What to do in the first 48 hours after a storm hits your Augusta-area home — from safety and documentation to emergency tree removal and insurance claims.
First, make the property safe
After a storm, the biggest risks are downed power lines, leaning trees, and compromised roof structures. Keep everyone away from any tree resting on a roof or utility line and call the power company before touching anything.
Document everything before cleanup
Insurance adjusters want evidence. Before a single limb is moved:
- Photograph every angle of the damage, including wide shots that show the whole structure
- Take video while narrating what you see
- Photograph interior water intrusion, ceilings, and flooring
- Keep receipts for tarps, generators, and lodging
Get emergency stabilization done fast
Water that sits turns a repair into a rebuild. Emergency tarping, board-up, and tree removal should happen within the first day or two. VaughnCo runs 24/7 storm response across Augusta, Evans, Martinez, Grovetown, Hephzibah, North Augusta, and Aiken — our crews worked large-scale Hurricane Helene cleanup across the CSRA in 2024.
File the claim with a scope, not a guess
Call your carrier the same day, then have a licensed general contractor walk the property and write a real scope. A documented scope keeps the claim from being settled for less than the actual repair cost.
Rebuild once, correctly
Storm work often uncovers older issues — rotted decking, undersized framing, failing siding. Handling structural repair, siding, interior restoration, and finishes under one contractor keeps the timeline tight and the warranty simple.
Need help right now? Call (706) 306-9700 for 24/7 storm response anywhere in the CSRA.