A Checklist for Assessing Damage

Because timely and thorough reporting is critical to recovery after a hurricane, we’ve prepared the following checklist for assessing hurricane damage.

Be Safe

Once you have determined that it is safe to return to your facilities, please do so with caution. There may be some areas that you would not normally think to check, however the sooner you check these areas the sooner you will be back to serving your community.

Ladder Safety 

• Always secure the ladder
  • Place or secure the feet in such a way that they cannot move or slip
  • Anchor or tie-off the top so that it cannot move or shift
• Always maintain three points of bodily contact with the ladder
  • Two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand
• Always face the ladder when ascending or descending

Reporting Damage

The Redwoods Group 

Office: 800-463-8546
Emergency Hotline (After Hours): 877-590-4678
Email Incident Reporting: claims@redwoodsgroup.com
Fax Incident Reporting: 800-478-6068

If You Find Damage 

• Report the damage to your insurance provider (see Redwoods reporting methods above)
• Take photos of the damage
• Take steps to mitigate losses, if needed, and if you buy any supplies, please save your receipts

Assessing Damages

Buildings

• In addition to inspecting the roof, check roofs for missing or damaged drain covers
• Look for areas where water may have pooled on the roof or caused damage to the membrane roofs
• Check scuppers, gutters and downspouts for damage or drainage issues
• Look at fascia boards on roofs to identify damage to these areas
• Check for any external damage to cameras or lights that are attached to the building
  • If any wiring is exposed, do not touch. Call for a professional to assist in determining if the wires are still energized.

Exterior

• Check for drains at the base of stairwells to remove debris
• Check all fences and exterior signage for signs or damage
• Check for debris build up on the drains in parking lots or streets which might hinder the flow of water and have this removed before the next rain event can occur
• If you have gravel roads or parking lots, check for and regrade washed out areas
• If you have washed out asphalt, make sure you mark the area with cones, barrels and/or tape to identify the hazard until necessary repairs can be made

Fields

• Walk the entire perimeter of the athletic fields to determine if there is damage to fences, or if there is debris which may have washed up on the property
• Look up for trees or limbs that may need to be removed as a result of being damaged
• If you have artificial surface fields or recently installed sod, this may be a tripping hazard that might need to be secured/repaired