How to Spot Storm and Wind Damage Safely From the Ground

Published October 16, 2026 by Roaring Ranger Roofing

West Texas storms don't mess around. A line of thunderstorms can bring straight-line winds, hail, and sideways rain to Ranger, Eastland, and Abilene in a single afternoon. Once it passes, it's natural to want to go see if the roof made it through.

You can learn a lot about your roof without ever setting foot on a ladder. Here's how to check for storm and wind damage safely from the ground, what to do with what you find, and how to protect yourself from the storm chasers who often show up soon after.

First things first: safety

Before you start looking around, take a minute to make sure it's safe to be outside.

• Stay away from downed power lines. Assume any fallen line is live. Keep your distance and report it to your utility.
• Watch for hanging limbs. Branches that cracked but didn't fall can come down without warning.
• Don't climb onto the roof. Wet shingles are slick, and storm damage can weaken spots you can't see. A fall can be far worse than any roof problem.
• If water is coming in near lights or outlets, turn off power to that area at the breaker if you can do it safely.

Walk the outside of the house

Start at one corner and walk all the way around the house. Step back far enough to see the whole roof from each side. A pair of binoculars helps a lot. So does your phone camera's zoom.

Look at the roof surface

• Missing shingles. Gaps where shingles used to be, often showing a different color underneath.
• Lifted or creased shingles. Wind can lift a shingle and fold it back. Even if it lays back down, a crease line across it means the seal broke.
• Exposed underlayment or bare wood. Dark felt or synthetic underlayment, or bare decking, means the roof is open to water.
• Shingles out of line. A row that looks crooked or bunched may have slipped.

Look at the edges and metal parts

• Ridge caps. The shingles along the peak take a lot of wind. Look for missing or loose pieces.
• Flashing. Metal around chimneys, walls, and skylights can bend or pull loose.
• Vents and pipe boots. Dents, missing caps, or vents knocked sideways.
• Gutters and downspouts. Dents point to hail. Sagging or pulled-away gutters point to wind, debris, or heavy water flow.
• Drip edge and fascia. Look for bent metal or loose boards along the roof edge.

Look at the yard

Your yard can tell you what the roof went through:

• Pieces of shingle, ridge cap, or vent in the grass
• Large broken limbs near the house
• Granules collected at the bottom of downspouts
• Hail spatter marks on fences, decks, or the driveway

Check inside, too

Go into the attic if you can do so safely, and look with a flashlight for drips, wet insulation, water stains on the wood, or light showing through. Then check ceilings, especially in upstairs rooms, closets, and along exterior walls. New stains or bubbling paint mean water found a way in.

Write it down and take pictures

Before anything gets cleaned up, document what you see:

• Photos of the roof from each side, plus close-ups using zoom
• Photos of damage to gutters, vents, siding, screens, fences, and vehicles
• Photos of any interior damage
• The date and time of the storm and when you first noticed problems

Keep this all in one place. If you end up filing an insurance claim, these records will help. Even if you don't, they're useful to have.

Protect your home from more damage

If water is getting in, set out buckets, move valuables, and put towels down. If an opening needs to be covered temporarily, only do it if it can be done safely from the ground or without climbing onto a wet, damaged roof. Keep receipts for anything you buy.

We offer 24/7 emergency help by phone. If you're dealing with a leak after a storm, call (254) 488-1342 and we'll talk through what to do next.

How to avoid storm chasers

After a big storm, out-of-town contractors often flood into an area, knocking on doors and leaving flyers. Some are honest. Some aren't. Storm chasers can be gone by the time problems with their work show up, leaving homeowners with no one to call.

Here are some warning signs:

• Pressure to sign today. "This deal is only good right now" or "we're only in the neighborhood this week."
• Offers to cover or waive your deductible. Under Texas law, the homeowner is responsible for the deductible, and a contractor can't legally waive it or pay it for you.
• Asking for a large payment upfront before any materials are delivered or work begins.
• No local address or phone number. Or a phone number that goes to a voicemail in another state.
• Claiming to "handle" your insurance claim. Your claim is between you and your insurance company. A roofer who says they'll negotiate it for you is overstepping.
• Paperwork you don't understand. Never sign something you haven't read, even if it's described as "just an inspection form."

A few good habits:

• Take your time. Storm damage needs attention, but you have time to make a careful choice.
• Ask for a local address and phone number you can verify.
• Get details of the work, materials, and payment terms in writing before you agree to anything.
• Talk to your insurance company directly about your claim.

Get a closer look

Ground checks are a great start, but a lot of storm damage, especially hail bruising, can't be seen from below. A free roof inspection gets eyes on the roof up close. From there, we'll explain whether a roof repair will take care of it or a roof replacement makes more sense.

If the damage may be covered by your policy, see how we help homeowners understand and document claims on our insurance claims page. More details on what storms do to roofs are on our storm and hail damage page and our FAQ.

A local roofer, close to home

Roaring Ranger Roofing is based right here in Ranger, at 315 W Main St. We help homeowners in Ranger, Eastland, Abilene, and across the area. Call (254) 488-1342 for a free roof inspection and a free estimate.