check the ceiling above for leaks from any second-floor bathrooms or roof penetrations

Bathrooms

• Check for sewage backup in toilets, tubs, and shower drains (common during flooding)
• Look for water stains around toilet bases, under vanities, and along baseboards
• Inspect caulk around tubs and showers for signs of water intrusion behind walls
• Check exhaust fan vent for water intrusion (roof penetration point)

Bedrooms

• Check carpet near exterior walls — feel for dampness even if it looks dry on the surface
• Inspect closets thoroughly — they are often where hidden leaks accumulate
• Look behind headboards and furniture against exterior walls for moisture or staining

Attic

• If safe to access, check for daylight visible through the roof (indicates missing material or punctures)
• Look for wet insulation — wet insulation loses all effectiveness and can harbor mold
• Check roof decking for water stains, soft spots, or visible damage
• Note any HVAC ductwork that has been displaced, disconnected, or water-damaged

Garage

• Inspect the garage door and tracks for damage or warping
• Check for water intrusion under the garage door
• Inspect the water heater, HVAC air handler, and any equipment in the garage
• Check the electrical panel for signs of water exposure, corrosion, or damage

Prioritizing Damage: What Needs Attention First

1. Active water intrusion: Any opening in the roof or building envelope allowing continued water entry must be addressed immediately with emergency tarping or board-up
2. Standing water: Water extraction must begin as soon as possible to prevent mold growth and structural deterioration
3. Electrical hazards: Have a licensed electrician assess and clear electrical systems before restoring power
4. Structural damage: Any compromised structural elements must be evaluated by a professional before the home is occupied
5. Cosmetic damage: Paint, drywall, trim, and flooring repairs are addressed during the reconstruction phase after the structure is dried and cleared

Call WrightWay for Professional Storm Damage Assessment

While this checklist helps you understand the scope of damage and document it for insurance, a professional assessment with calibrated moisture meters, thermal imaging cameras, and structural expertise identifies damage that is invisible to the naked eye. Hidden moisture behind walls, under flooring, and in ceiling cavities is the damage that causes the most expensive problems weeks and months later when mold develops.

WrightWay Emergency Services provides comprehensive storm damage assessments and full-service hurricane damage restoration including water extraction, structural drying, mold prevention, and complete reconstruction. We also handle all insurance claims documentation so your claim is supported with professional-grade evidence.

Call us at (941) 379-8669 — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The sooner we assess your home, the faster we can stop damage from spreading and start your recovery. Serving Sarasota, Fort Myers, Naples, and all of Southwest Florida.