Storm help

What Should You Do When a Storm Damages Your Roof?

Stop the water, photograph everything, then call your insurer. We can put an emergency tarp on within 24 hours of reading your request.

Request an emergency tarp How estimates work

Emergency tarping within 24 hours
Requests read Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Free inspection after the tarp

What should you do first when a storm damages your roof?

First, get people away from sagging ceilings and wet electrical fixtures, then photograph the damage before anything is moved. Next, stop more water getting in with buckets or a tarp, and contact your insurance company. Pennsylvania's Insurance Department advises documenting damage before cleanup and holding off on permanent repairs until your insurer approves them.

The order that protects you

Stay safeKeep off the roof and away from wet ceilings and outlets.
PhotographPictures or video of the roof, ceilings and belongings, before any cleanup.
Stop the waterBuckets inside; a tarp outside once it is safe to put one on.
Call your insurerNote the name and title of everyone you speak to, and the date.
Keep receiptsFor the tarp, cleanup and anything else spent because of the damage.

House with a blue tarp over its roof after a storm — Illustrative stock photo.

How fast can you get an emergency tarp on the roof?

We put emergency tarps on within 24 hours of reading your request, and we read requests Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. A tarp is a temporary cover to stop more water while the damage is assessed and any claim is decided. Send the form with the address and what you can see.

On slate roofs we tarp carefully to avoid breaking more slates, and we tell you plainly whether the slate looks fixable or not. Tarping is a separate service from a roof replacement and isn't part of our roof workmanship coverage.

Tree fallen across the roof of a brick building in snow — Illustrative stock photo.

Before you hire anyone after a storm

Be wary of anyone who knocks on your door after a storm; the state warns about this.
Get more than one estimate, in writing.
Confirm the contractor is registered with the Pennsylvania Attorney General and insured.
Don't sign paperwork with blank sections.
Don't pay in full or sign off until the work is finished.

Storm questions

Should I get on the roof to put a tarp on myself?

Not on a steep or wet roof, and never on slate, which is slippery and breaks underfoot. Inside, catch water in buckets and move belongings. Leave the outside to someone with the right equipment.

Will a tarp affect my insurance claim?

Pennsylvania's Insurance Department advises preventing further damage after documenting it, so a temporary cover is normally expected. Keep the receipt. Your insurer decides what the policy pays, so ask them how to submit it.

Sources and checked date

Pennsylvania Insurance Department, Natural Disaster Guide after-the-storm steps and contractor checks

Last checked 2026-10-29.

Roof damaged in a storm?

Tell us where the house is, how old the roof is and what it is doing. If you have photos, say so and we will ask for them by email. Outside our core area? Send the form and ask.

We answer form requests Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. There is no phone line, so the whole conversation stays in writing.