Storm Damage to Your Roof: What to Do in the First 48 Hours

A storm just damaged your roof. Water may be getting in. Your ceiling might be staining. You’re not sure what to do first. This guide walks you through exactly what to do in the first 48 hours after storm damage to your DFW home—in the right order.

Hour 0–1: Safety First

Do not go on the roof. This is the single most important rule. Storm-damaged roofing is extremely hazardous—wet shingles are slippery, decking may be structurally compromised, and downed power lines or debris create additional risks. More people are injured attempting DIY post-storm roof inspections than by the storms themselves.

Instead:

• Move vehicles out of the garage if there’s any risk of roof collapse
• Place buckets under active drips to protect flooring and furnishings
• Move valuables away from affected ceiling areas
• If structural damage is severe (visible collapse, fallen rafters), leave the home and call 911

Hour 1–3: Document Before Anything Else

Your insurance claim depends on documentation. Do this while the storm damage is fresh and clearly attributable to the event:

• Photograph everything you can safely reach from ground level. Dented gutters, missing shingles visible from outside, damaged siding, and any debris on the roof.
• Photograph interior damage — ceiling stains, water on floors, damaged insulation visible in the attic if you can safely access it.
• Note the date and time of the storm and when you discovered the damage. This becomes the “date of loss” for your insurance claim.
• Check weather records. The National Weather Service and local news maintain storm event records. Save any news coverage of the storm event as additional documentation.

Hour 3–12: Call a Licensed Local Roofer

Contact a licensed roofer for an emergency inspection before you call your insurance company. Here’s why: having an independent professional assessment gives you a baseline to evaluate your insurer’s adjuster estimate—and ensures all damage is documented by someone whose interest is in finding everything, not minimizing payout.

What to look for in an emergency roofer:

• Texas RRC license number (verifiable at the TDLR website)
• Permanent DFW business presence—not a storm chaser from out of state
• References and Google reviews from local homeowners
• No pressure to sign an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) before inspecting

A reputable roofer will inspect at no charge and provide a written damage assessment. If emergency tarping is needed to stop active water intrusion, they can deploy same-day.

What Is Emergency Tarping and Do You Need It?

Emergency tarping is the installation of heavy-duty polyethylene sheeting over a roof breach to prevent further water entry until permanent repairs can be made. You need it if:

• Water is actively entering the home through the ceiling or walls
• A large section of shingles is missing or displaced
• A tree or debris has caused a structural breach
• There is a gap in the roof surface visible from the exterior

Tarping costs are typically covered by your homeowner’s insurance as part of the damage claim. Document all tarping work with photos and save the contractor’s invoice.

Hour 12–24: File Your Insurance Claim

Once you have your contractor’s damage assessment, contact your insurance company to file the claim. You’ll need:

• Your policy number
• The date of loss (storm date)
• A description of the damage
• Photos you’ve taken

Your insurer will assign an adjuster and schedule a property visit, typically within 5–15 days depending on claim volume after the storm event. If storms were widespread across DFW (as they often are), adjuster scheduling may take longer during peak claim periods.

Hour 24–48: Prepare for the Adjuster Visit

• Ask your roofer to meet the adjuster at your home. Having your contractor present during the adjuster inspection ensures all documented damage is reviewed, not just what’s visible from the ground. This is one of the highest-value steps a homeowner can take.
• Have your documentation ready: Photos, your contractor’s written assessment, and storm date records.
• Don’t start permanent repairs before the adjuster visits unless there’s an urgent safety issue. The adjuster needs to see the original damage state.
• Temporary protective measures are fine and encouraged—tarps, debris removal from the roof surface. Just document everything before and after.

What to Avoid in the First 48 Hours

• Don’t sign with the first roofer who knocks on your door. Storm chasers arrive in DFW within hours of major events. Take time to verify credentials.
• Don’t sign an Assignment of Benefits without consulting your insurer first. AOB transfers your claim rights to the contractor and can complicate the process.
• Don’t accept the first adjuster estimate as final. Supplemental claims for missed or undervalued items are common and legitimate.
• Don’t delay. Secondary water damage compounds rapidly. Wet insulation, saturated drywall, and mold growth can begin within 24–48 hours of an unaddressed roof breach.

NetRoofing’s DFW Storm Damage Response

We provide 24/7 emergency response across the DFW Metroplex—same-day tarping, complete damage documentation, insurance claim management, and permanent repair or replacement with a written warranty.

• Storm Damage Repair in Arlington
• Storm Damage Repair in Fort Worth
• Storm Damage Repair in Dallas
• Storm Damage Repair in Irving
• Storm Damage Repair in Plano
• Storm Damage Repair in Grand Prairie
• Emergency Roof Repair

Call (817) 523-9373 now if you have active storm damage. We respond 24/7 across DFW.