When Disaster Strikes, Here Are 5 Ways You Can Help

By Dani Sheehan. 

Hurricane season arrives unexpectedly every year. When a homeowner is unprepared or the weather proves too unpredictable, see how you can prevent further distress by providing relief. 

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, is projected to have increased activity with 14 to 21 storms likely. While not all storms will become full-blown hurricanes, and not all will reach land, the above-average season doubles the likelihood of a hurricane hitting the East Coast compared to other seasons according to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.  

In August, three tropical storms made landfall and Hurricane Idalia hit Florida as a high-end Category 3 hurricane. At the time of writing this, Hurricane Lee is expected to make landfall throughout New England mid-September. 

We may not be able to prevent hurricanes, but we can help mitigate the damage by informing homeowners with tips to prepare their homes. And if disaster has already struck, we can keep them at ease by offering the right support and products for their roof replacement needs. Here’s how you can go above and beyond to provide exceptional customer service to distressed homeowners. 

1 - Encourage homeowners to get multiple quotes for their repairs 

We all want to close the sale, but building trust with the homeowner is crucial to good business. Owens Corning provides a great storm damage checklist to provide homeowners in times of crisis. Unfortunately, some people will try to take advantage of disasters. Educate homeowners on these potential risks so they check that a contractor is licensed and insured before agreeing to any work on the home. More than likely, they’re going to call you first! 

2 - Use aerial imagery to inspect roofs after the storm 

Your safety and the safety of your crew are just as important as repairing the roof. With advancing technology, it is now possible to assess damage and take incredibly accurate measurements of a roof with drones. For example, TAMKO® and EagleView recently teamed up to provide drone services to contractors to quickly visualize roof damage. Nearmap similarly has aerial imagery solutions and recommends proactive post-catastrophe strategies that can assist in making the insurance claim process a breeze instead of a headache. 

3 - Provide temporary fixes to ensure the home is livable 

In times of disaster, it is not always easy to access the materials or time needed for a prompt repair. There are solutions that function as long-term, temporary protection, such as Stormseal, that can withstand future storms, unlike tarps which often blow away. Fort Myers, Florida is a perfect example of the need for these types of solutions. Amidst a new hurricane season, they are still trying to rebuild from Hurricane Ian in October 2022. 

4 - Consider obtaining a blue roof contract for your business 

While we want to be able to support communities in times of need, it’s also important to keep your business protected. Cotney Consulting Group suggest having an existing blue roof contract in place during disaster relief efforts. This will ensure you can provide ongoing support when your customers need you the most.  

5 - Offer durable solutions to reduce future risk of damage 

Metal roofing is the hot place to be! Hopefully you are already offering metal roofing solutions in areas prone to disaster to ensure their durability and longevity against high winds and other extreme weather conditions. Dupont™ Tedlar® film is particularly fitting for coastal areas, as one Roofing Road Trips podcast episode discusses.  

Still new to the metal industry? Sherwin-Williams' MetalVue Program has all the resources you need to get started. There are also additional roofing solutions to consider, such as synthetic roofing from DaVinci Roofscapes, or slate or tile systems. Ensuring that you have extensive knowledge of a variety of solutions can help you inform your customers to make the best decisions for their roof repair or replacement and further builds your relationship with them. 

Continue the conversation in our hurricane relief forum to share insights and get the most updated information this hurricane season.