Services
Storm Surge Priority
Retainer
A storm surge priority retainer reserves dedicated supplement-writing capacity for your company before a storm hits, so a sudden spike in claim volume doesn't push your turnaround from next-day into a week-long backlog. It's built specifically for the weeks after a hailstorm or major wind event, when every roofing contractor in the region is filing claims at the same time and desk capacity everywhere gets tight fast.
By Kyle Hamrick, Founder
Why Storm Season Breaks Normal Turnaround
Our standard turnaround, written same-day or next-day and submitted next-day, works because file volume is manageable and predictable most of the year. Storm events break that pattern instantly. A single hailstorm can generate more claim volume in a region during one week than an entire normal month, and every contractor working that storm is submitting files into the same carrier system at the same time.
Without planning ahead, this creates a bottleneck on both sides: supplement desks (ours included, without prior arrangement) get flooded with submissions right when contractors need speed the most, and carriers themselves get flooded with claims from the whole affected area at once. A priority retainer exists to solve the half of that problem we control: making sure your files specifically don't get stuck behind everyone else's when the surge hits.
What a Priority Retainer Reserves
Guaranteed Capacity During Active Storm Periods
Instead of competing with every other contractor's post-storm submission volume, retainer clients have capacity reserved in advance based on expected storm-season volume discussed before the season starts.
Priority Sequencing
Files from priority retainer clients move ahead of general one-off submissions during declared high-volume periods, since capacity planning already accounted for your expected volume.
Rapid Intake Process
We set up your intake process before storm season starts, not during it, so when claims start coming in fast, your team already knows exactly what to send and how, with no ramp-up delay in the middle of a surge.
Post-Storm Follow-Through
Storm claims often move in waves: initial filing, then supplementing, then depreciation recovery once repairs complete. A priority retainer covers your files through that full cycle, not just the initial rush.
How This Differs From a Standard Retainer
Our monthly retainer desk is built around steady, predictable monthly volume. A storm surge retainer is built around volume that's flat most of the year and spikes hard for a defined period after a storm event. The planning conversation is different: instead of "what's your typical monthly volume," it's "what's your realistic surge capacity need if a major storm hits your market, and how fast can your team get files to us once it does."
Some contractors carry both: a standard retainer for baseline volume year-round, with the storm surge arrangement layered on top specifically for the weeks following a major weather event.
Setting This Up Before Storm Season
The value of this retainer comes almost entirely from setting it up in advance. Once a storm has already hit and claim volume is already spiking, the surge is already happening and there's no lead time left to plan capacity around it. The right time to set this up is before storm season, or immediately after a forecast identifies a specific incoming system with high damage potential for your market.
What We Need From You to Set This Up
Your typical storm-season volume expectations based on your market and past storm history, and how your team plans to document damage quickly across a high volume of properties. Our roof claim inspection checklist becomes especially important during a surge: the faster your field teams document damage completely and consistently, the faster every file moves through intake regardless of how many other files are also coming in that week.
Who This Is For
Roofing contractors in storm-prone regions who've experienced the bottleneck of a post-storm claim surge before and don't want to repeat it. Contractors planning to scale up storm response capacity (adding crews, canvassing teams, or sales reps for an anticipated season) who need their back-office estimating capacity to scale alongside the field side. Contractors who already work with us on individual files and want that relationship to hold up, not degrade, when volume spikes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set this up after a storm has already hit?
We'll do what we can, but the capacity guarantee is what advance planning provides. Reach out after a storm forecast for the best chance to reserve capacity.
How is pricing different from a standard retainer?
This is scoped on expected surge volume and duration, not steady monthly volume. Contact us to discuss your market's storm pattern and we'll work out what fits.
Does this cover depreciation recovery on storm claims too?
Yes. Storm claims often move through an ACV-then-completion cycle, and our depreciation recovery service covers the back half once repairs are complete.
What if the storm turns out smaller than expected?
Capacity planning is a conversation, not a rigid commitment mismatched to reality. We'll work with you if actual volume differs from the forecast.
Related Reading
See our residential supplement desk and commercial estimating desk for the file-level work this retainer builds capacity around. Read about our approach on about or start a conversation through order. More on claim timing is on our blog.
Plan your storm capacity before the season hits.
Tell us your market and your typical storm history. We'll work out what capacity reservation actually makes sense for your company.