How this fits with our other roofing guides
Our missed-call text-back for roofers guide covers the everyday setup. The storm lead text-back guide covers the scripts for the first replies. This one is the operations plan for storm week: who answers, how you triage, and how you keep leads warm while insurance moves slowly.
Step 1: Set a storm staffing plan
Decide before the season:
- Who owns the text inbox for the first 72 hours, in shifts.
- Who calls back active leaks first (tarps, emergency service).
- Your honest inspection window, updated daily.
- When to switch back to normal auto-texts.
Write it on one page and put it where the office can see it.
Step 2: Switch on storm auto-texts
Keep a storm version saved and ready to flip on:
“Thanks for calling [Company]. We’re getting a lot of storm calls and will reply as fast as we can. If water is coming inside now, reply LEAK. Otherwise, reply with your address and a photo of the damage and we’ll get you on the inspection list. Reply STOP to opt out.”
It sets expectations, prioritizes emergencies, and starts triage without a phone call.
Step 3: Triage with photos by text
Sort replies into three lists:
- Active leak: call back within the hour, schedule a tarp.
- Visible damage: inspection list, in the order received.
- Just checking: inspection list after the first two, with a polite note.
Don’t ask homeowners to climb onto a roof for photos. Ask for photos from the ground or of interior stains. Text back the window:
“Thanks, [Name]. We have you on the inspection list. Our current window is [dates]. We’ll text you the day before.”
Step 4: Follow up through insurance delays
Claims can take weeks. Stay useful without pressuring:
- After inspection: “Your inspection photos and notes are attached. Let us know when your adjuster visit is scheduled.”
- Week 2: “Any update from your adjuster? Happy to answer questions about the inspection notes.”
- Week 4: “Checking in on your roof. If you’ve decided to go another way, just let us know and we’ll close your file.”
Don’t make claims about coverage or promise outcomes. Keep claim discussions with a person on your team.
Step 5: Stay on the right side of texting rules
- Inbound vs canvassing. Replying to someone who called or texted you is different from texting a list of storm-area addresses. The FCC’s TCPA guide explains consent; get legal advice before outbound campaigns.
- Register your number (A2P 10DLC) before storm season. Unregistered surges get filtered.
- Honor STOP immediately.
- Identify your business in every text. After storms, homeowners are wary of scams, and the FTC warns them about storm chasers. Clear identification helps you stand out as legitimate.
Common mistakes
- Building the storm text during the storm.
- No triage, so active leaks wait behind “just checking.”
- Promising inspection dates you can’t keep.
- Texting cold storm lists without consent.
Related playbooks
- Missed-call text-back for roofers
- Storm lead text-back scripts for roofing
- AI for roofing companies
- Estimate follow-up sequence
- All lead response playbooks
Next steps
Write your storm auto-text and staffing page this week, before the next forecast. The roofing trade page has every roofing playbook, or join the free weekly playbook for a new one each week.
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FAQ
How is this different from regular missed-call text-back?
Regular text-back handles everyday missed calls. This playbook is the storm-week overlay: a different auto-text that sets expectations, photo triage to prioritize active leaks, and a follow-up plan for slow insurance claims.
Can I text homeowners in a storm-hit neighborhood who haven't called?
Treat that as marketing, not a reply. The TCPA and carrier rules generally require consent for marketing texts. Text people who contacted you, and talk to an attorney before any outbound storm campaign.
Should I promise a fast inspection date?
Only if you can keep it. After a storm, an honest window builds more trust than a promise you break.
Sources
Checked 2026-10-15. Vendor pricing and terms change, so confirm on the vendor's page before you buy.
- FCC: Stop unwanted robocalls and texts (TCPA consumer guide, accessed Oct 2026)
- Twilio: A2P 10DLC registration overview (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ready.gov: Severe weather (accessed Oct 2026)
- FTC consumer advice: Avoiding scams after weather emergencies (accessed Oct 2026)
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