A big storm just rolled through. Now you’re seeing new water stains, drips, or damp spots inside your home or building. That’s a classic storm damage roof leak, and ignoring it can turn a manageable issue into a major repair.

This guide walks you through what to do right after hail, high winds, or driving rain so you can:

  • Stay safe
  • Control the water
  • Document damage for insurance
  • Get fast, professional emergency roof repair

Step 1: Safety First – Check for Immediate Hazards

Before you do anything else, make sure it’s safe to be inside and around the home.

  • Stay away from downed power lines, loose wires, or damaged service masts.
  • If you see water near light fixtures, ceiling fans, or outlets, switch off power to that area at the breaker if you can do so safely.
  • Watch for sagging ceilings. If a ceiling looks bowed or ballooning, don’t stand underneath it.

If the damage looks serious or unsafe, leave the area and contact a professional immediately through the contact page (link to https://leakyroof.us/contact-2/).

Step 2: Control Interior Water and Protect Belongings

Once everyone’s safe, your next goal is to limit water damage inside.

  • Place buckets or containers under active drips.
  • Lay down towels, rags, or tarps to protect floors.
  • Move furniture, rugs, electronics, and inventory out of wet areas.
  • If a ceiling bubble forms:
    • Put a bucket under it
    • Lay towels on the floor
    • Carefully poke a small hole in the lowest point to let water drain in a controlled way (only if it looks stable enough).

This doesn’t fix the storm damage roof leak, but it buys you time and reduces repair costs later.

Step 3: Do a Safe Visual Check After the Storm

You don’t need to climb onto the roof to gather useful information. From the ground or upper windows, look for:

  • Missing, curled, or broken shingles
  • Dark, bruised spots or granule loss from hail
  • Exposed underlayment or bare wood
  • Debris like tree branches or blown-off materials on the roof
  • Bent or missing metal flashing around chimneys, skylights, or vents
  • Damaged or overflowing gutters and downspouts

Inside, check:

  • Top-floor ceilings and walls for new water stains
  • Around skylights, chimneys, and roof vents
  • Attic spaces (if safely accessible) for wet insulation, dark wood stains, or drips

Make note of anything you see. This will help both your roofer and your insurance adjuster.

Step 4: Call for Emergency Roof Repair

If you see active leaks or obvious roof damage, don’t wait weeks to deal with it. Storm damage often gets worse with the next round of weather.

When you call for emergency roof repair, ask:

  • Do you offer storm damage and emergency roof leak repair?
  • How quickly can you come out for an inspection and temporary protection?
  • Will you document damage for insurance?

You can:

The faster you act, the easier it is to control damage to your attic, insulation, and interior finishes.

Step 5: Hail, Wind, and Driving Rain – How Each Damages Roofs

Different storms damage roofs in different ways, but they all can lead to a storm damage roof leak.

Hail Damage

Hail can:

  • Bruise or crack shingles
  • Knock off protective granules
  • Dent or damage metal roofing and flashing
  • Crack plastic vents or skylight lenses

Hail damage isn’t always obvious from the ground, but over time it can let water work into the roof system.

Wind Damage

High winds can:

  • Lift and tear shingles or entire sections of roofing
  • Break seal strips, allowing future wind to rip shingles off more easily
  • Loosen flashing at edges, ridges, and around chimneys or vents
  • Send branches and debris onto the roof, causing punctures

Wind damage often leads to sudden, localized leaks that show up during the next rain.

Driving Rain

Wind-driven rain can force water:

  • Under shingles and flashing
  • Into gaps around chimneys, skylights, and vents
  • Under loose or poorly sealed edges

Even a roof that normally handles light rain can leak when storms push water sideways into vulnerable spots.

You can read more about specific leak types (chimneys, skylights, flat roofs, etc.) in related guides on the leakyroof.us blog (link to https://leakyroof.us/blog/).

Step 6: Temporary Protection – Tarping and Short-Term Fixes

For significant storm damage roof leaks, a common step is emergency roof tarping or temporary sealing until full repairs can be done.

Why Professional Emergency Tarping Helps

Pros can:

  • Install heavy-duty tarps safely with proper fall protection
  • Secure tarps in a way that doesn’t create extra damage
  • Combine tarping with a storm damage inspection and repair plan

If your roof is actively leaking or you can see missing shingles, exposed wood, or storm damage, ask about emergency tarping when you contact a roofer (link to https://leakyroof.us/contact-2/ or https://leakyroof.us/services/).

What You Should Avoid

  • Do not climb on the roof during or right after a storm.
  • Do not nail tarps randomly through shingles and decking if you don’t know what you’re doing—this can create more leaks.
  • Do not rely on caulk or roof cement smeared over everything as a long-term solution.

Temporary fixes should buy time for a proper emergency roof repair, not replace it.

Step 7: Document Storm Damage for Insurance

Most storm-related leaks are potentially insurable, but good documentation is key.

While it’s fresh:

  • Take photos and short videos of:
    • Roof damage you can see from the ground
    • Debris on the roof or around your property
    • Interior water damage (ceiling stains, damaged walls, floors, or belongings)
  • Record dates and times:
    • When the storm hit
    • When you noticed leaks
    • When you contacted a roofer
  • Keep receipts and records for:
    • Emergency tarping
    • Temporary and permanent repairs
    • Drying equipment and cleanup services

When your roofer comes out, ask them to take their own photos and notes. Their professional opinion on cause and extent of damage can help support your claim.

You can find more information about roof leaks, documentation, and next steps in storm-related articles on the leakyroof.us blog (link to https://leakyroof.us/blog/).

Step 8: How Pros Repair Storm Damage Roof Leaks

Once the roof is safe to work on and the weather allows, a professional will typically:

  1. Inspect the entire roof, not just the obvious leak spot.
  2. Identify all areas of hail, wind, or impact damage.
  3. Check flashings, vents, chimneys, and skylights for hidden issues.
  4. Create a repair plan that may include:
    • Replacing damaged shingles or panels
    • Repairing or replacing flashing
    • Fixing punctures and sealing seams
    • Addressing soaked underlayment or damaged decking
  5. Provide a written estimate and, if needed, help coordinate with your insurance adjuster.

You can review the types of repairs and services available on the services page (link to https://leakyroof.us/services/).

Step 9: Prevent Future Storm Damage Where Possible

You can’t stop storms, but you can make your roof more storm-ready:

  • Schedule regular roof inspections, especially before and after storm seasons.
  • Keep gutters and downspouts clean so water drains properly.
  • Trim branches away from the roof to reduce impact damage.
  • Make sure flashing and sealant around chimneys, vents, and skylights are in good shape.
  • Address small issues before they become big leak points in the next storm.

For ongoing prevention tips and maintenance checklists, watch for related guides on the leakyroof.us blog (link to https://leakyroof.us/blog/).

When You Have a Storm Damage Roof Leak, Act Fast

A storm damage roof leak is your home’s way of telling you something gave out under pressure. Whether it was hail, wind, or driving rain, the most important things you can do are:

  • Stay safe around electricity and sagging ceilings
  • Control and contain water inside
  • Document damage for insurance
  • Get emergency roof repair scheduled as soon as possible

Use the locations page to see if we serve your area (https://leakyroof.us/locations/), review storm and leak repair options on the services page (https://leakyroof.us/services/), and reach out through the contact page to get help with inspection, emergency protection, and permanent repairs (https://leakyroof.us/contact-2/).

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