Local crews rebuild Alabama home after storm damage and alleged contractor scam

Local roofing, restoration and supply companies repaired a Shelby County home at no cost after the owner said an $8,000 insurance check was taken by a contractor who never finished the job. The effort restored a safe place to live and underscored how storm-damage scams can compound recovery after severe weather.

Why it matters: - Storm recovery can stall for months when homeowners lose money to fraudulent or unreliable contractors. - The volunteer repair effort returned a damaged Shelby County home to livable condition without adding more financial strain to the owner. - The case highlights the need for stronger vetting before homeowners hand over insurance money or sign repair contracts.

What happened: - Diana Keenum said storm water entered her home, leading to water intrusion and mold. - The damage stretched over more than a year and forced her bathroom to be gutted. - Keenum said her roof was later found to have nearly 40 leaks. - After filing an insurance claim, Keenum said she hired a contractor she found through social media and gave the contractor an $8,000 insurance check. - Keenum said the check was cashed and the work was never completed. - Local companies and volunteers then stepped in to finish the job at no cost to Keenum.

The details: - Reeder Roofing repaired the roof at no profit. - GAF donated shingles. - ABC Supply donated wood. - DEC Fire & Water Restoration handled interior work, including water damage restoration and mold removal. - DEC Fire & Water Restoration is a family-owned Alabama company that has operated since 1999. - The company serves Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. - The company provides 24/7 emergency water damage restoration, fire and smoke damage restoration, mold remediation, odor control, cleaning and disinfection, and reconstruction for residential and commercial properties. - DEC Fire & Water Restoration is IICRC certified and holds an A+ Better Business Bureau rating. - DEC Fire & Water Restoration works directly with major insurance carriers. - The company website listed in the release is More information.

Between the lines: - Contractor scams often surface after severe storms, when homeowners are under pressure to move fast and insurance money is available. - The release frames the repair effort as both a rescue for one homeowner and a warning for others about how quickly storm-related fraud can deepen the damage. - Rhianna Harper of DEC Fire & Water Restoration said the volunteer response reflected the team’s desire to help people in need and improve lives.

What's next: - Homeowners facing post-storm repairs are being urged to verify business licenses, check Better Business Bureau accreditation, contact local authorities with questions and avoid signing over a full insurance check before work is finished. - The release positions those safeguards as practical steps to reduce the risk of losing money before repairs are complete.

The bottom line: - A damaged Alabama home was repaired through donated labor and materials, but the bigger lesson is that storm victims remain vulnerable to contractor fraud when repairs and insurance payouts move quickly.