Australia's severe weather season runs from October to April, and the roofers who do well are the ones who are set up before the first hailstorm. That means a way to answer a flood of calls, a booking system for inspections, messages ready to send to past customers, and a plan for working safely. The first 24 hours after a storm decide who gets the work.
When is storm season in Australia?
The Bureau of Meteorology describes October to April as the peak of Australia's severe weather season, while noting severe weather can happen at any time of year (BOM, Prepare now for Australia's severe weather season, 15 October 2025).
The hazards it lists include severe thunderstorms with large hail, damaging winds, lightning and flash flooding, plus tropical cyclones and flooding. For roofers, hail and wind are the big ones. They're also unpredictable: a storm can hit one set of suburbs and miss the next.
Hailstorms can produce huge claim volumes. In November 2025 the Insurance Council of Australia declared an insurance catastrophe for hailstorms in South East Queensland. When that happens, every homeowner in the area is ringing a roofer at the same time.
What should a roofer set up before the season starts?
Most of the storm-season advantage is won in September and early October, not on the day.
Missed-call text-back
- Why
- You'll miss calls on the roof. Every missed caller should get a text in seconds
- When
- Before October
A booking calendar with inspection slots
- Why
- So people can book without a phone call
- When
- Before October
A list of past customers, with consent status
- Why
- You may want to check in after a storm
- When
- Before October
Message templates
- Why
- No writing from scratch on a chaotic day
- When
- Before October
Tarps, materials and a supplier contact
- Why
- Make-safe work comes first
- When
- Before October
Your crew's safety plan for storm work
- Why
- Wet, damaged roofs are dangerous
- When
- Before October
A weather alert
- Why
- Know within minutes when a warning is issued for your area
- When
- Ongoing
| Set up | Why | When |
|---|---|---|
| Missed-call text-back | You'll miss calls on the roof. Every missed caller should get a text in seconds | Before October |
| A booking calendar with inspection slots | So people can book without a phone call | Before October |
| A list of past customers, with consent status | You may want to check in after a storm | Before October |
| Message templates | No writing from scratch on a chaotic day | Before October |
| Tarps, materials and a supplier contact | Make-safe work comes first | Before October |
| Your crew's safety plan for storm work | Wet, damaged roofs are dangerous | Before October |
| A weather alert | Know within minutes when a warning is issued for your area | Ongoing |
Set up BOM warnings for your area using the Bureau's website or app so you know when a severe thunderstorm warning covers your suburbs.
What should I do in the first 24 hours after hail?
When hail hits your area, the phones light up. Here's a practical order of work.
Hours 0 to 2 · Catch every enquiry
Turn on your storm auto-reply, so every missed call and message gets a reply straight away: you've received it, here's how to book, here's what to do in the meantime. Open extra inspection slots in your calendar. Triage by urgency: water coming inside comes first, cosmetic dents can wait.
Hours 2 to 12 · Make-safe work
Leaking homes need tarping or temporary repairs before anything else. Prioritise vulnerable customers and active leaks. Take photos of everything before and after.
Hours 12 to 24 · Book inspections and document
Work through the list by urgency. Photograph damage thoroughly, because homeowners will need it for their insurance claim. Give each customer a written note of what you found and what you did.
Hi, it's Coastal Roofing. Sorry we missed your call, we're flat out after today's storm. Reply with your suburb and whether water is coming inside, and we'll get back to you today. If water is coming in, tell us and we'll prioritise you. You can also book an inspection here: [link]
What about past customers?
Storms are a genuine reason to check in on people whose roofs you've worked on. But a promotional message is a commercial message under the Spam Act, so the rules apply:
- You need consent. A customer relationship can sometimes support inferred consent, but the ACMA says it needs to be a provable, ongoing relationship, and it doesn't cover messages right after a one-off purchase (ACMA, Avoid sending spam).
- Every message must identify your business.
- Every message must include a free way to unsubscribe, and you must act on requests within five working days.
Our guide to SMS rules for roofers explains consent in more detail. When in doubt, only message customers who agreed to hear from you.
Hi John, Coastal Roofing here. We fixed your roof in March. Today's hail hit your area. If you've noticed any leaks or damage, reply here and we'll check it. Reply STOP to opt out.
What do homeowners need to know about insurance?
You're not an insurance adviser, and you shouldn't act like one. But homeowners will ask, and a few general points help:
- Tell them to contact their insurer early. The Insurance Council of Australia advises lodging a claim as soon as you can, even if you don't yet know the full extent of the damage, and says the insurer's online portal is generally the quickest way.
- Encourage photos of the damage and any temporary repairs.
- Don't promise what the insurer will pay. That's between them and their insurer.
- Point them to ICA's Disaster Help for clean-up and claims information.
How do I compete with storm chasers?
After big storms, unlicensed operators door-knock affected streets. Governments warn about this every season. After ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, NSW urged consumers to be wary of unsolicited repair offers and to check licences using the Service NSW licence check (NSW Government, March 2025).
That's your advantage. You're licensed, local and already have reviews. Make it easy for homeowners to check:
- Put your licence number on your website, quotes and Google Business Profile.
- Point people to your Google reviews.
- Give a written quote with a clear scope of work.
Don't knock on doors in a panic. Be the business that answers the phone, books the inspection and shows up when promised.
How do I keep my crew safe on storm-damaged roofs?
Storm work is dangerous. Roofs can be wet, broken and unstable, and there may be damaged power lines nearby. Safe Work Australia's model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces sets out how to control the risk of falls. Check your state regulator's guidance too.
Should I run ads after a storm?
Paid ads can bring in enquiries after a storm, but only if you can answer them. If you're already missing calls, ads make it worse. Set up the answering system first, then consider ads targeted at the affected suburbs. Our Facebook ads guide for roofers covers how to do it properly, and our Paid Ads service includes storm campaigns.
Storm season checklist
Storm season checklist
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Frequently asked questions
When is storm season in Australia?
The Bureau of Meteorology calls October to April the peak of Australia's severe weather season, though severe storms can happen at any time of year. Hail and damaging winds are the biggest risks for roofs.
Can I text past customers after a storm?
Only if you have consent. A promotional text is a commercial message under the Spam Act, so it must identify your business and include a way to unsubscribe. The ACMA says inferred consent needs a provable, ongoing relationship.
Should roofers help with insurance claims?
You can document damage and provide photos and written reports, but don't promise what an insurer will pay. The Insurance Council of Australia advises homeowners to contact their insurer and lodge a claim as soon as they can.
How do I stand out from storm chasers?
Make your licence easy to check, point to your genuine reviews and give written quotes. Governments warn homeowners about unsolicited door-to-door offers after storms, so a licensed, established business has a real advantage.
How do I handle hundreds of calls after a hailstorm?
Have an automatic reply for missed calls and messages, a booking link for inspections and a way to triage urgent leaks first. Set this up before the season, not on the day.
Sources and fact-check
Checked against these sources on 26 October 2026. Prices and rules change, so confirm with the provider before you buy.
- Bureau of Meteorology: Prepare now for Australia's severe weather season (15 October 2025)
- Insurance Council of Australia: Insurance catastrophe declared for SEQ hailstorms (25 November 2025)
- Insurance Council of Australia: Disaster Help
- ACMA: Avoid sending spam
- NSW Government: Consumers urged to check it or forget it following ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred
- Safe Work Australia: Model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces
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