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, and North Augusta — 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.
Need help right now? Call (706) 306-9700 for 24/7 storm response anywhere in the CSRA.