Storm Season Prep: A Midland Homeowner’s Checklist for Wind, Hail, and Heat

Hail that hits like gravel, wind that yanks gates open, and heat that punishes anything dark—storm season in Midland is a three-front battle. The goal isn’t to baby your home; it’s to harden it. With a smart checklist and a couple of weekend projects, you can cut damage, speed up any insurance process, and keep your family comfortable when the grid and weather get temperamental.

Know your risks (so you prep the right things)

• Wind: Lifts shingles, flexes fences, and drives rain sideways under poorly sealed trim.
• Hail: Bruises shingles, dents metal roofs and gutters, cracks skylights.
• Heat: Overloads HVAC, cooks attic temps, and bakes seals and caulks until they fail.

Think like a storm: where can air and water force their way in, and what breaks first?

60-minute exterior scan (your baseline before storms)

Grab a phone for photos, a notepad, and walk clockwise around the property.

• Roof from the ground: Look for missing tabs, lifted flashing, sag at eaves, or granule piles at downspouts.
• Gutters and downspouts: Clear debris; confirm extensions push water 5–6 feet away from the slab.
• Siding and trim: Caulk hairline cracks where stucco meets trim; repaint exposed wood to seal end-grain.
• Windows/doors: Check weatherstripping, loose thresholds, and cracked glazing putty.
• Yard hazards: Thin brittle limbs, create 3–4 feet of clearance above roof, and secure any freestanding items that can “become airborne.”
• Fencing: Replace loose pickets and swap rusted nails for exterior screws; wind finds weak fasteners first.

Take date-stamped photos of roof planes, windows, siding, and fences. That “before” album pays for itself after a hail event.

Roof-first strategy (because water always wins)

Your roof is the shield that buys the rest of the house time. Give it attention before storm lines build on radar.

• Boots and flashing: Replace cracked rubber pipe boots; reseal flashing at chimneys/vents with high-grade sealant.
• Fasteners (metal roofs): Retighten backing-out screws and renew washers/sealant beads where they’ve dried or split.
• Skylights and vents: Confirm curb flashing is intact and add fresh butyl where manufacturers call for it.

If your roof already shows widespread bruising or age, line up a pro inspection now—long before adjusters are booked out. For expertise, photo-documented assessments, and storm-specific guidance on residential roofing in midland tx, work with a local crew that installs to manufacturer specs so warranties hold.

Water management: keep storms moving past, not through

• Grade check: Ensure soil slopes away from the slab (aim for 6" drop over 10'). Fill low spots that pond after rain.
• Hardscape seams: Backer rod + polyurethane sealant where patios meet foundation to block wind-driven rain.
• Gutter tune: Add splash blocks or extensions; consider larger downspouts if water overflows during big dumps.

Windows, doors, and openings: seal the edges

• Weatherstripping: Replace flattened door gaskets and install aluminum-and-brush sweeps; if you can see daylight, dust and water can enter.
• Caulk & paint: Elastomeric caulk on vertical joints; spot-prime raw wood and topcoat. Heat + UV make poor paint fail fast.
• Screens and vents: Patch tears and add ¼" hardware cloth behind gable/soffit vents to keep wind-driven debris and critters out.

HVAC and attic: keep cool under pressure

• Service before heat waves: Clean coils, verify refrigerant levels, flush condensate lines, and install a pan float switch (cheap insurance against ceiling stains).
• Duct sealing: Mastic + metal bands beat tape every time; leaky ducts in a 140°F attic are money bleeding out.
• Attic insulation & airflow: Top up to R-38+, keep baffles clear at eaves, and ensure ridge/soffit ventilation isn’t blocked by insulation.

Hail-ready checklist: small steps, big headaches avoided

• Park vehicles under cover or on the storm’s leeward side if possible.
• Draw interior shades/blinds on hail-facing windows; closed shades help restrain shards if glass breaks.
• Pre-position a few heavy towels and plastic sheeting in a hall closet for quick window or skylight breaches.
• Secure patio furniture, grills, and planters—either bring them in or lash them together so wind can’t scatter them.

Emergency kit (home systems edition)

Skip the camping catalog pile; focus on keeping the house functional.

• Power: Two high-capacity power banks; a small inverter for a fridge circuit if you have a generator.
• Water & plumbing: Headlamp, plumber’s tape, shutoff key, and spare braided supply lines.
• Roof & envelope: Tarp, 2×4s, roofing nails/screws, utility knife, and heavy-duty garbage bags (fast, temporary patches).
• Docs & photos: Insurance policy snapshots, contractor contacts, and your pre-storm photo album in cloud + on your phone.

After a storm: fast triage in the right order

1. Safety first: Check for downed lines, gas smells, and interior ceiling bulges (poke a small hole to drain safely into a bucket).
2. Roof and exterior scan: From the ground, note missing shingles, hail bruising, dented vents/gutters, cracked skylights.
3. Water paths: Inspect attic for fresh drips, damp insulation, or daylight at the roof deck; place buckets and mark locations.
4. Document: Photo and video everything—wide shots, then close-ups with a reference (coin or tape measure).
5. Protect: Tarp compromised areas before the next cell rolls through.
6. Call sequence: Roofer first for temporary dry-in; then insurer with your documentation. Adjusters appreciate organized evidence.

Quick comparison: what to do before vs. after

TaskBefore StormsAfter StormsRoof careReplace boots, reseal flashing, tighten fastenersTarp damage, photo hail bruising, schedule inspectionGutters & gradingClean, extend downspouts, fix slopeClear debris, watch for foundation poolingOpeningsReplace sweeps, weatherstrip, caulk jointsCheck for leaks at sills, re-caulk where water intrudedAttic & HVACBoost insulation, service AC, seal ductsInspect for damp insulation, flush condensate againDocumentationShoot baseline photos of exteriorCapture close-ups of damage, time-stamp everything

Insurance savvy (Midland realities)

• Don’t rush to rip-and-toss: Keep damaged shingles, gutters, or skylight pieces for adjuster review.
• Match language: Use terms like “hail bruising,” “mat exposure,” “creased tabs,” and “compromised flashing” in your notes.
• Work with locals: Out-of-town storm chasers disappear before the first callback. A reputable local roofer will still be here for warranty work.

Annual storm-season rhythm

• March–April: Tree trimming, gutter clean, roof/flashings inspection, HVAC service.
• June–July: Re-check grade and downspouts after early storms; clean returns and replace filters.
• September: Touch-up caulk/paint, confirm door sweeps and weatherstripping, second gutter clean.
• Any time a front passes: Quick perimeter walk, attic peek, and photos if you see changes.

Storm season prep isn’t about bracing for the worst—it’s about making the common hits forgettable: water that drains where it should, a roof that stays put, windows and doors that seal tight, and an HVAC system that doesn’t tap out on the hottest day. Stack these steps, keep your photo log current, and you’ll move through wind, hail, and heat with fewer surprises—and fewer zeros on the repair bills.