Step 1 — Stay Off the Roof and Do a Ground-Level Assessment First

I know the instinct is to get up there and look. Don’t. Wind events that damage roofs often loosen decking, crack rafters, or compromise the structure in ways you can’t see from the surface. One misstep and you’re falling through. Instead, walk the perimeter of your home from the ground. Look for missing shingles or tiles in the yard, exposed felt paper (it’s dark and looks wet), lifted ridge caps, displaced flashing around chimneys or vents, and damaged gutters or fascia boards. Take photos of everything you can see from the ground — including any debris that landed from your roof.

Santa Ana winds — the ones that come through the Cajon and Santa Ana Canyon passes and accelerate through the Santa Ana Mountains — are different from coastal breezes. They’re hot, dry, and can gust to 60–80 mph. The damage patterns are specific: ridge caps blow off first, then field tiles or shingles on the west-facing slope (the side that takes the brunt), then flashings at any penetration point. Your attic is also worth checking from inside after a big event — if you see daylight through the decking, you have a breach.

Step 2 — Document Everything Before You Touch Anything

Your insurance claim lives and dies on documentation. Before you do any cleanup, before you call a contractor, before you move a single blown tile — photograph everything. Use your phone and shoot wide angles to show the whole area, then close-ups of specific damage. If you have a drone, this is the time to use it. Date and time stamp everything. If rain is in the forecast (Santa Ana winds often give way to a brief Pacific moisture pull), put a tarp over exposed areas to prevent secondary water damage — but still photograph before the tarp goes on. Water intrusion that happens because you didn’t tarp won’t always be covered as wind damage.

Also document inside your home. Water stains on ceilings? Photograph. Wet insulation in the attic? Photograph. These are part of your claim. Insurance adjusters look for pre-existing damage to deny or minimize claims — the more thorough your documentation, the harder that argument is to make.

Step 3 — Call Your Insurance Company (Before You Call a Contractor)

Most homeowner policies in Orange County require you to notify them promptly after a loss — “promptly” typically means within 72 hours. Call your insurance company first, open a claim, and get a claim number. Don’t let anyone talk you into signing an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) form before you understand what you’re signing. AOB signs over your insurance rights to the contractor, and while it sounds convenient, it can tie your hands if the claim gets complicated.

Ask your adjuster specifically whether they’ll send someone out or use a third-party inspection service. Some insurers in California now use aerial photo services (like EagleView) rather than in-person inspections — knowing this matters because those photos may not capture all damage visible from the roof surface. You have the right to be present during any inspection and to bring your own contractor for a second opinion.

Step 4 — Watch Out for Storm Chasers

After every significant Santa Ana wind event, out-of-area contractors show up in Orange County neighborhoods going door to door. They work fast, quote low, take a large deposit, and sometimes disappear — or do work that fails within a year. We’ve been called in to fix botched wind-damage repairs from out-of-town crews more times than I can count. The warning signs: they offer to “work directly with your insurance” without you being involved, they pressure you to sign the same day, they can’t provide a current California contractor’s license number you can verify on the CSLB website, or their crew has out-of-state plates and no local address.

California law (Business & Professions Code §7159.5) caps the initial deposit at 10% of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less. Anyone asking for more than that upfront is violating state law. You also have a 3-day right to cancel any home improvement contract — use it if you feel pressured.

Step 5 — Get a Written Damage Assessment Report from a Licensed Contractor

A proper damage assessment isn’t just a guy looking at your roof and saying “yeah, you’ve got some damage.” It’s a written report that documents: which specific areas are damaged, what materials are affected, whether the damage is wind-related vs. pre-existing wear, estimated repair scope and cost, and photos keyed to each finding. This report is your leverage with the insurance company. If their adjuster low-balls the estimate, your contractor’s written assessment is how you fight it. We provide these reports as part of our wind damage evaluation — no charge for Santa Ana homeowners.

Frequently Asked Questions — Roof Damage After Santa Ana Winds

Does homeowners insurance cover Santa Ana wind damage to my roof?

Most standard homeowners policies in California cover wind damage as a named peril — yes, including damage from Santa Ana winds. However, coverage can be limited if the damage was partly due to pre-existing deterioration or deferred maintenance. Your policy’s deductible applies, and some insurers in high-wind areas have added separate wind deductibles. Read your declarations page carefully and ask your agent specifically about wind coverage limits.

How long do I have to file a claim after wind damage in California?

California law requires insurers to acknowledge your claim within 15 days and begin investigating within 40 days. Your policy will specify how long you have to report the claim — most require “prompt” notification which practically means within a few days to a week. Do not wait. Even if you’re unsure whether to file, open the claim to protect your rights. You can always withdraw it if the damage is below your deductible.

Can I just patch the missing shingles myself after the wind storm?

Temporary tarping to prevent water intrusion is fine — and smart. Actual repairs before your insurance adjuster has inspected can create problems, because the adjuster needs to see the original damage. If you must make emergency repairs to prevent further damage, document everything first, keep all removed materials, and photograph before and after. Doing a full DIY repair before filing could give the insurer grounds to deny the claim.

What if the insurance payout isn’t enough to cover the full repair?

You can dispute the adjuster’s estimate. Start by getting a detailed written estimate from a licensed contractor. If your contractor’s estimate significantly exceeds the insurance payout, submit the contractor’s estimate as a supplement. Most insurers will re-evaluate. If they won’t, you can request appraisal (a formal dispute process written into most policies) or consult a public adjuster — a licensed professional who negotiates on your behalf for a percentage of the settlement.

How quickly can you get out to assess wind damage in Santa Ana?

After major wind events we prioritize rapid response. We’re local — we’re not driving from Los Angeles or Riverside — so we can typically get to Santa Ana properties within 24–48 hours of a significant wind event. Call (657) 210-3803 as soon as the wind settles down. We’ll fit you in.

Roof Damage From Last Night’s Wind? Call Us Now.

We provide written wind damage assessments for Santa Ana homeowners — at no charge. We know how insurance claims work, we know what adjusters look for, and we’ve been on roofs in this city after every major wind season since 2003. Don’t wait for the next rain to find out where your roof is leaking.

(657) 210-3803 — Free Wind Damage Assessment