Louisiana Storm Emergency Checklist
Printable emergency checklist for before, during, and after storms. Essential actions to protect your Louisiana home and family.
Louisiana Storm Emergency Checklist
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What should you do first after a storm?
After a storm, wait for the official all-clear before leaving shelter. Check people and pets first, avoid floodwater and downed power lines, then inspect the home from the ground only if it is safe. If water is entering the home or exterior pieces are loose, prevent further damage from inside and call for help.
What damage should you document before cleanup?
Document roof edges, gutter runs, downspouts, fascia, soffit, siding, water stains, debris impacts, fallen branches, and any pieces that pulled away from the home. Take wide photos, close-up photos, and short videos before moving debris when it is safe. Keep receipts for tarps, cleanup supplies, and storm-related repairs.
What should you prepare before calling?
Know the immediate risk before you call. Say whether anyone is in danger, water is entering the home, loose materials could fall, drainage is backing up, or nearby power lines make the area unsafe. Lead with the most urgent symptom so the conversation starts with triage.
When should you call for professional help?
Call when the damage is above ground level, near electrical hazards, causing active water intrusion, or involves sagging gutters, detached downspouts, roof-edge damage, or fascia and soffit damage. Do not climb a ladder or walk a roof after a storm until conditions are safe and dry.
What can you inspect from the ground?
Walk the perimeter only after hazards are cleared. Use binoculars or your phone camera zoom to check roof edges, valleys, gutters, fascia, soffit, downspout straps, splash blocks, and places where water drains near doors or the slab. Look for bent gutter runs, separated corners, loose hangers, downspouts pulled away from the wall, exposed wood, missing drip edge, new water stains, and debris piles that show water backed up instead of draining away.
How should you document storm damage?
Take photos in the same order each time: front, right side, back, left side, then close-ups of each damaged area. Include one wide photo that shows where the damage is on the home and one close photo that shows the detail. Record short videos of active leaks, overflowing gutters, loose metal, or water dumping near the foundation. Write down the date, time, room affected, and what you noticed before any cleanup or temporary repair.
What should you not do after a storm?
Do not climb onto a wet roof, lean a ladder against a damaged gutter, touch metal gutters near downed wires, pull loose fascia by hand, or remove large branches that may be carrying weight. Do not throw away damaged parts until you have photos. Do not seal over wet materials unless you are stopping active water entry, and do not enter an attic or ceiling area if you smell gas, see sparks, or suspect electrical damage.
How should you prioritize roof, gutter, fascia, and downspout issues?
Treat active water entering the home as the first priority. Next, prioritize roof-edge openings, loose fascia, and soffit damage that can let wind-driven rain reach the structure. After that, handle detached gutters, missing hangers, and downspouts that dump water against walls, doors, walkways, or the slab. Cosmetic dents can wait until leaks, drainage failures, and loose materials are controlled.
What details should you have before calling?
Put contractor-ready notes in one place: property address, nearest cross street, callback number, safe parking or gate instructions, number of stories, and which side of the home was hit. Label photos by area before cleanup, then keep the claim number, adjuster contact, receipts, and temporary repair notes with the same timeline.
What should you print or keep with this checklist?
Keep one paper copy with your emergency supplies and one copy where your family can find it without power. Add your insurance policy number, utility shutoff instructions, local emergency contacts, gate codes, medication notes, pet needs, and photos of important receipts or serial numbers. Use a waterproof bag or folder so the checklist, receipts, and damage notes stay together during cleanup.
72 Hours Before Storm
🏠 Home Exterior
📋 Documentation
24 Hours Before Storm
🔧 Final Preparations
🎒 Emergency Supplies
During the Storm
🛡️ Safety First
📱 Communication
After the Storm
🔍 Safety Assessment
📞 Recovery Actions
📞 Emergency Contacts
Emergency Services
911
Faithful Gutters
(985) 542-1646
24/7 Storm Response
Insurance
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