Emergency Roof Tarping: What to Do When Your Roof Is Leaking During a Storm

Your roof is leaking during a storm and you can't get a contractor there until it passes. Here's how to minimize damage right now.

Inside Your Home — Immediate Steps

1. Contain the water — buckets, trash cans, plastic bins under every drip point. Lay towels around bases to catch splashes.
2. Move electronics and valuables — get anything valuable away from the leak zone. Cover large furniture with plastic sheeting or tarps.
3. Address ceiling bulges — if your ceiling is sagging from accumulated water, carefully puncture the center of the bulge with a screwdriver over a bucket. This controlled release prevents the entire ceiling from collapsing.
4. Turn off electricity in affected areas — if water is near light fixtures, outlets, or your electrical panel, turn off breakers for those zones. Water + electricity = serious danger.
5. Document everything — photos and video of active leaks, water damage, damaged belongings. Note the date and time. This is critical for insurance.

Do NOT Go On Your Roof During a Storm

We cannot stress this enough. A wet roof during active weather is one of the most dangerous places you can be. Tarping should only be attempted after the storm passes, in daylight, with proper safety equipment. If your roof has an active major breach during a storm, focus on interior water management and call a professional.

After the Storm Passes — Temporary Tarping

If you're comfortable on a roof (and it's dry), a temporary tarp can prevent further damage until a contractor arrives:

• Use a heavy-duty poly tarp (blue tarps from hardware stores work)
• Extend the tarp at least 4 feet past the damaged area in all directions
• Secure with 2x4 boards screwed through the tarp into the roof deck (not just weighed down with bricks — they'll blow off in the next storm)
• Extend the tarp over the ridge if possible so water can't flow under it from above

Call a Professional

Emergency tarping is a temporary measure — hours or days, not weeks. A compromised roof needs professional assessment and repair as quickly as possible. We prioritize emergency storm calls and respond within 24 hours after major weather events.

Call (331) 250-3726 — we're based locally in Manhattan, IL and serve the entire Chicagoland area.

If storm damage, we handle your insurance claim →