Storm Damage to Your Roof: 5 Immediate Steps to Take

Key Takeaways

• Storm damage may not be immediately apparent, but minor issues after wind or heavy rain can quickly escalate into leaks, rot, and mold if left unchecked.
• Your top priority after a storm should always be to ensure safety, followed by careful documentation and a professional-led roof inspection.
• Promptly scheduling a storm damage roof inspection can provide critical support for insurance claims and help determine whether you need a simple repair or a complete roof replacement.
• Roof Life of Oregon can secure your property to prevent further issues and help you navigate any needed repairs caused by storm damage.

Learning What to Do When the Storm Clears

If you have lived in Oregon as long as I, Patrick D. Morin, you know that storms can move fast and hit hard. One minute it’s clear, then it is raining sideways, and you hear a loud thump on the roof or notice a worrisome water stain forming on your ceiling. 

Rightfully so, some Portland-based homeowners are overwhelmed by stress and uncertainty after a windstorm or bout of heavy rain, because they fear they may have a storm-damaged roof. Others just assume everything is fine if the damage doesn’t look dramatic. 

Although roofing professionals don’t want homeowners to be consumed by fear, you shouldn’t ignore minor breaches either, as these can allow moisture to seep into decking and insulation, where it spreads quietly and leads to rot, mold, and structural issues that demand major storm damage roof repairs.

The guide below can help you build a safe, logical plan to assess the situation after a storm, including guidance on preventing further damage and the best time to bring in professionals.

What to Do if You Think You Have a Storm-Damaged Roof

The five steps below can help you preserve your roof’s longevity after heavy winds or a torrential downpour by providing tips for conducting your own rudimentary storm-damage roof inspection from the ground before calling in the professionals and filing an insurance claim.

Step 1: Prioritize Safety

At Roof Life of Oregon, we unfortunately see injuries every year from homeowners attempting DIY storm damage inspections. This is because, unlike our professionals, the average homeowner doesn’t have the safety equipment, training, and experience needed to work on compromised roofs. 

To avoid injury, you should take the two safety precautions below into account.

Stay off the Ladder

Storm-damaged roofs are slippery, unstable, and often structurally compromised, even if they look intact from the ground. Some elements that create serious fall risks are:

• Wet, traction-less surfaces
• Loose asphalt shingles or tiles
• Soft decking
• Hidden cracks

No inspection is worth a trip to the emergency room. So, after a storm, do not climb onto your roof—leave that to the professionals.

Heed Electrical Hazards

Falling isn’t the only health risk that you could encounter. For example, storms can knock components loose, making it vital to look for downed power lines or damaged electrical equipment throughout your property. If you see anything that can be potentially dangerous, keep your distance and contact your utility provider immediately.

Step 2: Inspect Your Home’s Interior

Before worrying about what the roof looks like outside, you can check your ceilings and attic, as these indoor areas of your home can potentially show signs that indicate whether or not you will need storm damage roof repair.

What to Look For

As you walk through your home’s interior, carefully inspect for problems like:

• Dark or growing water stains on ceilings or walls
• Peeling paint or bubbling drywall
• Damp or compressed insulation in the attic
• Daylight visible through the roof boards
• Musty odors, which can indicate trapped moisture

The signs above may suggest an active leak or severely storm-damaged roof conditions.

Immediate Mitigation

Three steps you should take if water is actively dripping are:

1. Place buckets or containers to catch the water
2. Move furniture, electronics, and valuables out of the area
3. Poke a hole in the ceiling to allow water to drain, preventing further damage

Although the steps above won’t fix the problem, they can buy you time by limiting additional loss until professional-level help arrives.

Step 3: Walk the Perimeter of Your Property

Once you’ve checked the interior, it is time to perform a ground-level inspection of the outside of your home. During this step, consider using binoculars or a camera with a powerful zoom function to make it easier to see faraway problems from the ground.

Visual Cues of Storm Damage

As you circle your property performing this visual inspection, look for warning signs like:

• Missing or lifted shingles – If your roofline looks uneven or has “gap teeth,” the wind may have torn shingles loose. Still, some shingles may appear settled but have broken seals beneath them, making professional inspections key.
• Debris on the roof – Large branches, tree limbs, or heavy debris can damage roofs by cracking shingles or puncturing the decking underneath, leading to other problems like water intrusion.
• Granule loss – Heavy rain and wind can scour shingles, reducing their lifespan and water resistance. To gauge shingle scouring, check your downspout splash blocks or driveway for excessive granules.
• Fascia and gutters – If you notice hanging gutters, bent metal edges, or pulled fascia boards, it often indicates wind-related damage and water management issues.

All of the signs above indicate the need for a professional storm damage roof inspection, which can provide more detailed information about your roof’s condition.

Step 4: Document Everything You See

If you plan to file a storm damage roof insurance claim, documentation is critical, as insurance companies rely on hard evidence rather than assumptions when determining coverage.

What to Capture

If possible, you should take clear, well-lit photos of things like:

• Interior leaks or water stains
• Debris on the roof (from the ground)
• Damaged gutters, fascia, or flashing
• Shingles or roofing materials found on the lawn

Ground-level images are sufficient at this stage. Avoid climbing onto the roof to get better photos, as it is a leading cause of injury for homeowners.

A professional roofing contractor can help you with submitting a storm-damage roof insurance claim by taking more calculated, close-up pictures upon arrival.

Track the Timeline

In addition to taking photos, three things you should write down are:

1. The date and approximate time of the storm
2. When you first noticed signs of damage
3. Any steps you took to mitigate further damage

These three pieces of information can help align your claim with official weather reports, strengthening your case and increasing the likelihood that your storm-damage roof insurance claim will be approved.

Step 5: Call a Professional for Emergency Tarping & Inspection

A trained roofer can identify storm damage that homeowners are likely to miss, including:

• Lifted shingles that resealed but lost their waterproof bond
• Hairline cracks in flashing
• Impact damage beneath debris
• Saturated underlayment hidden from view

This level of insight is the best way to determine whether a quick repair is sufficient or a storm-damage roof replacement is necessary.

Emergency Tarping Explained

Following an inspection, Roof Life of Oregon can provide emergency tarping services when active leaks are present. Some goals of emergency tarping are:

• Stopping water intrusion
• Preventing further interior damage
• Buying time to evaluate repair or replacement options

It’s important to understand that tarping is temporary, not a permanent fix.

Building a Repair Plan

You’ll know exactly what steps to take if you fail a roof inspection, as the roofing professional will provide a clear, professional assessment with things like:

• A breakdown of the storm damage
• Whether repairs or full replacement are recommended
• Documentation suitable for insurance adjusters

This thorough report becomes a powerful tool during the storm damage roof insurance claim process.

Keep in mind that if a tree or large limb has fallen onto your home, it must be removed safely and strategically before roofing work can begin. Often, professionals performing a storm-damage roof inspection need to call in an arborist for support, since tree removal is a specialized, high-risk task.

Navigating a Storm Damage Roof Insurance Claim

Again, if you plan to use homeowners insurance to cover roof damage, it is important to know that insurance adjusters rely heavily on professional documentation. A detailed inspection report credibly confirms storm-related damage, distinguishes pre-existing wear from storm impact, and supports accurate repair or replacement estimates. Without this documentation from a professional, valid claims are often delayed or denied.

Repair vs Replacement Decisions

Not all storm-damaged roofs require a complete roof replacement, but some do. Some critical factors that determine whether you will need a storm damage roof replacement include:

• Age of the existing roof
• Severity and spread of damage
• Loss of shingle adhesion or underlayment failure

If you live in one of the areas we serve, Roof Life of Oregon can provide you with honest, pressure-free guidance on whether to repair or replace your property.

Get Help Protecting Your Investment Post-Storm

Wind, rain, and falling debris are unavoidable in the Pacific Northwest. Although you can’t prevent storms, you can reduce their impact.

Clean, moss-free, and properly ventilated roofs handle storms far better than neglected ones. Therefore, regular roof maintenance and cleaning should be prioritized to enhance water shedding, reduce debris buildup, and address minor issues before they worsen, thereby extending your roof’s lifespan and minimizing future storm damage risk.

If you suspect storm damage, don’t try to address it alone. Whether you need emergency tarping, storm damage roof repair, or a complete roof replacement, Roof Life of Oregon is here to help. We’ll secure and inspect your home, provide an honest assessment, and guide you through the next steps with clarity and confidence.

Contact Roof Life of Oregon today to protect your home and move forward after the storm in a safe, smart, and stress-free way.