Is insurance usually required for these types of services?

Depending on the unique circumstances surrounding both type and severity levels associated thereof service needs, insurance might not always be essential.

How can I tell if a weather related claim is covered under my insurance policy?

It depends on the specifics of your policy and what type of coverage you have. Generally, most policies cover damage that results from very specific types of events like hail or windstorms. If in doubt it’s best to contact your insurer directly for more information about potential coverage.

How often should I check my policy details?

You should review your insurance documentation each time a change is made or at least annually in order to ensure that it meets all applicable state laws and regulations. Additionally, if there are changes within your company’s operations or area of operation (such as acquiring new property) then those matters need immediate attention so that any necessary adjustments can be made quickly an efficiently without delay.

Specialty Restoration Services

Need Emergency Tarping or Board-Up in Des Moines, IA?

Des Moines homeowners know how quickly severe weather can leave a house exposed. Derecho-strength winds have torn through the metro before, peeling back shingles, snapping mature trees, and sending limbs through roofs and windows across entire neighborhoods. Spring and summer thunderstorms bring hail and straight-line winds that can crack windows and lift roofing in minutes. Winter adds heavy snow, ice buildup, and ice-laden branches that can give way without warning. In long-established neighborhoods like Beaverdale, Sherman Hill, and the Drake area, older homes and tall tree canopies can raise the risk of damage from fallen limbs. Once a roof, door, or window is open to the elements, rain, snow, and intruders can do far more damage than the storm itself. Our team provides storm damage roof tarping and window board-up service to secure exposed homes quickly while you decide on next steps. When the circumstances are more personal, we also offer discreet hoarding and biohazard cleanup handled with care and respect. We're proud to serve Des Moines families and communities throughout Iowa.

Has Storm Damage Opened Up Your Des Moines Home? Call Now for 24/7 Restoration Support.

Call 866.867.3123

Storm Damage Roof Tarping & Window Board-Up

When high winds move through Des Moines, damage rarely waits for a convenient time. Severe storms in the metro can bring gusts strong enough to peel back shingles, shatter windows, and bring mature trees down onto roofs. Once a roof or window is open, the storm keeps doing damage long after the wind dies down. Rain soaks attic insulation, drips through ceilings, and runs into walls, while wind-driven debris can widen the openings. A broken window or damaged door also leaves the home unsecured. Every hour a house stays exposed, it's more vulnerable to water damage, pests, and unwanted entry.

Hoarding Cleanup

In Des Moines neighborhoods where homes have stayed in the same family for decades, belongings can build up gradually over many years. What starts as a crowded room can grow to block hallways, exits, and access to heating, plumbing, and electrical systems. Over time, clutter can hide leaks, pests, mold, and spoiled food, creating health and fire risks that aren't always visible from the doorway. Families often feel overwhelmed about where to begin, especially when a loved one is emotionally attached to their belongings. The situation calls for patience and respect, not judgment, along with a pace the household is comfortable with.

Impact Damage Repair

Many of Des Moines' older neighborhoods are shaded by mature oaks, maples, and elms. When severe weather hits, those same trees can become a serious threat. High winds can snap heavy limbs or uproot entire trunks. In winter, ice and snow can weigh branches down until they break without warning. A falling limb can puncture a roof, crush gutters, shatter skylights and windows, or split rafters and trusses. Even when the damage looks minor from the ground, the impact can crack framing and loosen roofing well beyond the point of contact. Until it's addressed, that opening lets water and cold air straight into the home.

Why Choose ServiceMaster by Rice for Tarping, Board-Up, or Specialty Cleanup

Secure Roof Protection

Heavy-duty tarping and board-up materials protect exposed roofing against continuing weather intrusion, because one uncovered opening may send the next rainfall into insulation, ceilings, walls, and belongings below.

Protected Entry Points

Broken windows and doors are securely boarded against weather and unauthorized entry, because an exposed opening puts the home and everything behind it at risk until the area is properly secured.

Privacy Throughout Cleanup

Unmarked service options support discreet hoarding and biohazard cleanup, with technicians coordinating quietly with the household because privacy matters throughout a cleanup involving personal belongings or sensitive circumstances.

Careful Biohazard Handling

Contaminated materials are contained, removed, and disposed of according to applicable regulations using protective equipment and controlled procedures, because improper biohazard handling puts anyone approaching the affected area at unnecessary risk.

Why Storm Damage and Biohazard Situations Shouldn't Wait in Des Moines

An exposed home and an untreated biohazard present very different concerns, but both become more extensive when the property remains unsecured or contaminated.

Within hours, exposed areas remain vulnerable. Open roofing, windows, or doors continue admitting weather, while suspected biohazard materials may present an active health concern for anyone who enters or approaches the affected area.

Within 24 to 48 hours, damage may spread. Rain entering exposed interiors may soak flooring, insulation, and wall materials, while biological material may spread contamination and persistent odors into surrounding porous surfaces.

Over the following days and weeks, cleanup grows more extensive. Unresolved storm openings face each new weather event, while accumulated materials or lingering contamination may expand the amount of cleaning and restoration involved.

What to Do After Storm Damage or a Difficult Situation in Your Des Moines Home

1

Step 1

Check for Immediate Safety Hazards

Look for downed power lines, damaged gas lines, unstable structural materials, or suspected biohazards from a safe distance. Keep family members and pets away from any area that appears unsafe.
2

Step 2

Avoid Entering an Unsafe Structure

Wait for confirmation from the fire department, police, or a structural professional prior to going back indoors, whether severe weather damaged the structure or authorities are managing the property.
3

Step 3

Document What You Safely Can

Photograph or record visible storm damage prior to temporary protection. For hoarding or biohazard circumstances, gather relevant paperwork without putting yourself at risk or feeling pressured to photograph sensitive areas.
4

Step 4

Contact ServiceMaster by Rice - Des Moines

Reach out whenever you're comfortable. Our team will walk through the next steps calmly and confidentially, with 24/7 response available for specialty restoration emergencies throughout the Des Moines area.