After a Lubbock Hailstorm: A Homeowner's Damage Checklist and Claim Guide (2026)

Hail damage is easy to underestimate from the driveway and easy to mishandle in the first few days. Work through these steps in order.

Lubbock sits in one of the most hail-prone corridors in Texas. Most of its hail falls April through June, but not all of it: on September 15, 2026, NWS Lubbock logged quarter-size hail on the city's northwest edge and a measured 71 mph gust south of Wolfforth.

Three local conditions make the same storm costlier here. At roughly 3,250 feet, intense UV and heat leave older shingles brittle, so a 15-year-old roof cracks under hail a newer one would shrug off. Strong storms here can carry 60 to 80 mph gusts that drive hail sideways into siding, screens, and fences. And a big storm draws out-of-town roofing crews within days, some of whom are hard to find once a warranty problem shows up.

Check for hazards before you check shingles. Stay clear of downed power lines and report them to LP&L or your electric provider. If you smell gas, leave and call from outside. If water is dripping near a light fixture, shut off that circuit at the breaker, and keep everyone out from under a sagging, wet ceiling.

Then stay on the ground. A hail-beaten roof is littered with loose granules that roll underfoot like ball bearings, and a fall from even a one-story eave can be serious. Photograph from the yard, an upstairs window, or with your phone's zoom, and leave the close inspection to a roofer with fall protection and your adjuster. Walking on freshly hit shingles can also crack ones the storm missed.

Your claim is built on the date of loss, so write down the date, the approximate time, and the largest stones you saw while it is fresh. Once it is safe, photograph a few hailstones next to a ruler or a coin. The National Weather Service treats hail 1 inch across (quarter size) or larger as severe.

Then confirm the storm in the public record, because your insurer will. Your deductible applies to each claim, so if two storms hit in one season, you need to know which one did the damage.

Shoot wide photos of each side of the house first, then close-ups, and keep the original files with their dates. Soft metals are your strongest evidence, because aluminum and thin steel dent at hail sizes that may not visibly mark a shingle.

Hail damage does not always leak right away, so check inside the day of the storm and again after the next hard rain. A stain that shows up two weeks later still traces back to the storm date.

You are expected to keep known damage from getting worse. Homeowners policies generally list protecting the property among your duties after a loss, and the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) tells homeowners to cover holes and broken windows, remove standing water, and save receipts, since the policy may pay for temporary repairs.

The key word is temporary. TDI warns that permanent repairs made before the insurer sees the damage can give it a reason to deny the claim. Photograph everything before it is covered, and keep damaged items until the adjuster says you can toss them. If the house is not livable, ask about additional living expenses.

Before you file, or right alongside it, have an established local roofer inspect and document the damage: dated photos of each slope, dented soft metals, measurements, a repair-or-replace opinion, and an itemized estimate. That tells you whether the damage likely clears your deductible and gives you a record to compare with the adjuster's. Just do not let it delay the claim more than a few days. Our list of the top roofing companies in Lubbock is a good starting point, and TDI reminds insurers and contractors that homeowners can choose who repairs their home.

Texas does not license residential roofers, so know these rules, and use our guide to choosing a reliable contractor for the rest of your vetting.

File by phone or online, note the claim number, and log every conversation. Be home for the adjuster visit with your roofer there, as TDI recommends, so a damaged slope or a row of dented vents does not get missed.

Two things decide what a hail damage roof insurance claim in Texas pays. One is the deductible, often a separate wind and hail deductible of 1 to 2 percent of dwelling coverage. The other is whether the roof is covered at replacement cost value (RCV) or actual cash value (ACV), and TDI notes some insurers switch aging roofs to ACV at renewal. RCV usually pays in two checks, the second after the work is done, and under Insurance Code Section 707.004 the insurer can hold that second check until you prove you paid your deductible.

If the roofer finds items the adjuster missed, such as rotten decking, they submit a supplement with photos. With a mortgage, expect the check to name your lender too. Our roof replacement cost guide shows what a new roof runs in Lubbock.

Texas insurers must acknowledge a claim within 15 days, accept or deny it within 15 business days of getting everything they requested (up to 45 days if they explain the delay), and pay within five business days of approving it. A denial must be in writing, with the reason. On your side, TDI notes some policies set a one-year deadline to file, and RCV policies usually set a window to finish repairs, so check your policy for both dates. If the answer is no, or too low:

This guide was researched and published by Nextgen Blueprint, a Lubbock design-build contractor whose roofing team handles storm inspections, roof replacements, and the drywall and paint repairs that follow a leak. It is general information, not legal or insurance advice, and your policy controls your claim. Deadlines and legal references were checked against TDI guidance and Texas statutes and were accurate as of September 2026. After a storm, call (806) 472-4572, and we will document what we find in a written, itemized estimate you can compare with your deductible.