What to do during a roof emergency, according to the pros

Knowing what to do when disaster strikes will help you save time, money and stress if you ever have to deal with a roofing emergency.

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Mon, December 22, 2025 at 2:00 PM UTC

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A young couple sits on the couch, looking very stressed as water leaks from the ceiling into buckets on the floor. Their furniture is covered in plastic to protect it from water damage — Roofing emergencies are especially stressful when roof damage creates water intrusion inside the home

If your house is hit by a major storm or natural disaster, your roof may pay the price. If so, you'll probably find yourself scrambling. While dealing with a roof emergency will always be stressful, understanding what to do ahead of time can help you stay calm and make smart decisions in the moment.

This article lays out the specific steps you should take during a roof emergency to protect your home, prevent further damage and keep yourself safe. We'll also cover questions about home insurance claims and connecting with an emergency roofing contractor .

For even more help, consider reading our explainer on how to prepare for and prevent winter roofing emergencies . Solid preparation is often the best approach to emergency management.

Here's exactly what you should do during a roof emergency

A shingle roof has been badly damaged by a winter storm, which can be seen by the fact that the gutters are hanging off the side of the roof. The roof is also partially covered by a blue tarp to keep water out of the home. — Storm damage can happen fast, especially when it comes to roofs, and keeping a heavy-duty tarp on hand is a good way to mitigate some of the worst initial damage

You may not have time to do much research if you're dealing with major roof damage from a storm, so consider saving this article for the future when you may need it.

Make sure you, your family and your pets are safe

When it comes to severe roof damage, safety first is the best motto. If the underlying structure of your roof, ceiling or walls has been damaged, this can create serious risks for anyone still inside your home. You may also be exposed to the elements if the damage to your roof is significant enough.

Before you take any other steps to deal with your damaged roof, keep yourself, your family and your pets safe by moving everyone into a dry, stable and well-protected part of the home. In some cases, you may need to make arrangements to leave the home altogether, but be careful about venturing outside in dangerous weather.

While situations like this can be scary and overwhelming, try not to panic as you move to safety and begin tackling the next steps.

Safely assess the damage from the ground

Staying well clear of any unstable areas, assess the damage from a safe distance, both inside and outside. This will help you accurately report the situation to your home insurance company.

While assessing the situation, take note of whether the damage is affecting any power lines, and consider turning off your home's circuit temporarily to reduce electrical risks. If the damage is significant enough, this may be a clear sign that you and your family need to evacuate the home.

It's also smart to take photos of what you see, so that you can send them to your insurance company. For more, check out our guide to spotting roof damage after a storm .

Call your home insurance company

An older man holds a plastic bowl as water drips into it from the ceiling. His other hand holds a cell phone up to his ear — Your insurance company is an important resource when you're dealing with damage from a roofing emergency

When we checked in with Melanie McGovern, Director of Public Relations and Social Media for the International Association of Better Business Bureaus (BBB) , she said the first thing a homeowner should do during a roofing emergency is call their home insurance provider. "Just like with a car accident," McGovern said, who shared this insight with us for Yahoo Local's explainer on roofing storm chasers .

Your home insurer will be able to recommend emergency roofers, walk you through the steps of what to do, and help you start the process of filing an insurance claim (if your policy covers the damage).

Recommended reading from Yahoo Local: Should I let my roofer handle my insurance claim?

The best way to find out if you'll be covered is to review your policy or speak to an insurance agent directly. You can also check out our guide to determining whether your insurance policy covers roofing damage .

Call a roofer that offers emergency services

After checking in with your insurer, the next call you make should be to a roofing contractor that offers emergency repair services. You may receive recommendations from your insurance provider, which can make the process of finding a roofer easier, but you may also need to do the research yourself.

Since finding a trustworthy roofing contractor requires time and effort, McGovern recommends doing this homework ahead of time so you already know who to call during an emergency. "Take an afternoon when you have nothing to do, and list out everything you would possibly need," she said, "like a tree company, a plumber, a roofer, a general contractor."

If you don't know who to call, Yahoo Local is a great place to find vetted and reliable roofing companies, using our guides to the best roofers in towns and cities across the U.S. You can find these guides, plus other helpful roofing resources, in the Yahoo Local roofing hub .

Cover your roof with a tarp (without creating additional risks)

Aerial view of tile-roofed houses with blue tarps covering areas of the roofs that have been damaged — Some roofing companies offer emergency tarping services to help homeowners stave off water damage as they wait for roof repairs

If your roof has been damaged, it will be especially vulnerable to water damage, wind damage and leaks. Depending on the extent of the damage, you may even be dealing with serious water leaks inside your home. Even if the weather is dry and calm, that could change in an instant, and the last thing you want is for your home to be left wide open to leaks and water damage.

Without climbing on top of your roof, secure a heavy-duty tarp over the affected areas, if possible. Be careful during this process, especially if the weather is bad, and don't attempt to tarp your roof if this would create an obvious risk for you. For example, if it involves climbing on your roof. Asking others for help is wise, as properly securing a large tarp is difficult to do alone.

Tarping can be a good way to mitigate further damage while you wait for roofers to arrive and assess the damage. However, it also comes with risks. While many roofers recommend temporary tarping to prevent water damage — like Lyons Roofing in Arizona, GP Martini Roofing Co. in Pennsylvania and Greenway Roofing of Florida — and others recommend against it. For example, IKO North America , a major manufacturer of roofing products, advises homeowners not to attempt to tarp a leaking roof for safety and insurance reasons.

Remove vulnerable items from the affected area

If any part of your home is exposed to the elements, you could be facing costly or even heartbreaking damage to your home and belongings. Save your stuff by moving vulnerable items out of affected areas, like attics and crawlspaces.

You may also want to consider tarping certain areas inside your home too, if the water intrusion is bad enough to damage floors, furniture and other belongings.

Remember that electronics, wood and fabric are most affected by water damage, so these items should be moved to safety first. Check out our guide to safely moving heavy furniture for tips.

File an insurance claim

If you haven't already started the process, file an insurance claim through your homeowners' insurance (HOI). This will involve contacting your insurer, submitting your claim details, providing documentation if possible and possibly providing an estimate of how much the repairs will cost.

Not all roofing damage is covered by HOI, but if your roof has been damaged by a storm, natural disaster or fallen tree, you'll most likely be covered. Receiving the payout from your claim can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, according to Policygenius .

For more help, see our step-by-step guide to filing an insurance claim for roofing damage

Document the process (safely)

woman taking pictures of the house on a smartphone — Documenting roofing damage is an essential part of filing a successful insurance claim

Throughout the process, be sure to take photos of the damage to your roof, as these will be important for your insurance claim. Use a smartphone to take photos of any obvious exterior or interior damage, including roof holes, damaged gutters, debris or water leaks.

Label the photos and save them in a designated folder so you'll know where to find them when you need them. Depending on your insurance company, you may be able to add these photos to your claim directly from your phone when you have time.

Chad Conley, CEO and co-founder of Complete Roofing in Woodstock, Ga., told Yahoo Local that routinely documenting your roof is important regardless of whether or not you're dealing with damage. "The more you document now, the easier it is to prove your case later," said Conley, who understands how much some homeowners struggle to receive adequate coverage from insurers.

Yahoo Local interviewed Conley for this article about home insurers dropping policyholders over minor roofing issues .

Beware of scam roofers and storm chasers

Homeowners dealing with roofing emergencies are at increased risk of being targeted by storm chasers , some of whom offer fraudulent roofing services at exorbitant rates. Storm chasers target homeowners in storm-rattled areas because it's easier to target unsuspecting customers when they're feeling panicked and rushed to protect their homes.

Luckily, if you're the one reaching out to a roofing contractor (not the other way around), the chances of dealing with a storm chaser are lower. Many storm chasers offer services door-to-door or via cold calling, which are often considered roofing scam red flags .

You can read more about common roofing scams in this guide .

Make plans to stay elsewhere if necessary

Once your insurance claim is filed, your roof is protected, and your roofing crew is on its way, keeping yourself warm and dry should be your main focus. If that's not possible in your home's current state, find another place to stay, if possible, while you wait for repairs.

If you can't find alternate accommodations, try blocking off the affected part of your home using tarps or blankets so that the rest of your home won't be as exposed to drafts and water intrusion.

For those who have children or pets, staying at a friend or family member's house for a few days may be especially helpful, as dealing with a roofing emergency can be stressful and scary.

Stay calm and prioritize safety during roofing emergencies

Storm felled oak tree falls on house, ripping through its roof — Large trees and tree limbs are common culprits for roofing emergencies, especially during heavy wind storms and hurricanes

No matter how you slice it, roofing emergencies are majorly stressful, especially if they cause significant damage to your home's underlying structure. While there's no way to eliminate the stress of dealing with a situation like this, being prepared and taking the right steps forward can help you stay grounded.

Start by doing whatever you need to do to keep yourself, your family and your pets safe, especially if you're in the midst of a storm. While roofing emergencies are serious, the health of your roof should take a backseat to the health of the people underneath it. Once you know you're safe, connect with your insurance company, start filing a claim, and find a reliable roofing contractor to call.

While not all roofers offer emergency services, many do — especially those based in areas with severe weather. Many of Yahoo Local's best roofing company guides feature roofers who offer round-the-clock emergency services.

See more Yahoo Local-approved U.S. roofers

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