Home Inventory + Storm Claim Kit — An Adjuster-Ready Documentation System for Louisiana & Mississippi

Quick Start — The 15-Minute Setup

If you do nothing else, complete the three steps below. It creates a “claim-ready baseline” that you can expand later, even if your full home inventory is not finished.

1. Create the folder structure in the Storm Claim Kit section.
2. Take baseline exterior photos using the before-storm checklist.
3. Fill out the first 10 inventory entries for major items (appliances, electronics, tools).

Once those steps are done, you have a usable system that prevents the most common documentation failures after hurricanes, hail events, and wind-driven rain.

Use These Supporting Guides (When You Need More Detail)

This page is the “template hub.” If you want deeper step-by-step guidance for specific situations, the links below break down what to do, what to photograph, and how timelines usually work on real claims across Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

• For storm damage patterns and what a clean evidence file looks like, use Storm Damage Roof Guide for LA & MS.
• For a detailed claims workflow (timelines, ACV/RCV terms, supplements, and practical scripts), use Roof Insurance Claims Guide — Louisiana & Mississippi.
• For a printable, stage-by-stage photo prompt sheet, use Documents for Insurer — 1-Page Storm Claim Photo Checklist.

These pages are designed to reduce uncertainty. Use the templates below first, then open the guides only if you need more depth for your specific scenario.

Template A — Home Inventory Template (Copy/Paste)

A home inventory is not about listing every spoon. It is about documenting high-value items and the proof that supports them (photos, serial plates, receipts, warranty PDFs). Start with the rooms that contain the most value: kitchen, living room, primary bedroom, garage.

Copy/paste the block below into a spreadsheet or a note. Then repeat it line-by-line for each major item.

Room:
Item:
Brand / Model:
Serial (if any):
Purchase Year:
Value (estimate):
Photo File Name(s):
Receipt / Invoice File Name:
Notes:

If you want examples of what “good” looks like, use the sample entries below. They are intentionally simple and easy to maintain.

Example entries:

Kitchen
Item: Refrigerator
Brand / Model: ______________________
Serial: _____________________________
Purchase Year: _______
Value (estimate): $________
Photo File Name(s): YYYY-MM-DD_Address_Kitchen_Fridge_ModelPlate_01.jpg
Receipt / Invoice File Name: YYYY-MM-DD_Retailer_Fridge_Receipt.pdf
Notes: Include close-up photo of the model plate

Living Room
Item: TV
Brand / Model: ______________________
Serial: _____________________________
Purchase Year: _______
Value (estimate): $________
Photo File Name(s): YYYY-MM-DD_Address_LivingRoom_TV_Serial_01.jpg
Receipt / Invoice File Name: _______________________________
Notes: One wide room photo + one serial/label close-up

Garage
Item: Tools (group)
Brand / Model: N/A
Serial: N/A
Purchase Year: N/A
Value (estimate): $________
Photo File Name(s): YYYY-MM-DD_Address_Garage_Tools_Wide_01.jpg
Receipt / Invoice File Name: _______________________________
Notes: One wide photo + close-ups of the most valuable tools

The purpose of this template is speed and consistency. Once you have the first 10 to 20 items documented, you have already eliminated most of the “missing proof” stress that slows down storm recovery.

Template B — Storm Claim Kit (Copy/Paste)

This kit is built around one principle: make your documentation readable without a long email thread. That means one event folder per storm, a consistent file naming rule, and a photo set that includes both context (wide shots) and evidence (close-ups).

00_INSURANCE
01_HOME_INVENTORY
02_BASELINE_PHOTOS_BEFORE
03_RECEIPTS_AND_WARRANTIES
04_STORM_EVENT

Inside 04_STORM_EVENT (create one folder per event):
YYYY-MM-DD_StormNameOrEvent

Format:
YYYY-MM-DD_Address_Area_Item_View_Sequence

Examples:
2026-06-14_YourAddress_Exterior_Elevation_North_Wide_01.jpg
2026-06-14_YourAddress_Roof_SlopeA_Wide_01.jpg
2026-06-14_YourAddress_Roof_Flashing_Valley_Close_01.jpg
2026-06-14_YourAddress_Interior_LivingRoom_CeilingStain_Close_01.jpg

Roof Claim Photos That Actually Help (Not Just More Photos)

A strong claim package is balanced: wide context photos plus close-ups of evidence that supports your story. Too few photos creates ambiguity. Too many unlabeled photos creates confusion.

Use the checklist below as a practical roof-focused photo set. Do not climb on the roof. If the damage is subtle, a professional inspection is safer and more reliable than risky photos.

• Wide photo of each roof slope from the ground (include eave and ridge if visible)
• Mid-range photos of edges, valleys, penetrations, and transitions (from safe vantage points)
• Close-ups of visible exterior evidence: lifted tabs, missing shingles, exposed nails, torn seal lines
• Soft metals and flashings: dents, bends, separation (vents, drip edge, gutters, pipe boots)
• Interior evidence: ceiling stains, wall intersections, wet insulation areas (wide + close-up)
• Temporary mitigation: tarps, dry-in materials, dehumidifiers (with date and location noted)

If you want a one-page printable version with “wide → mid → close” prompts and file name templates, use Documents for Insurer — 1-Page Storm Claim Photo Checklist. If you need a deeper breakdown of storm damage patterns (hail vs wind vs wind-driven rain), use Storm Damage Roof Guide for LA & MS.

Stabilize First When Water Is Active

If water is entering today, stabilization comes first. A clean claim file is useful, but preventing additional wetting protects your home and reduces secondary damage. The key is to stabilize and document — not one or the other.

The list below is a practical sequence when active leaks are present.

1. Photograph the leak area and any interior staining (wide + close-up).
2. Photograph exterior context from the ground (elevations and roof lines).
3. Stabilize with tarping or temporary dry-in when safe and appropriate.
4. Photograph the temporary protection and note the date/time.

For a dedicated overview of emergency tarping and temporary dry-in — including how it fits into the documentation trail — use
Emergency Roof Tarping & Dry-In.

How to Make Your Files “Insurer-Ready”

Reviewers do not need more content — they need clearer content. Your goal is a submission that is understandable without a phone call. The packaging method below is simple and works across Louisiana and Mississippi storm events.

Use these three elements in your storm event folder to keep everything clean.

• 01_READ_ME.txt — one paragraph: storm date, first symptoms, what you did to prevent further damage
• 02_PHOTOS — subfolders: Roof, Exterior, Interior, Temporary_Mitigation
• 03_DOCS — policy notes, receipts, invoices, inspection reports (PDF)

This structure prevents the common “photo dump” problem. It also makes it easier for a contractor to provide an organized inspection report and for you to compare scopes side-by-side.

If you want a documented inspection with clear photos and insurer-friendly notes, SHIC’s service flow is here: Roof Damage Inspection & Insurance Documentation. If your neighborhood was hit hard and you need a restoration path that moves from stabilization to permanent work, start here: Storm Damage Roof Restoration (LA & MS).

Do Not Mix These Two Packets: Claim Evidence vs Discount Documentation

One of the biggest paperwork mistakes is mixing storm claim evidence (proof of damage) with mitigation documentation (proof of roof features that may qualify for credits or discounts). Keep them separate so reviewers do not confuse the purpose of your files.

If you are building a mitigation packet for a FORTIFIED roof discount, use: FORTIFIED Roof Insurance Discount Packet. If you are turning a covered loss into a stronger roof opportunity, this guide explains the decision points: Turning a Storm Loss into a FORTIFIED Upgrade.

FAQ (Quick Answers)

These are the questions Gulf Coast homeowners ask most often when they are trying to document storm damage and keep a claim moving without unnecessary delays.

Do I need a home inventory if I already have receipts?

Receipts help, but they are not the whole picture. An inventory ties items to rooms and links them to proof (photos, serial plates, warranty PDFs). That structure prevents forgotten items and missing identifiers when you are stressed.

Should I climb on the roof to take better photos?

No. Ground-level context photos plus interior evidence are often enough to show change. For subtle damage, steep slopes, or suspected moisture intrusion, a professional inspection is safer and more reliable than risky photos.

Document first or tarp first?

If water is actively entering, stabilize first — but document the situation before and after any temporary protection. The goal is “stabilize and document,” not choosing one and skipping the other.

What photos matter most for a roof claim?

Wide context (elevations and roof lines), then evidence (soft metals, flashings, lifted tabs), plus interior staining where water is showing up. Keep file names consistent so the story is clear.

Is a claim photo package the same thing as a discount packet?

No. A claim package proves damage. A discount packet proves mitigation features. Keep them separate so underwriting and claims reviewers do not misfile or misinterpret your documentation.

If you want the one-page printable checklist version of this workflow, use Documents for Insurer — 1-Page Storm Claim Photo Checklist, and for full claim timelines and terms, use Roof Insurance Claims Guide — Louisiana & Mississippi.