Your roof was just damaged in a storm. Here's your step-by-step emergency plan — what to do first, how to stay safe, and how to protect your insurance claim.
Before anything else — ensure your family's safety:
If rain is coming in through a damaged roof:
Your insurance claim depends on documentation. Before you clean up anything:
A vetted local roofing contractor will assess the damage, provide emergency tarping if needed, and document everything for your insurance claim.
Request Emergency Inspection →If your roof has open areas (missing shingles, holes, lifted sections) and more rain is coming, emergency tarping prevents additional water damage. A licensed contractor can install:
Emergency tarping cost: $200-$600 for most residential roofs. This is typically covered under your homeowner's insurance claim as part of the emergency mitigation process.
This is critical — storm chasers and scammers flood affected areas after major storms. Protect yourself:
Yes. Emergency repairs to prevent further damage from a covered storm event are typically covered under your homeowner's policy. Keep all receipts for tarping, board-up, and temporary repairs — these are part of your claim. Call your insurer to open a claim and get emergency authorization if needed.
Call a licensed local roofing contractor for emergency assessment. They can install temporary protection (tarps) within hours and schedule permanent repairs. Using our service, a vetted local contractor will contact you within 24 hours of your request.
A professional inspection will make this determination. Factors include: the age of your roof, the extent of damage, and whether the damage is concentrated or widespread. A licensed contractor can give you an honest assessment — and your insurer's adjuster will also make this call when they inspect.
Do not: go on the roof in unsafe conditions, make permanent repairs before the adjuster visits, sign an Assignment of Benefits without legal review, pay a contractor in full upfront, or ignore small damage (minor damage can become major quickly).