Protecting Commercial Roofs: The Post-Storm Insights & Midwest Risk Trends from a Roofing Expert

Severe weather events like storms, hail, wind, and tornadoes challenge commercial roofs, and preparing for those risks is key to safeguarding your property investment. The Midwest is no stranger to extreme weather, from tornadoes to severe storms.

The U.S. averages about 1,248 tornadoes annually, with 54% of these occurring between April and June. Illinois alone sees around 50–60 tornadoes each year, with some reports averaging 35 tornadoes annually and roughly 50 thunderstorm days per year. In August 2020, a massive Midwestern derecho caused an estimated $11.2 billion in damage, impacting businesses and infrastructure across multiple states.

The threat is real and rising, especially with climate change intensifying storms that drive significant insurance losses. Property owners often believe insurance or roof warranties will protect them from extreme weather. In reality, warranties exclude high wind-speeds and “acts of God,” leaving owners unprotected when roof failure results from storms, and insurance can be difficult to claim without proof.

Post-Storm Inspections

After a storm, look for physical signs such as:

• Mechanical equipment on the rooftop to ensure all panels and caps are securely in place
• Signs of damage or displacement along perimeter edge metal 
• Membrane wrinkling or displacement
• “Ponding”  water or clogged drainage pathways
• Accumulated debris on the rooftop

Start the inspection within 24–48 hours post-storm. Caught early, minor fixes avoid costly emergency repairs down the road.

Bringing It All Together: Risk + Repair = Return on Prevention

At SITE Technologies, we equip commercial property owners with the tools to respond smarter to storm risks via

• Pre-storm data. SITE keeps a repository of property digital images ready for historical reference
• Rapid post-storm assessment using the same digital imaging and documentation
• Prioritized repair coordination based on damage severity and opportunities to bid out work within the same platform
• Data-driven insights to guide timely maintenance and reduce repair costs

Our data shows that properties with proactive inspection and maintenance protocols reduce emergency repair costs by up to 40%. That’s the kind of ROI every CFO loves. Combine proactive asset management with proof of storm damage and property owners can have peace of mind that they will more often avoid storm damage, and have a path to resolution for those times when extreme weather strikes.

Severe weather in the Midwest isn’t slowing down and neither should your response as a property manager, owner, or developer. With the right inspection routines and the right platform tools, you can turn post-storm disruption into an opportunity for resilience and cost-savings.

To learn more and/or to speak with a roofing specialist, please contact SITE Technologies today at info@sitetechnologies.io