Question 1

How do I find hail storms worth chasing?

Accepted Answer

Open the HailConnect storm map. It pulls public NOAA/NWS severe hail reports so you can filter by minimum hail size, state and date, then shows an estimated population affected so you can judge claim volume before you burn a deploy day. Reports link out to the source and to social-media photos so you can confirm size before you roll.

Question 2

How big does the hail need to be to justify a cat deployment?

Accepted Answer

Most PDR techs treat 1 inch as the floor for real shingle damage and 1.75 inches and up as where PDR volume gets serious. But size alone lies — a 2" storm over open farmland beats nothing, while a 1.25" storm over a dense suburb can keep a full crew booked for weeks. Use the population-affected estimate on the map alongside size before you commit trucks.

Question 3

How fast do I need to be on the ground after a storm hits?

Accepted Answer

Faster than you think. Homeowners are told to document damage and file claims within days, and the best contracts get signed in the first 48–72 hours after the adjusters start knocking. Watching the daily hail summary on HailConnect the morning after a storm is how crews get there first instead of hearing about it a week late.

Question 4

Can I trust the social media photos linked from hail reports?

Accepted Answer

Treat them as leads, not proof. Social posts about hail are frequently outdated, misattributed to the wrong town, or recycled from older storms to hype up a chase. HailConnect links out to public posts so you can start researching — always verify the poster, the date and the location yourself, cross-check against the official NOAA/NWS report, and never use a social media image as evidence in a claim or a bid without confirming it came from that storm. Do your own research before you roll a truck.

Question 5

Should I chase a storm if other crews are already posting jobs there?

Accepted Answer

Read the dispatch board before you decide. If local roofers are already posting work they can't staff, that's a signal claim volume is outrunning local labor — exactly when out-of-state crews get hired. If nothing is posted and the population estimate is low, it's probably not worth the drive.

Question 6

Why do I have to verify my ID before I can post or bid?

Accepted Answer

Every job poster and bidder on HailConnect is a real, reviewed person — no anonymous storm-chasers. You upload a clear portrait of the owner/operator, your company logo if you have one, and a government ID for a one-time admin review. That review keeps homeowners and crews safe, and your ID images are deleted as soon as the review is done.

Question 7

What makes a profile actually win bids?

Accepted Answer

The details crews hire on: your trades, the states you're licensed in, crew size, daily capacity (squares per day or cars per day), carriers you've worked with, estimating software (Xactimate, Symbility), your coverage radius and years of storm work. Add your equipment and past storm deployments too — a roofer with two rigs and eight cat seasons reads very differently from a solo salesman with a truck and a tablet.

Question 8

How does the availability switch work?

Accepted Answer

Every profile has an Available / Unavailable switch. Flip it on when you're ready to deploy and off when you're booked out — everyone browsing the directory sees your current status instantly, so you stop getting calls for storms you can't staff.

Question 9

Do reviews matter, and can I leave them?

Accepted Answer

Yes — companies and contractors rate each other 1–5 stars after working together, and prospects can read every review on your public page before hiring you. Leaving honest reviews for crews you've hired (and flagging the ones that ghosted) is how the board stays worth bidding on.

Question 10

How does bidding on the dispatch board work?

Accepted Answer

Contractors post storm jobs — roof replacements, PDR, scoping, supplements — with crew needed, pay structure and dates. You bid or claim the ones that fit your crew; the poster awards whoever they want. Every job has a timeline showing when it was posted, awarded, started and closed, so you always know where you stand.

Question 11

How do I get paid on a job?

Accepted Answer

Jobs carry a payment schedule the poster sets: deposits, draws and the final payment with due dates and amounts. You can see the schedule on any job you're awarded, and payments get marked paid as they land. When you post work yourself, you control the schedule and track every payment against it.

Question 12

Can I message a contractor directly instead of bidding?

Accepted Answer

Yes — every profile has direct call, text and email contact once you're signed in, plus in-app messaging on jobs. If you'd rather subcontract a crew you've worked with before, reach out directly and skip the open bidding.

Question 13

Do I need a roofing license to take storm jobs?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the state — and jobs list their required license up front. States like Texas, Florida, Louisiana and others have licensing or registration requirements for roofing work, and some cities require registration even where the state doesn't. List every state you're licensed in on your profile; job posters filter by it, and it's one of the fastest ways to win out-of-state work.

Question 14

What insurance should I carry before bidding?

Accepted Answer

At minimum general liability; workers' compensation the moment you have employees beyond yourself. Job posters can require proof, and homeowners increasingly ask. Insurance details stay private on your profile — only you and admins see them — but having it listed as current makes posters far more likely to award you.

Question 15

Can appraisers and supplementers use HailConnect too?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Independent appraisers post scoping jobs, appraisal gigs and supplement requests, and their profiles carry licensed states, carrier experience and estimating software the same way crews do. Roofers who need a second-opinion appraisal on a denied claim find them through the same directory.

Questions contractors ask about hail work

Finding storm work

Getting hired

Bidding and pay

Credentials and compliance

Ready to catch the next storm?