What Happened on September 3, 2026
A severe storm system moved through southeast Michigan on September 3, 2026, producing wind gusts up to 66 MPH and spawning three confirmed tornadoes across Oakland County. The storm caused widespread structural damage across communities including Clarkston, Holly, Rochester Hills, Lake Orion, West Bloomfield, and surrounding areas.
The National Weather Service confirmed three tornado touchdowns in Oakland County. More than 350,000 DTE Energy customers lost power across the region -- one of the largest outage events in SE Michigan in recent memory. The combination of straight-line winds and tornado activity produced a wide range of damage types: roof damage, siding loss, fallen trees on structures, broken windows, and in tornado-impacted corridors, significant structural damage.
Phase III Construction has been responding to calls since the storm passed. This post covers what homeowners need to know right now -- what to document, how to file, and what to watch out for as the claims process unfolds.
If Your Home Has an Open Breach Right Now
Broken windows, lifted roofing, open walls, or damaged garage doors that are exposing your home to weather -- call us first: (734) 237-7322. Emergency board-up prevents the secondary water damage that follows every storm. That board-up cost is typically covered by your insurance as a protective measure.
Step One: Document Before Anything Else
Before you cover anything, move anything, or have any contractor touch your property -- photograph everything. This is the single most important thing you can do in the first 24 hours after storm damage.
- Photograph every area of your roof you can see safely from the ground
- Photograph all siding damage, gutter detachment, and exterior impacts
- Photograph every broken window, damaged door, and structural breach
- Photograph any fallen trees before and during removal -- the point of impact matters for your claim
- Photograph interior damage: ceiling stains, wet insulation, water on floors
- If you have a timestamp feature on your camera, use it -- date-stamped photos are claim documentation
- Take video walk-arounds if you can -- video captures context that photos sometimes miss
Why documentation timing matters: Insurance carriers can and do dispute whether interior damage was caused by the storm or by pre-existing moisture issues. Photos taken within 24-48 hours of the storm are significantly harder to dispute than photos taken a week later, when the question of origin becomes murkier.
Step Two: File Your Claim Now -- Don't Wait
Michigan insurance carriers have seen enormous claim volume from the September 3 storm. Adjuster capacity is limited. The earlier you file, the earlier you get scheduled for an inspection -- and the earlier your claim gets processed.
How to file by carrier:
- State Farm: 1-800-732-5246 or State Farm mobile app
- Allstate: 1-800-255-7828 or Allstate ClaimXperience app
- Farmers: 1-800-435-7764 or Farmers mobile app
- USAA: 1-800-531-8722 or USAA mobile app
- Liberty Mutual: 1-800-290-7933 or Liberty Mutual app
- Travelers: 1-800-252-4633 or Travelers app
- Nationwide: 1-800-421-3535 or Nationwide app
- Citizens Insurance: 1-800-837-4928
- Auto-Owners: Contact your local agent or 1-888-252-4626
- AAA Michigan: 1-800-222-6327 or AAA app
- Frankenmuth Mutual: 1-800-234-5022
- Erie Insurance: 1-800-367-3743 or Erie app
When you file, request a full property inspection -- not a virtual assessment. After a storm event this size, some carriers will push virtual or drive-by inspections to manage volume. A thorough on-site inspection is in your interest.
Step Three: Know Your Rights Before the Adjuster Arrives
Michigan homeowners have rights in the insurance claim process that many don't know about. Understanding these before the adjuster visits protects your claim.
- You choose your contractor. Michigan law gives you the right to choose any licensed contractor regardless of your carrier's preferred network. State Farm Select Service, Allstate Good Hands Network, and similar programs are voluntary -- you are never required to use them.
- You can have a contractor present during the adjuster inspection. Phase III can be present during your adjuster visit. We know what adjusters look for and we ensure every item of damage gets on the record.
- Supplements are normal. The first estimate is rarely the final settlement. Additional damage discovered during tear-off, items missed in the initial inspection, and code upgrade requirements are submitted through supplements. A good contractor manages this process for you.
- A denial is not final. If your claim is denied or under-scoped, you have the right to request re-inspection, provide additional documentation, or invoke your policy's appraisal clause.
- ACV vs RCV. Most Michigan policies pay Actual Cash Value (replacement cost minus depreciation) first. Once repairs are complete, you claim the recoverable depreciation for the full Replacement Cost Value. Do not skip this step -- it can be thousands of dollars.
What Phase III Has Seen on the Ground This Week
Phase III crews have been responding across Oakland County and the surrounding region since September 3. Here is what we are seeing in the field:
- Significant shingle loss across wide swaths of Oakland County -- even homes that appear intact from the ground have lifted tab shingles and compromised flashings that are not visible without a roof inspection
- Siding damage from wind-driven debris affecting a high percentage of homes in storm corridors -- particularly on northern and western exposures
- Fallen trees on structures in Clarkston, Lake Orion, and Holly -- in many cases the tree fell across rooflines that need full structural assessment, not just debris removal
- Water intrusion in attics and top-floor ceilings that homeowners have not yet discovered -- storm water that entered through compromised roofing is working its way through insulation and framing
- Homes in the tornado touchdown zones with more significant structural damage that requires engineering assessment before any restoration work begins
The hidden damage problem: In major wind events, a significant portion of structural damage is not visible until tear-off begins. Phase III has documented cases where initial adjuster estimates of $8,000 for shingle replacement expanded to full structural repairs when the decking and framing underneath were exposed. Document everything and do not accept a first estimate as final.
Storm Chaser Warning
After every major storm event, storm chasers arrive in SE Michigan from out of state. These contractors solicit homeowners door-to-door, often presenting low or free estimates and asking for your insurance information upfront.
The pattern is predictable: they offer a quick repair, collect a large insurance check, do substandard work or disappear entirely, and you are left with a home that is not properly repaired and a claim that has already been paid. Recovering from that situation is difficult and sometimes impossible.
Protect yourself:
- Verify Michigan contractor license number before signing anything. Phase III's license is #262000615.
- Check the BBB. Phase III carries an A+ rating.
- Never sign an Assignment of Benefits form. This transfers your insurance claim rights to the contractor.
- Never pay the full project cost upfront. Standard practice is materials deposit, progress payments, and final payment on completion.
- Local contractors have local reputations. Phase III has been working in SE Michigan for 33 years. That's not something an out-of-state chaser can match.
The Filing Window Is Now
Michigan insurance policies typically require storm damage to be reported within a reasonable time after the event. There is no universal deadline, but the practical reality is that the sooner you file, the better your position. Delayed claims face greater scrutiny, and the question of when damage occurred becomes harder to answer as time passes.
If your home was in the storm's path -- even if damage seems minor on the surface -- call Phase III for a free inspection. We will document what is there and tell you whether it is worth filing. There is no charge for the inspection and no obligation.
Free Storm Damage Inspection
Phase III is responding across SE Michigan now. Free inspection, no obligation. We document everything and work directly with your insurance company.
(734) 237-7322 -- Call NowPhase III Is Responding Now
Phase III Construction has been serving SE Michigan homeowners through insurance claims for 33 years. We document damage to Xactimate standards, work directly with your adjuster, and manage the full restoration from initial inspection through final walk-through. We have recovered more than $10 million for Michigan homeowners in insurance settlements.
If your home was affected by the September 3, 2026 storm -- call us at (734) 237-7322 or submit an inspection request online. We are actively responding across Oakland County and the surrounding region.