SC Winter Storm 2026: How to File a Roof Insurance Claim Before Your Deadline

The January 30-February 1, 2026 winter storm was not a typical cold snap. The National Weather Service classified the system as a bomb cyclone — a rapidly intensifying low-pressure system that brought conditions Myrtle Beach has not experienced in decades. Governor McMaster's State of Emergency declaration activated the South Carolina Emergency Management Division and National Guard resources across the state.

Here is what the storm delivered to the Grand Strand:

The critical point: most winter storm roof damage is not visible from the ground. Ice dams form at the eave line and push water under shingles where it soaks into decking and insulation. Freeze-thaw cycles break the adhesive seal on shingle tabs without tearing them off. You will not see this damage until the next heavy rain — and by then, the damage has spread.

This is exactly why filing your insurance claim now is critical. If you wait until a rainstorm reveals a leak in April, your insurer may argue the damage was caused by the April rain — not the January storm.

There is a lot of misinformation online about insurance claim deadlines. You will see articles claiming you have "60 days" or "one year" to file. The reality in South Carolina is more nuanced — and more urgent than most homeowners realize.

Your Policy Sets the Deadline, Not State Law

South Carolina does not have a single statutory deadline for filing a property damage claim. Instead, your individual policy language controls. Most SC homeowners policies use one of these phrases:

• "Immediate written notice" — the strictest language
• "As soon as reasonably possible" — the most common
• "Promptly" — requires timely action but allows some flexibility
• "Within a reasonable time" — the most flexible language

None of these mean you can wait months. Courts have interpreted "promptly" and "as soon as reasonably possible" to mean within days to weeks of discovering the damage — not months.

The Key SC Insurance Timelines You Need to Know

Bottom line: File your claim notice today. You are 17 days past the storm. Every additional day of delay gives your insurer more room to argue that you did not report promptly. There is zero downside to filing early — even if you are not sure the damage is significant.

Follow these steps in order. Each step builds on the previous one and creates the documentation chain that gets claims approved.

Step 1: Document Everything Before You Touch Anything

Before you make any temporary repairs or clean up debris, photograph and video everything. Your phone camera with location and timestamp enabled is sufficient. Document:

• Exterior: Walk around your entire home. Photograph every side of the roof from ground level. Get close-ups of any visible shingle damage, gutter damage, soffit damage, or debris on the roof.
• Interior: Check every ceiling in your home. Photograph any water stains, bubbling paint, sagging drywall, or discoloration — even if minor.
• Attic: If accessible, photograph the underside of the roof decking. Look for daylight coming through, water stains on rafters, wet insulation, or frost patterns.
• Gutters and downspouts: Ice damage often crushes or detaches gutters. Photograph any bending, separation from fascia, or broken hangers.

Step 2: Call Your Insurance Company to Open a Claim

Call the claims number on your insurance card — not your agent's office. When you call:

• State clearly: "I am reporting roof damage from the January 31, 2026 winter storm."
• Reference the State of Emergency: "Governor McMaster declared a State of Emergency under Executive Order 2026-02 for this storm."
• Get your claim number and write it down immediately.
• Ask for the adjuster's timeline: "When will an adjuster be assigned and when can I expect the inspection?"
• Ask about emergency repairs: "Am I authorized to make temporary repairs to prevent further damage? What is the limit?"

Step 3: Make Emergency Repairs Only — And Save Every Receipt

You have a duty to mitigate — meaning you must take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. This includes:

• Tarping an active leak
• Placing buckets under drips
• Boarding up broken skylights
• Removing fallen branches from the roof (if safe to do so)

Do NOT make permanent repairs before the adjuster inspects. If you replace damaged shingles before the adjuster sees them, you have destroyed the evidence of storm damage. Save every receipt for temporary repairs — your insurer is required to reimburse reasonable mitigation costs.

Step 4: Get a Professional Roof Inspection Before the Adjuster Arrives

This is the single most important step that separates approved claims from denied claims. Have a licensed roofing contractor inspect your roof and provide a detailed damage report before the insurance adjuster visits.

Why this matters:

• Insurance adjusters are generalists — they inspect everything from car accidents to house fires. A roofing contractor knows exactly what winter storm damage looks like on coastal SC roofs.
• Your contractor's report gives you a baseline to compare against the adjuster's findings. If the adjuster misses damage, you have documentation to challenge their assessment.
• A professional report with photographs, measurements, and a repair estimate carries weight in disputes.

Step 5: Be Present for the Adjuster's Inspection

When the insurance adjuster comes to inspect your roof:

• Be home. Do not let the adjuster inspect without you present.
• Have your contractor's report ready to share. Point out every area of damage your contractor identified.
• Ask the adjuster to inspect the attic — many skip this step, and it is where ice dam water damage is most visible.
• Take your own photos of everything the adjuster photographs or marks.
• Ask questions: "What damage are you documenting? Is there anything you are not including? Can I get a copy of your report?"

Step 6: Review the Adjuster's Report and Estimate

After the inspection, your insurer will send an estimate. Compare it carefully against your contractor's report. Common issues:

• Missing line items: The adjuster may not include all damaged areas.
• Low material costs: The estimate may use generic shingle costs rather than the actual cost of matching your existing roof.
• Missing code upgrades: If Horry County building code requires upgrades during repair (enhanced underlayment, additional fasteners), your insurance should cover these costs.
• Depreciation on ACV policies: If your policy is Actual Cash Value, the estimate will subtract depreciation based on your roof's age.

If the adjuster's estimate is significantly lower than your contractor's, you have the right to file a supplement — a request for additional payment backed by your contractor's documentation. This is standard practice and not adversarial.

Here is something most articles will not tell you: the January 31 winter storm triggers your standard all-perils deductible — not your named storm or hurricane deductible. This is a significant financial difference for coastal SC homeowners.

Named Storm vs. All-Perils Deductible in SC

Under SC Regulation 69-56, a "Named Storm" deductible only applies to storms named by the U.S. National Weather Service or the National Hurricane Center — specifically hurricanes, tropical storms, and tropical depressions. The regulation explicitly states that "any storm or weather-related event given a name by any other person or entity does not qualify as a named storm."

Winter Storm Gianna was named by The Weather Channel — not by the NWS or NHC. Therefore, your named storm deductible does not apply.

Example: If your home is insured for a certain amount with a 3% named storm deductible, a hurricane claim would have a deductible in the thousands. But because the January 31 storm is not a named storm under SC law, your standard all-perils deductible applies instead — typically a much lower flat dollar amount. This could save you thousands of dollars on your claim.

Understanding what the adjuster is trained to find — and what they might miss — helps you prepare for the inspection and challenge any gaps in their report.

Damage They Will Look For

• Wind damage: Lifted, creased, or missing shingle tabs. Displaced ridge caps. Damaged drip edge. Torn or detached flashing around vents and chimneys.
• Ice dam evidence: Water stains on fascia boards, staining under the first 3-4 feet of roof eave, damaged or separated gutters from ice weight.
• Impact damage: Dents in metal components (vents, flashing, gutters) from ice or debris. Cracked shingles from impact.
• Interior water damage: Ceiling stains, wall stains, wet insulation in the attic — all indicating water penetrated the roof system.

Damage They Often Miss

• Broken shingle seals: Freeze-thaw cycling breaks the adhesive strip that holds shingle tabs down. The shingles look fine from above but will blow off in the next windstorm. You need to physically lift shingle tabs to check — many adjusters do not do this.
• Micro-cracking in cold-weather shingles: When temperatures drop below freezing, asphalt shingles become brittle. The storm may have caused hairline cracks that are invisible from a standing position but will allow water intrusion over time.
• Attic moisture damage: If the adjuster does not enter the attic, they will miss wet decking, frost patterns on nail tips, and saturated insulation — all evidence of ice dam water penetration.
• Pipe boot and vent collar failure: Freeze-thaw expansion cracks the rubber boots around plumbing vents. This creates a slow leak that will worsen over months.

This is why having your own contractor's report is so valuable. If the adjuster's report does not include damage that your contractor documented, you have grounds to request a re-inspection or file a supplement.

Insurance companies deny storm damage claims for specific reasons. Knowing them in advance lets you build a claim that is denial-proof.

1. "The Damage Is Pre-Existing, Not Storm-Related"

This is the most common denial for older roofs. The insurer argues that the damage existed before the January 31 storm.

Prevention: If you had a roof inspection within the past 1-2 years showing your roof was in good condition, provide that report. If you do not have one, your contractor can often distinguish storm damage patterns (directional damage from wind, ice dam patterns at eaves) from wear-and-tear patterns (random deterioration, south-facing degradation).

2. "The Damage Is Cosmetic, Not Functional"

Some policies contain cosmetic damage exclusions. The insurer may claim that dented gutters or surface-level shingle damage does not affect the roof's ability to function.

Prevention: Have your contractor document how the "cosmetic" damage compromises the roof system. Broken shingle seals lead to wind uplift. Dented flashing creates water entry points. Crushed gutters cause improper drainage that damages fascia and soffit. Document the chain of consequences, not just the surface damage.

3. "You Failed to Report Promptly"

If you wait months to file, the insurer may argue that your delay prevented them from investigating the damage properly.

Prevention: File your claim this week. The storm was January 31. We are now in mid-February. You are still well within a reasonable reporting window — but do not push it further. Call your insurer today.

4. "The Damage Was Caused by Lack of Maintenance"

Insurers deny claims when they determine the damage resulted from deferred maintenance rather than the storm event.

Prevention: Keep records of any maintenance you have performed — gutter cleanings, previous repairs, inspections. If your roof was maintained but still suffered damage from an unprecedented winter storm, the evidence supports your claim. The State of Emergency declaration helps establish that this was an extraordinary weather event, not normal wear.

5. "Your Roof Has Exceeded Its Useful Life"

For roofs older than 15-20 years, insurers may apply heavy depreciation (on ACV policies) or argue that the roof was already at end of life.

Prevention: Even an older roof can have storm damage covered. The key is proving that the specific damage was caused by the storm — not by age. Directional damage patterns, ice dam patterns, and damage consistent with the storm's wind direction all support causation. See our guide on whether insurance covers a 20-year-old roof for more detail.

FEMA issued Emergency Declaration EM-3632-SC for the January 2026 winter storm. Here is what that means — and does not mean — for homeowners:

What the Declaration Covers

The declaration provides Public Assistance Category B for Horry County and 45 other SC counties. This means:

• State and local governments can receive federal reimbursement for emergency protective measures
• Emergency debris removal and public infrastructure repair are covered

What It Does NOT Cover

As of February 17, 2026, the declaration does not include Individual Assistance — meaning there is no FEMA grant money available directly to homeowners for home repairs. This may change if the declaration is amended, but currently:

• FEMA is not providing direct financial assistance to individual homeowners
• Your homeowners insurance is your primary resource for roof repairs
• SBA disaster loans may be available if the declaration is expanded

How the Declaration Helps Your Insurance Claim

Even without Individual Assistance, the FEMA declaration and Governor's State of Emergency help your claim in several ways:

• Establishes the event: The official declaration proves this was an extraordinary weather event — making it harder for insurers to claim the damage was normal wear and tear.
• Creates urgency: Adjusters and insurers are aware of the volume of claims from declared disasters and may process them more efficiently.
• Regulatory attention: The SC Department of Insurance monitors insurer behavior after declared emergencies and may intervene if companies are systematically denying legitimate claims.

After every major storm, out-of-state contractors flood the area looking for desperate homeowners. The January 2026 storm is no different. Here is how to protect yourself:

Red Flags of a Storm Chaser

• They knock on your door unsolicited offering a "free inspection" immediately after the storm
• They want you to sign a contract before the inspection — especially an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) that gives them control of your insurance claim
• They offer to "waive your deductible" — this is insurance fraud in South Carolina
• They pressure you to decide immediately — "This deal is only good today"
• They cannot provide a SC contractor's license number or local business address
• They ask for large upfront payments before any work begins

How to Verify a Roofing Contractor

• Check the SC Contractor's Licensing Board at llr.sc.gov to verify their license
• Verify they have a physical business address in the area (not just a PO box)
• Check their Google reviews — look for a history of reviews over years, not just a few recent ones
• Ask for proof of insurance — both general liability and workers' compensation
• Verify they have been operating locally before the storm hit

If your insurer denies your claim or sends a payout that does not cover the actual repair cost, you have options under South Carolina law.

Step 1: Request a Written Explanation

Your insurer must provide a written explanation of why your claim was denied or reduced. Review this carefully — it will tell you exactly what to challenge.

Step 2: File a Supplement with Additional Documentation

If the adjuster missed damage, submit a supplemental claim with your contractor's detailed report, photographs, and repair estimate. Many underpaid claims are resolved through supplements without needing to escalate further.

Step 3: Request a Re-Inspection

You can request that a different adjuster re-inspect the property. Having your roofing contractor present during the re-inspection to point out the missed damage is often effective.

Step 4: File a Complaint with the SC Department of Insurance

If your insurer is not acting in good faith, file a complaint with the SC Department of Insurance at (803) 737-6160 or online at doi.sc.gov. SCDOI investigates insurer behavior and can intervene on your behalf.

Step 5: Consider a Public Adjuster or Attorney

For significant underpayment, a licensed SC public adjuster can re-evaluate the damage and negotiate with your insurer. If your insurer is acting in bad faith, an SC insurance attorney can pursue additional damages. Remember: if payment is not made within 90 days of your demand and you prevail in a lawsuit, your insurer may be liable for your attorneys' fees.

For a detailed walkthrough of the appeals process, see our guide on what to do when your roof insurance claim is denied in SC.

Here is exactly what you should do this week and in the weeks ahead: