If your roof is leaking during a storm, the first 24 hours decide how big the damage bill gets. Contain the water inside, document everything with photos, and get a professional tarp on the roof the same day. Here is the hour-by-hour plan for King County homeowners, including what your insurance will expect you to have done.
The first 24 hours, hour by hour
| Window | What to do |
|---|---|
| First 30 minutes | Move belongings out of the drip zone, put containers under active leaks, and poke a small drain hole in any ceiling bulge so it drains where you choose instead of bursting |
| Hour 1 | Photograph and video everything: the ceiling, the wet flooring, damaged belongings, and the roof from the ground. Timestamped photos are the backbone of your claim |
| Hours 1 to 4 | Call a roofer for emergency tarping and notify your insurance company that you have storm damage and mitigation underway |
| Same day | Professional tarp installed and secured. Keep the receipt: emergency mitigation is typically reimbursable under your policy |
| Days 1 to 3 | Full damage assessment with photos, written repair scope, and the adjuster process moving |
What not to do
Do not climb onto a wet roof during or right after a storm; falls hurt worse than leaks. Do not throw a light plastic tarp over the damage yourself, because an unsecured tarp becomes a sail in the next gust and often makes the opening bigger. And do not start permanent repairs before the insurance adjuster has seen the damage or approved the scope: mitigation first, repairs after documentation.
Why insurance expects you to act fast
Homeowner policies cover sudden storm damage, but they also require you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. That is what emergency tarping is. If a second storm pours through an opening you left exposed for a week, the insurer can argue that part of the damage was preventable. Same-day tarping protects the house and the claim at the same time.
What proper emergency tarping looks like
A real emergency tarp job uses heavy tarping fastened to sound decking beyond the damaged area, sealed so wind cannot get underneath, and it stays watertight for weeks if the repair has to wait on the adjuster or materials. That buys you time to make decisions instead of racing the next weather front.
Frequently asked questions
Does homeowners insurance pay for emergency roof tarping?
In most cases yes. Emergency mitigation after covered storm damage is typically reimbursable, and insurers expect you to do it promptly. Keep the invoice and the photos of the damage before the tarp went on.
How long can a roof stay tarped?
A properly installed heavy-duty tarp holds for weeks, long enough to get through the adjuster visit and schedule the permanent repair. A loose plastic tarp may not survive the next windstorm.
Should I file the insurance claim before or after tarping?
Do both the same day: notify the insurer that you have damage and that mitigation is underway. Never delay the tarp waiting on the adjuster, because your policy expects you to stop ongoing damage immediately.
What if water is coming through the ceiling right now?
Move what you can, catch the water, poke a small drain hole at the center of any ceiling bulge, photograph everything, and call for emergency tarping. Interior first, documentation second, roof access last, and only by professionals.
Want a straight answer about your own roof? Call Prosperity Roofing at (425) 448-5556 for a free assessment with photos and a written scope. We serve Bellevue, Kirkland, Renton, Kent, and the greater Eastside.
