Immediate action guide
Roofer Emergency Action Steps
What to do right now before a roofer arrives, with clear lines for 911, utility, and contractor calls.
First rule
If there is fire, smoke, shock, collapse risk, gas odor, carbon monoxide alarm, injury, trapped people, or any uncertainty about safety, leave the area and call 911. Use these steps only when you can act from a safe position.
E1
Active Leak During Storm
Do this now
- Move people, pets, and valuables away from the ceiling drip, attic access, outlets, and floor below.
- Stay off the roof and move belongings away from the drip.
- Place a bucket under the leak and use plastic sheeting only from inside safe footing.
- Photograph safely, note the time, and save temporary-material receipts.
- Call a roofer when conditions are safe; report leak location, roof side, and storm timing.
Do not do this
- - Do not climb a ladder, roof, tree, fence, or damaged structure during the emergency.
- - Do not touch wet electrical devices, outlets, cords, panels, or switches.
E2
Missing Shingles After Wind
Do this now
- Move people, pets, and valuables away from the ground debris, roof slope, attic, and exterior wall below.
- Keep people away from loose shingles, nails, and areas below hanging material.
- Check the attic from safe flooring for daylight or water; place a bucket if dripping.
- Photograph safely, note the time, and save temporary-material receipts.
- Call a roofer and document wind direction, missing areas, and interior moisture.
Do not do this
- - Do not climb a ladder, roof, tree, fence, or damaged structure during the emergency.
- - Do not re-enter while alarms, odors, sparks, smoke, water, or movement continue.
E3
Gutter Overflow
Do this now
- Move people, pets, and valuables away from the overflowing gutter, downspout, foundation edge, and entry path.
- Stay off ladders during rain and keep people away from splash zones and icy spots.
- Extend any loose downspout at ground level and move items away from foundation water.
- Photograph safely, note the time, and save temporary-material receipts.
- Call a roofer or gutter installer after the storm and report where overflow enters the house.
Do not do this
- - Do not climb a ladder, roof, tree, fence, or damaged structure during the emergency.
- - Do not re-enter while alarms, odors, sparks, smoke, water, or movement continue.
E4
Ice Dam Forming
Do this now
- Move people, pets, and valuables away from the eaves, icicles, attic, ceiling edge, and walkway below.
- Rope off areas below icicles and keep people away from eaves.
- From inside, move belongings away from exterior walls and place buckets under drips.
- Photograph safely, note the time, and save temporary-material receipts.
- Call a roofer or insulation pro; ask for safe ice-dam mitigation, not roof climbing.
Do not do this
- - Do not chip ice with tools, use open flames, or stand under icicles.
- - Do not re-enter while alarms, odors, sparks, smoke, water, or movement continue.
E5
Attic Moisture
Do this now
- Move people, pets, and valuables away from the attic hatch, rafters, insulation, roof deck, and ceiling below.
- Use the attic only from stable flooring and turn off nearby lights if moisture is at fixtures.
- Mark wet areas from below and avoid compressing insulation or stepping between joists.
- Photograph safely, note the time, and save temporary-material receipts.
- Call a roofer and report whether moisture follows storms, frost, vents, or bathroom fans.
Do not do this
- - Do not run fans into wet electrical fixtures or walk on unsupported ceiling drywall.
- - Do not re-enter while alarms, odors, sparks, smoke, water, or movement continue.