If your property is in Hunt County or the surrounding Northeast Texas area, a hail damage roof inspection should be your first call tomorrow morning. On the evening of April 28, 2026, a severe thunderstorm moved through Hunt and Delta counties producing some of the largest hail this region has seen in years. The National Weather Service confirmed hailstones reaching 3.5 inches in diameter — softball-sized — near Commerce, TX, with widespread 1.75-inch golf ball hail reported across the broader Hunt County area. If you own property in Commerce, Caddo Mills, Greenville, Campbell, Celeste, Quinlan, or the surrounding communities, your roof needs to be professionally assessed as soon as possible.
What Was Reported Tonight
The Hunt County Emergency Manager confirmed a 3.5-inch hailstone near Commerce at approximately 8:00 PM CDT — softball-sized hail that is large enough to punch through standard asphalt shingles, crack decking, and cause significant structural damage to roofing systems that were otherwise in good condition before the storm. Additional reports from the same storm system include:
- Commerce, TX (Hunt County) — 3.50 inches (softball), confirmed
- 3 miles east of Commerce (Delta County) — 1.75 inches (golf ball)
- Rockwall, TX — 1.75 inches
- Celeste, TX (Hunt County) — 1.00 inch (quarter-sized)
- Quinlan, TX (Hunt County) — 1.00–1.75 inches
- Honey Grove, TX (Fannin County) — 1.00 inch
This storm was part of a multi-day severe weather outbreak that has been moving across North and Northeast Texas since April 25. Earlier in the week, trees came down in Paris, a truck stop near Winfield sustained structural damage, and Mount Vernon received dime-to-quarter-sized hail. Tonight’s event was the most significant single hail report in the region during this outbreak.
What 3.5-Inch Hail Does to a Roof
Hail damage is rated by size, and the difference between 1-inch and 3.5-inch hailstones is not linear — it is exponential in terms of impact energy. Here is what each size threshold typically means for your roof:
- 1.00 inch (quarter-sized): Can strip granules from asphalt shingles, expose the fiberglass mat, and create micro-fractures that accelerate aging. Damage may not be visible from the ground.
- 1.75 inches (golf ball-sized): Will cause visible bruising and cracking on standard 3-tab shingles. Impact-resistant architectural shingles may hold up better, but still need inspection. Metal panels can show denting.
- 3.50 inches (softball-sized): This size hail is capable of puncturing standard roofing systems, cracking ridge caps, shattering skylights, and damaging roof decking beneath the shingles. Even newer roofs installed with quality materials can sustain serious damage from hailstones this size.
The critical issue with hail damage is that most of it is not visible from the ground. Granule loss, mat exposure, and shingle bruising are only reliably identified during a close-up inspection by someone who knows what to look for. A roof can look fine from the street and still have damage that will lead to leaks within the next 12 to 24 months.
Why a Prompt Hail Damage Roof Inspection Matters
After a significant hail event like tonight’s, there are two time-sensitive reasons to schedule a hail damage roof inspection quickly:
1. Your insurance policy has a claim window. Most homeowners insurance policies in Texas require that storm damage claims be filed within one year of the event — and some carriers have started enforcing shorter windows. Damage that is documented now, while the event is fresh and traceable to a specific weather report, is much easier to process than damage discovered months later when causation is harder to establish.
2. Undocumented damage can void your warranty. If your shingles carry a manufacturer warranty and hail damage goes unrepaired, the water infiltration and accelerated wear that follow can be attributed to “lack of maintenance” rather than storm damage — which may give the manufacturer grounds to deny a warranty claim down the road.
DJJ Roofing provides free post-storm inspections with written photo documentation — photos of every area of concern, damage measurements, and a written condition report formatted to support an insurance claim. There is no charge for the inspection and no obligation to proceed with repairs.
What the Insurance Process Looks Like After a Hail Event
If your roof sustained damage tonight, here is the general process for working through an insurance claim:
- Schedule a professional inspection. Get a credentialed, insured roofing contractor on the roof before you contact your insurance carrier. A written inspection report with photos gives you documentation of the damage before any further weather events occur.
- File your claim promptly. Contact your insurance carrier to open a claim and provide the inspection report. The carrier will assign an adjuster to assess the damage independently.
- Meet the adjuster. Your roofing contractor can meet the insurance adjuster on-site to walk through the damage together — this ensures that all affected areas are documented in the adjuster’s report, not just the most visible ones.
- Review the scope of work. Once the carrier approves the claim, the scope of repairs or replacement is agreed upon and work begins. Texas law requires carriers to pay for repairs that restore the roof to its pre-storm condition.
DJJ Roofing works with all major insurance carriers serving Hunt County, Hopkins County, and the surrounding Northeast Texas counties. We can help you understand your coverage before you file and walk through the claim process alongside you from inspection to completion.
Areas Affected — DJJ Roofing’s Response Coverage
DJJ Roofing is based in Sulphur Springs and serves the full range of communities impacted by tonight’s storm system. Our response coverage includes:
- Commerce, TX — primary hail impact zone (3.5″)
- Caddo Mills, TX — Hunt County, in storm path
- Greenville, TX — Hunt County seat
- Campbell, TX — eastern Hunt County
- Cooper, TX — Delta County
- Rockwall, TX — 1.75″ confirmed
If your community is not listed above, call us directly at (903) 217-5431. If the storm came through your area tonight, we want to hear from you.
Frequently Asked Questions — April 28 Hail Event
How do I know if my roof was damaged by tonight’s hail?
The most reliable way is a professional inspection — most hail damage is not visible from the ground. Signs that suggest damage may be present include granules in your gutters or downspouts after the storm, dented gutters or downspout covers (which indicate the hail was large enough to dent metal), or visible bruising or cracking on shingles along the roof edge. A roofing contractor on the roof can assess the full picture in a way that a ground-level look simply cannot.
Does insurance cover softball-sized hail damage?
Yes — in virtually all cases, standard homeowners insurance covers hail damage as a covered peril. The size of the hailstones matters for establishing the cause and scope of damage, but any hail event that causes measurable damage to your roofing system is generally covered. Your deductible will apply, and some policies in Texas have a separate wind and hail deductible. DJJ Roofing can help you review your policy’s coverage before you file.
How long do I have to file an insurance claim after a hail storm?
Most Texas homeowners insurance policies allow up to one year to file a claim for storm damage, though some carriers have moved to shorter windows. The important thing is to get the roof inspected and the damage documented while it is clearly attributable to tonight’s event. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes to link observed damage to a specific storm date.
Is DJJ Roofing available for same-day inspections after the storm?
Yes. DJJ Roofing is based in Sulphur Springs and serves the full Hunt County and Hopkins County area. After significant hail events, we prioritize rapid response to help homeowners document damage before additional weather occurs. Call (903) 217-5431 to schedule your free inspection — we will get someone on your roof as quickly as possible.
What should I do tonight if I think my roof is damaged?
Tonight, stay safe and do not get on the roof in the dark or in wet conditions. If there is an active leak, place buckets and protect valuables — do not attempt emergency repairs in unsafe conditions. Take note of when and where the storm hit your address, take any photos you can safely from the ground, and call DJJ Roofing first thing tomorrow morning at (903) 217-5431 to schedule your free inspection. The sooner we can document the damage, the better your claim will go.
Call DJJ Roofing — Free Hail Damage Inspection
If your property is in the path of tonight’s storm system — whether you are in Commerce, Caddo Mills, Campbell, Rockwall, or anywhere in between — call DJJ Roofing at (903) 217-5431 for a free hail damage roof inspection. We are an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor with full general liability insurance and Google Guaranteed certification, and we have been serving Northeast Texas since 2015. Our inspection comes with written photo documentation at no charge and with no obligation to proceed with roof repairs or roof replacement.
For emergency situations with active leaks, call us any time. For routine post-storm inspections, we will schedule you as quickly as possible given the volume of damage in the area tonight.
DJJ Roofing — (903) 217-5431 — Sulphur Springs, TX — Serving Northeast Texas Since 2015