Roof leaking during a storm: what to do right now

Updated October 26, 2026. General information only, not professional advice.

A roof leak in the middle of a storm is stressful, but most of what helps right now happens inside the house. Your goals are simple: keep everyone safe, slow the water down, protect what you can, and write down what happened. The roof itself can wait until the weather clears and a qualified roofer can look at it.

Safety first

Before you do anything about the water, check for danger.

Stay off the roof. A wet roof in wind and rain is slippery and unstable. OSHA says falls are the leading cause of death in construction, and that is for trained workers with safety gear. Do not climb a ladder or walk on the roof during or right after a storm.
Keep water away from electricity. If water is dripping near a light fixture, ceiling fan, outlet or electrical panel, stay clear. Ready.gov warns not to touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water. If it is safe to reach your breaker panel from a dry spot, you can switch off power to the wet area. If not, leave it and call your electric utility or an electrician.
Watch the ceiling. A ceiling that sags or bulges may be holding water. Keep people and pets out from under it.
Lightning. Ready.gov advises staying indoors when thunder roars, avoiding running water, and not using devices plugged into an outlet during a storm.

If you see sparks, smell burning, or the ceiling is coming down, leave that area and call 911.

Catch and control the water

Once the area is safe, slow the water down.

Put buckets, pots or plastic bins under each drip. Lay a towel inside the bucket to cut down on splashing.
Move furniture, electronics, rugs and boxes out of the way. Cover anything too heavy to move with plastic sheeting or a tarp.
Lay towels or old sheets on the floor around the drip to protect flooring.
If water is pooling in a bulging spot of drywall ceiling, some people relieve it by poking a small hole at the lowest point with a screwdriver, with a bucket directly below. Only do this if no wires or fixtures are nearby and you can stand safely to the side. If you are unsure, leave it alone and keep people away.
Check the attic only if you can get there safely and it has a solid floor or you can step on joists. Look for where the water is coming in and put a container there. Never step between joists, since drywall will not hold your weight.

Protect your belongings

Water spreads. Think about what is near the leak and what is on the floor below it.

Pick up rugs and anything made of paper or fabric.
Unplug electronics in the area if you can do it from a dry spot.
Move valuables, documents and photos to a dry room.
Open interior doors and run fans, if power is safe, to keep air moving once the storm has eased.

Document everything

Insurance companies and contractors both need to know what happened. The Texas Department of Insurance advises taking pictures and video of the damage, listing damage inside and outside, and keeping damaged items until your insurance company tells you what to do with them.

Photograph the leak, the ceiling, the wet floor and anything that got wet.
Note the date and time the leak started and the weather at the time.
Keep receipts for buckets, tarps, fans or anything else you buy to limit the damage. TDI notes that a policy may pay for temporary repairs.

Whether any of this is covered depends on your policy. Only your insurer can say.

After the storm passes

When the rain and wind have stopped, look at the outside of the house from the ground.

Walk around and look for missing shingles, lifted flashing, fallen branches or debris on the roof.
Use binoculars or a phone camera zoom instead of a ladder.
Watch for downed power lines and stay far away from them. Ready.gov says to report fallen lines and trees right away.
Take more photos of anything you see.

A temporary cover, such as a tarp, may help keep more rain out until a repair is made. Putting one on safely usually takes a ladder and roof access, so it is often a job for a roofer or tarping crew.

Common mistakes to avoid

Going on the roof in the rain or wind.
Running a wet vacuum or plugging in fans near standing water or wet outlets.
Throwing away damaged items before you photograph them or talk to your insurer.
Signing a repair contract on the spot with someone who knocks on your door after a storm.

When to call a pro

Call for help if water keeps coming in, the ceiling is sagging, water is near wiring, or you can see damage to the roof from the ground. A roofer can make a temporary repair and tell you what a lasting fix would take.

Before you hire anyone, verify their contractor license where your state requires one and ask for proof of insurance. Get a written estimate that lists the work and materials, and do not pay the full amount up front. Getting more than one estimate is a good idea when you can.