2024 Omaha Storm Damage Report

Storm Damage Has Ravaged Omaha and the Surrounding Region in 2024

Here in Omaha, we’re no strangers to storm damage due to hail, high winds, and even tornadoes. Located as we are on the Great Plains, strong summer storms build power over long distances before slamming into our communities and leaving destruction in their wake.

Even after years of busy storm seasons, our team at Anchor Roofing has faced a major challenge alongside our fellow Omaha roofers to keep up with the constant punishing storms sweeping through our service areas. If you’re a homeowner in the area, it isn’t just you—2024 has been a year for the record books in all the wrong ways when it comes to storms.

Here’s a quick recap of the storm damage we’ve seen—and what homeowners can do if they’re faced with storm damage.

Storm After Storm

The summer is virtually always filled with strong storms here in Omaha, but 2024 has been something else. For certain periods, it felt like intense storm systems in our area were nearly a weekly occurrence, with tornado outbreaks happening frequently as well.

The tornado outbreaks have been particularly notable. Elkhorn was hit particularly hard by a tornado outbreak in late April. A tornado outbreak occurring in the late hours of May 20 and into May 21 resulted in 14 tornadoes throughout the Omaha metro and surrounding suburbs. Just days later, 16 tornadoes were confirmed early on May 24 across a wide swath of eastern Nebraska and into northwestern Iowa.

There was seemingly no letup, and the storms have only continued throughout the summer. Homeowners who narrowly escaped storm damage from one Omaha storm were almost certainly affected by another causing damage to roofing, siding, and more.

A Record-Breaking Season

If the volume of tornadoes and strong storms seems like a lot even for our area, it unfortunately is. Omaha World-Herald published a full report on our severe storm damage here in 2024, confirming that we’ve been setting records throughout the summer.

The article was published in early August and updated on September 3rd, but documented multiple records that we’ve surpassed already this year. Perhaps the most significant of those: 129 issued tornado warnings, the most recorded in any year since record-keeping began.

More Than Just Tornadoes

Of course, tornadoes are far from the only storm event that can cause damage to homes. Unfortunately, we’ve seen a high volume of severe storms overall that have done a number on roofs, siding, windows, and other property such as vehicles and more.

For example, one of the worst storms we’ve seen this season was the major wind storm that swept through the area on July 31. While not quite reaching derecho status, this storm pummeled the region with 70–90+ mph winds in an area more than 200 miles across. This was more than enough to deliver severe damage in the region.

Omaha Storm Damage: What Can Homeowners Do?A rooftop under construction with wooden boards partially laid showcases the aftermath of Omaha storm damage.

In most situations, we advise homeowners to move quickly to resolve storm damage to their homes and roofs. The reality of the current situation, however, is that homeowners may not be able to move as quickly as would be ideal—because so many contractors have calendars that are fully booked for months on end.

If you’re faced with storm damage and you haven’t managed to schedule work on your home, what can you do? Here are our recommendations:

  • Do your best to schedule roofing work anyway, particularly an inspection
  • Consider tarping affected areas if you have the materials and ability to do so properly
  • Take pictures of visible damage to document the timeline

This is also a good time to read up on your insurance policy and determine the timeframe in which you must file a claim for roof damage. Most insurance providers provide a 1-year window in which claims must be filed, but this isn’t universal. While we generally recommend booking an inspection before filing a claim, if you aren’t able to schedule an inspection within the allotted window, it may be necessary to file your claim sooner.

Anchor Roofing: Working to Help Omaha Pick Up the Pieces

Our team at Anchor Roofing has been hard at work throughout the storm season, helping homeowners pick up the pieces from these constant storms and restore their homes. While our repair calendar is solidly booked for several months, we’re doing our best to help homeowners as quickly as we can while maintaining our dedication to precision, care, and quality.

Keep up with our blog for ongoing updates and further roofing info.

Join the growing list of happy Anchor Roofing Customers.