My Roof Is Leaking After a Windstorm — What Should I Do First?

A leak that starts during or right after a windstorm needs a different response than a slow-developing leak — speed and documentation both matter here.

Step 1: Stay safe

Don’t get on the roof yourself, especially in continued wind, rain, or low visibility. If water is actively entering near electrical fixtures or outlets, avoid that area and consider shutting off power to the affected circuit if you can do so safely.

Step 2: Contain the interior damage

Buckets or tarps for active drips, moving furniture and belongings away from the affected area, and if the ceiling is bulging with trapped water, a small controlled puncture with a screwdriver can relieve pressure and direct water into a bucket rather than letting it spread across the ceiling — but only if you’re comfortable doing this safely.

Step 3: Photograph before anything is repaired

Document the interior damage and, if visible and safe from the ground, any exterior damage — missing shingles, visible debris impact, obviously displaced flashing. This documentation matters for both your repair and any insurance claim. See our insurance photo checklist for specifics.

Step 4: Call for temporary protection

A properly installed tarp over the damaged area stops further water intrusion while a permanent repair is scheduled. We prioritize storm-damage calls over routine scheduling specifically because this step is time-sensitive — every additional day of exposure risks more interior damage.

Step 5: Get the actual repair scoped

Once the property is protected, we assess the full extent of the damage — not just the obvious leak point — since wind damage often affects more of the roof than what’s immediately visible from the interior leak location.

Step 6: Decide on an insurance claim

With documentation and a professional assessment in hand, you’re in a strong position to file a claim if the damage qualifies as sudden storm damage. See our storm damage insurance guide for how that process works.

The bottom line

Protect yourself and your interior first, document before repairing, and call promptly — the speed of your response affects both how much additional damage occurs and how strong your documentation ends up being.