What to Do When Your Roof Leaks During a Storm
It is 2 AM, rain is hammering your roof, and you notice a wet spot spreading across your ceiling. Or worse, water is actively dripping onto your floor. Panic sets in. What do you do right now?
Living in Northwest Indiana means dealing with serious storms. Thunderstorms with heavy rain and wind come through Lake and Porter County regularly from spring through fall. Winter brings ice storms and heavy snow. Any of these can cause a roof to leak, sometimes on a roof that seemed perfectly fine yesterday.
Here is exactly what to do, step by step, when your roof starts leaking during a storm.
Step 1: Stay Calm and Stay Safe
First, do not go on your roof during a storm. It sounds obvious, but you would be surprised how many people try it. A wet roof during a storm with wind and lightning is one of the most dangerous places you can be. No amount of property damage is worth risking your life.
If water is coming in near any electrical fixtures, light switches, or outlets, turn off the electricity to that area at the breaker box. Water and electricity do not mix, and even a small leak near wiring can create a serious hazard.
Step 2: Contain the Water
Grab every bucket, pot, and large container you can find and place them under the drips. If water is running along a ceiling beam and dripping in multiple spots, try to position containers to catch as many drip points as possible.
If your ceiling is bulging or sagging with water behind it, you actually want to poke a small hole in the lowest point of the bulge and place a bucket underneath. This sounds counterintuitive, but a controlled release through a small hole is much better than waiting for the weight of the water to collapse an entire section of drywall onto your furniture.
Use towels and old blankets around the base of the containers to catch splashes and overflow. If you have a wet dry vacuum, keep it nearby to handle any pooling water.
Step 3: Move Your Belongings
Get furniture, electronics, and anything valuable away from the leak area. Drag rugs and area rugs out of the room if you can. Move items in closets below the leak to another room.
If the leak is in an upstairs room, check the room directly below it as well. Water travels, and it does not always drip straight down. It can run along joists and beams and show up in unexpected places.
Step 4: Document Everything
Once you have the immediate situation under control, start taking photos and videos. Document the leak itself, the water damage to ceilings and walls, any belongings that got wet, and the weather outside. Check your phone for a weather timestamp.
This documentation is critical if you need to file an insurance claim. The more thorough your records are, the smoother the claims process will go. Insurance companies in Indiana are used to storm damage claims, but they want evidence.
Step 5: Make Temporary Repairs When Safe
Once the storm passes and conditions are safe, you can take steps to prevent further damage. If you can safely access your attic, look for the source of the leak. Place a bucket or container under the entry point and, if possible, lay a tarp or heavy plastic sheeting to redirect water away from insulation and drywall.
If shingles are visibly missing or damaged from the outside, a tarp secured over the affected area with boards or sandbags can provide temporary protection until a professional arrives. But only do this if you can do it safely. Wet roofs are extremely slippery.
For homeowners in Crown Point, Merrillville, Hobart, and throughout NWI, we offer emergency tarping services when conditions allow. A temporary tarp job can buy you the time you need to get a proper repair scheduled.
Step 6: Call a Roofing Professional
Do not try to fix the roof yourself beyond basic temporary measures. A leak during a storm often indicates a bigger problem, and patching it from the outside without understanding the full scope of damage can make things worse.
Call a local roofing company as soon as possible. After a major storm event, roofers in the area get busy fast, so the sooner you call, the sooner you get on the schedule.
When you call, be prepared to describe:
- Where the leak is located inside the home
- How much water is coming in
- When you first noticed it
- Any visible damage you can see from the ground outside
- Whether this has happened before
A reputable roofer will get to you quickly, inspect the damage, and provide options for both temporary and permanent repairs.
Step 7: Contact Your Insurance Company
If the leak caused significant damage or if the roof itself needs major repair, file a claim with your homeowners insurance. Storm damage is typically covered under standard Indiana homeowner policies, minus your deductible.
Do not wait weeks to file. The sooner you report the damage, the faster the process moves. Your insurance company will send an adjuster to inspect the damage and determine coverage.
Common Causes of Storm Leaks in NWI
Understanding why your roof leaked can help you prevent it from happening again:
Wind damage. Strong winds lift shingles and break their seal, allowing rain to get underneath. This is the most common cause of storm leaks in our area.
Clogged gutters. When gutters are packed with leaves and debris, water backs up and pushes under the roof edge. Keeping gutters clear is one of the simplest things you can do to prevent leaks.
Failed flashing. The metal flashing around chimneys, vents, and roof intersections can corrode or pull away over time. When a heavy rain hits, water finds its way in through the gaps.
Ice dams. In winter, melting snow can refreeze along the eaves and force water up under the shingles. Homes throughout Valparaiso, Munster, and Porter County deal with this every winter.
Age. Sometimes there is no single dramatic failure point. An old roof with worn out shingles and deteriorating underlayment simply cannot handle a heavy storm the way it used to.
After the Storm
Once the immediate crisis is over and the weather clears, get a full professional inspection. Even if the leak seems minor, there may be damage you cannot see from inside. Catching problems early, before the next storm hits, saves money and prevents the kind of cascading damage that turns a small repair into a full replacement.
Ready for a Free Roof Inspection?
Contact Maris & Son Roofing today. Fourth generation family business serving Northwest Indiana since 1923. Call us at (219) 738-1940 or request a free estimate.