What to Do When Your Roof Is Leaking During a Storm

Caleb Cook
Jun 27
2 min read

A roof leaking in the middle of a storm is stressful, but a few quick steps can limit the damage until a roofer can get there. Here is what to do.

Stop the interior damage first

Move furniture and valuables out of the way and put a bucket or container under the drip. If you see a ceiling bulging with trapped water, it is often safer to puncture a small hole at the lowest point to drain it into a bucket than to let it spread or collapse. If water is anywhere near light fixtures or outlets, shut off power to that area.

Find the general area, not the source

You do not need to find the exact leak during the storm, and you should not go on the roof. If it is safe, check the attic with a flashlight to see where water is entering, which helps the roofer later. Water travels, so the wet spot on your ceiling is rarely directly under the actual roof leak.

Call for emergency tarping

The fastest way to stop further damage is a professional tarp over the affected area. If your roof is actively leaking after a storm, we will come out and tarp it. See our storm damage process for how we respond.

Why a storm leak needs a real fix, not just a patch

A storm leak usually means damaged shingles, flashing, or underlayment, and a surface patch rarely solves it. Once the weather clears, a full inspection finds the true source so the repair holds. Learn about our roof repair services.