What should I do first after a storm?
Safety comes before the roof. Follow this order:
- Stay off the roof, especially wet tile, and keep clear of downed power lines.
- Take photos and short video of the outside, the ceilings and the attic before anything is moved.
- Stop active water with buckets, plastic sheeting inside and by moving belongings away.
- Call your insurance company to open a claim and ask what it needs from you.
- Arrange temporary protection, such as a tarp, if the roof is open to the weather.
- Get a written inspection or estimate from a contractor you have checked.
- Keep every receipt for emergency work and hotel stays, since your policy may cover some of them.
If the leak is smaller and you are not sure of the cause, our roof repair page explains how leaks are traced.
