Roof Leak During a Storm: What to Do

Keep everyone out from under any ceiling that is bulging or sagging. A wet ceiling can hold a lot of water and fall suddenly. If water is dripping from a light fixture, turn off that circuit at the breaker panel.

Put buckets, pots or bins under drips, with towels around them to catch splashes. If a ceiling bulges and it is safe to reach from the side, poke a small hole at the lowest point so water drains into a bucket in a controlled way instead of tearing the drywall.

Move furniture, electronics, rugs and anything valuable out of the room or away from the drip. Cover what you cannot move with plastic sheeting.

Photograph the ceiling, the drips, damaged belongings and, from the ground, any visible roof damage such as missing shingles or a fallen branch. Note the date and time of the storm.

If you can safely reach the attic, look for where water is coming in and put a bucket or plastic sheet under it. Do not walk on the ceiling drywall between joists.

A roofer stops the leak, often with an emergency tarp. A restoration provider dries the attic, ceiling and walls. Call (360) 325-8833 for a local provider; many can arrange a tarp. See roof leak ceiling damage.

Report the damage early. Storm damage that lets water in is often covered. Ask what they need and whether emergency repairs are covered right away.

Wet, mossy roofs in wind and rain are extremely dangerous. Leave roof work to professionals.

Once the roof is tarped, drying starts. Wet insulation is removed, the ceiling is opened where needed and equipment runs until readings are normal.

Clean gutters, treat moss, fix flashing and trim branches before next winter. Check the attic after the first big storm each fall.

A ceiling that bulges is holding water. Left alone, it can tear and dump the water all at once along with wet drywall. Releasing it through a small hole into a bucket is safer, but only if you can do it from the side without standing under it. If in doubt, keep everyone out of the room and wait for help.

In strong southwest winds, rain can be driven sideways into siding, around windows and under door thresholds. Water may appear inside an exterior wall or under a window rather than through the ceiling. Towels and buckets help in the moment; a contractor should check flashing and caulk once the storm passes.

Leaks often start where something passes through the roof. Watch skylights, chimneys and vent pipes during storms. Stains near them after rain usually point to flashing.

Write down the date and time of the storm and when you first saw water. Insurers often ask, and storm reports from that day help connect the damage to the weather.

Renters should catch the water, protect belongings, take photos and tell the landlord right away. The landlord arranges roof repair; renter's insurance may cover damaged belongings.

Winter storms often bring power outages along with leaks. Keep a flashlight and battery lantern ready, never use candles near wet areas, and remember that sump pumps stop without power.

If a large branch or tree has fallen on the roof, stay out of the rooms below it until a professional has checked the structure.

Once the roof is tarped, the provider removes wet attic insulation, opens the ceiling where it sagged or holds water, sets drying equipment in the attic and room below, and checks the walls the water ran down. Readings are taken daily until everything is dry, then the ceiling is rebuilt.

Whether you own or rent, the first steps are the same: keep people safe, catch the water, protect belongings, take photos and call for help.

Check the attic and the ceiling below after the next big storm to confirm the repair holds.

Save a roofer's number and (360) 325-8833 in your phone before storm season.

Safety first, catch the water, protect belongings, photograph, then call for a tarp and drying.

Questions about roof leak during a storm: what to do? Call (360) 325-8833 to reach a local Olympia provider, 24 hours a day.