Every year, Fort Wayne homeowners get reminded the hard way that storm season doesn’t send advance invitations. One afternoon it’s sunny and quiet. The next, the sky goes green, the wind picks up, and hail the size of quarters hammers your neighborhood for ten minutes straight.
Northeast Indiana’s storm season — which typically runs from late March through September — brings thunderstorms, straight-line winds, hail, and the occasional tornado warning. Allen County sits in a corridor where warm Gulf moisture collides with cold Canadian air masses, producing some of the most intense spring and summer storms in the Midwest.
You can’t control the weather. But you can control how prepared your roof is to take the hit.
Schedule a Pre-Season Professional Inspection
This is the single most impactful thing you can do. A professional roofing inspection identifies problems while they’re small and fixable — before a storm turns a minor vulnerability into a major failure.
Big Dog Roofing offers free roof inspections with photo and video documentation. We recommend scheduling your storm-season inspection in early spring — March or April — before the rush of storm damage calls ties up every roofer in the county.
Address Existing Damage Now — Not After the Storm
If you know about shingle damage, missing flashing, a slow leak, or any other roofing issue, fix it before storm season. Existing vulnerabilities don’t just stay the same during severe weather — they get dramatically worse.
A few missing shingles become a dozen when 60 mph winds hit. A hairline crack in chimney flashing becomes a wide-open gap when hail pounds it.
Insurance companies also consider pre-existing damage when evaluating storm claims. Getting repairs done before storm season establishes a clean baseline for any future claims.
Clean and Inspect Your Gutters
Your gutter system handles the massive water volume that storms dump on your roof. If gutters are clogged with winter debris, that water backs up against the fascia, overflows onto your foundation, or pools on the roof itself.
Clear all debris from gutter channels and downspouts. If you find yourself cleaning gutters multiple times per year, gutter guards are worth the investment.
Trim Trees and Remove Overhanging Branches
Falling branches are the number one cause of physical roof damage during storms in Fort Wayne. Dead branches, weakened limbs, and overgrown trees near your roofline are ticking time bombs during high winds.
Walk your property and identify any branches within 6 feet of your roof surface. This is especially critical for homeowners in Leo-Cedarville, Roanoke, and Churubusco where mature trees and wooded lots put homes at higher risk.
Check Your Attic Ventilation
Proper attic ventilation doesn’t just prevent ice dams in winter — it also reduces heat buildup that weakens shingles in summer and helps equalize pressure changes during severe storms.
During rapid barometric pressure drops in severe thunderstorms, a poorly ventilated attic can experience pressure differentials that literally push shingles off from below.
Review Your Insurance Policy
Don’t wait until you have damage to discover what your policy does and doesn’t cover. Review your homeowners insurance before storm season.
Your deductible. Many Indiana policies have separate wind/hail deductibles that may be higher than your standard deductible.
Your coverage limits. Make sure your dwelling coverage reflects current replacement costs.
Your reporting requirements. Most policies require damage to be reported within 24 to 72 hours.
Your roof’s age factor. Some policies apply depreciation based on roof age, paying actual cash value rather than replacement cost for older roofs.
For more detail, read our guide on insurance claims for roof damage in Indiana.
Secure Loose Items and Prepare Emergency Supplies
When severe weather threatens, anything not anchored down becomes a projectile. Develop a quick storm preparation routine for securing outdoor furniture and loose items.
Keep emergency supplies accessible: a heavy-duty tarp, 2×4 lumber boards, a staple gun, 5-gallon buckets, and a battery-powered radio. These supplies cost less than $100 and can prevent thousands in secondary water damage.
Know Who to Call — Before You Need To
After a major storm, every homeowner calls a roofer at the same time. Out-of-town storm chasers flood the area. The homeowners who get the fastest, best-quality response are the ones who already have a relationship with a trusted local contractor.
Big Dog Roofing is a locally owned company serving Fort Wayne, all of Allen County, and communities throughout Northeast Indiana including Columbia City, Auburn, Huntington, Decatur, Kendallville, and Angola. We specialize in storm damage repair and insurance claims.
Your 2026 Storm Prep Checklist
- Schedule a free professional roof inspection — do this in March or April
- Fix any known roofing issues before storm season begins
- Clean gutters and verify downspout drainage
- Trim trees and remove dead branches near the roof
- Verify attic ventilation is functioning properly
- Review your homeowners insurance policy and know your deductible
- Develop a plan for securing outdoor items
- Stock emergency tarping supplies
- Save Big Dog Roofing’s number in your phone: 260-999-0347
Don’t wait for the first storm. Call Big Dog Roofing at 260-999-0347 or schedule your free pre-season inspection online.