Storm Damage Securing in Eden Prairie, MN
Wind, hail, and tree-impact damage closed up after severe weather.
Severe weather in the southwest metro tends to open buildings in several places at once — a window on the windward side, a section of roof, and a door that no longer latches. Storm securing is about closing all of it before the next system arrives.
What this service covers
- Multiple openings closed in a single visit where possible
- Roof covering after wind or hail damage
- Window and door openings after debris impact
- Securing after tree and limb strikes
- Assessment of which openings are urgent and which can wait
- Documentation of storm damage before it is covered
Signs to watch for
- Missing shingles or siding after high wind
- Broken or cracked glass on the windward side
- Doors and windows that no longer close or latch
- Tree or limb contact with the structure
- Water entering during or after the storm
- Debris driven into the building envelope
Common causes
- Straight-line wind and severe thunderstorms
- Hail damage to roofing, siding, and glazing
- Tornado and high-wind events
- Falling trees and limbs
- Winter storm and ice loading
- Wind-driven debris from surrounding property
What to do first
- Check for downed power lines before approaching the building.
- Do not go near a structure with a tree resting on it.
- Photograph everything before any covering goes on.
- Move contents away from openings and active leaks.
- Report the damage to your insurer even before the full extent is known.
Before anyone arrives: do not go near an opening if the structure above it looks compromised, and never climb onto a damaged roof. A vehicle impact or fire can leave a wall standing that is no longer carrying load.
After a metro-wide storm, be realistic about the queue
When a severe storm line crosses the southwest metro, every securing provider in the area receives more requests in one morning than they can complete in two days. Nobody can honestly promise a specific arrival time in that window, and a provider who does is either not busy or not telling the truth.
What you can do while waiting is protect the interior, document thoroughly, and be precise about which opening is the urgent one. A property with one roof opening letting water into a bedroom is a different priority from one with a broken garage window, and saying which is which helps.
Do not let the securing wait for the adjuster
A common and costly sequence after a storm is that a property owner waits to secure the building until an adjuster has seen it. Almost no policy requires that, and most require the opposite — reasonable steps to prevent further damage.
Photograph the damage thoroughly and then secure it. The photographs are the record; the tarp is the mitigation. Leaving a building open for three days so somebody can look at it usually produces a larger claim, not a better-supported one.
What a provider may assess on site
- How many openings exist and which are letting water in
- Whether any structural member has been compromised
- Whether trees or limbs must be removed before securing
- Which openings can be closed safely in current conditions
- The sequence in which openings should be addressed
- Whether the building is safe to occupy
What gets secured depends on how many openings there are and whether the surrounding structure will hold a fixing. Nothing starts until a provider confirms scope and terms with you.
Related services
Property open right now?
Tell us what is open and where. A coordinator can review the request against the type of opening and what securing capacity looks like right now.