Free guide · Escambia & Santa Rosa
Hurricane damage: what to do first.
The first 48 hours
Five things to do before you hire anyone.
- 1
Stay safe first
Treat every downed line as live and call your power company. Run generators outside only, well away from doors and windows; carbon monoxide kills after every hurricane.
- 2
Photograph everything
Take photos and video of all damage, inside and out, before you move or throw anything away. Keep a list of damaged items.
- 3
Stop more damage
Tarping a roof hole or boarding a broken window keeps the damage from getting worse. Keep every receipt.
- 4
Call your insurance company
Report the claim yourself, directly to your insurer. Ask what they need from you and write down the claim number and who you spoke with.
- 5
Don't sign under pressure
Read every contract before you sign it, and never sign one with blank spaces. You can take a day to think it over.
Who does what
Damage that needs a licensed pro.
Roof damage
Florida requires a state-licensed roofing contractor (or a certified general or building contractor) for roof repairs. A licensed roofer can also do emergency tarping.
Water damage
Get wet drywall, carpet and insulation out and the house drying within a day or two to keep mold from starting. Water mitigation companies bring commercial fans and dehumidifiers.
Mold
Mold remediation in Florida is licensed work. Ask for the remediator's state license and look it up.
Structural, electrical, plumbing, AC
All need a Florida-licensed contractor in that trade. Have a licensed electrician check any wiring or equipment that got wet before you turn it back on.
Check any Florida license in under a minute at MyFloridaLicense.com. Search by name or license number and make sure the license is current and in the right trade.
Storm chasers
Red flags after a hurricane.
- ⚠️ Knocks on your door right after the storm, offering a roof inspection or a free roof
- ⚠️ Offers to pay or waive your insurance deductible (that's illegal in Florida)
- ⚠️ Asks you to sign over your insurance claim or benefits to them
- ⚠️ Wants a large cash deposit before any work or materials show up
- ⚠️ Can't give you a Florida license number, or the number doesn't come up on MyFloridaLicense.com
- ⚠️ Has no local address, or pushes you to decide today
- ⚠️ Offers to "handle the insurance" or tells you what your policy covers (only your insurer or a licensed adjuster can do that)
The cleanup we can help with
Cash-pay storm cleanup, one call.
Once the big repairs are in licensed hands, the rest of the cleanup still has to happen. These are the jobs we get handled for neighbors every day:
Official help
Free resources.
- MyFloridaLicense.com: look up any contractor's license
- DisasterAssistance.gov: FEMA help, when approved for your county
- Florida Division of Emergency Management
- Florida CFO consumer help with insurance problems: 1-877-MY-FL-CFO
- Escambia County storm updates and debris pickup
- Santa Rosa County storm updates and debris pickup
- City of Pensacola
Questions
Common questions.
Does WAHOO! do roof or water damage repair?
No. We don't do roofing, water mitigation, mold or structural work. We clean exteriors ourselves and connect people with local companies for cash-pay jobs like debris hauling, tree work, fences and screens.
Will you refer me to a roofer or public adjuster?
We don't take referral fees on any work paid by property insurance, and we never take them from public adjusters. Florida law bans both. Use MyFloridaLicense.com to check any company you're considering.
How do I report price gouging?
During a declared state of emergency, Florida's Attorney General takes price gouging reports at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226).
Is it normal for contractors to knock on doors after a storm?
It happens after every big storm, and it's where most storm scams start. Take a card, check the license yourself and call them back on your schedule.
Partners are independent local companies. You pay them directly, never a markup. No referral fees on insurance-paid work. How referrals work
Ready for the cleanup?
Debris, trees, fences, screens. Text a photo and we'll get the right crew out.