I've had my share of close calls too, but honestly, gutters have saved me more times than I'd like to admit. Still, I wouldn't rely on them as a safety net—seen too many pull loose under weight. One thing I've learned over the years is that luck plays less of a role than you'd think. I've inspected roofs after hurricanes that looked untouched, only to find hidden structural issues underneath. Sometimes the shingles hold up fine, but the decking or fasteners are compromised. Had one job where the homeowner swore the roof was solid because it survived a storm without losing a single shingle. But when we got up there, half the plywood decking was warped and nails were popping out everywhere. So yeah, your roof might've survived the hurricane, but I'd still recommend a thorough inspection. Better to catch those hidden issues early than deal with bigger headaches down the road...
Totally agree about hidden damage. After a big storm last year, my neighbor bragged his roof was untouched—no shingles missing or anything. But a month later, he found water stains on the ceiling...turns out the flashing around his chimney had loosened just enough to let rain seep in slowly. Sneaky stuff.
