Roof Leak After a Storm — What to Do in the First 48 Hours

When a Gulf storm passes and you notice water inside, the clock starts. In Southeast Louisiana’s heat and humidity, a small leak can turn into drywall failure and microbial growth fast. Use this local, step-by-step plan to stabilize your home, preserve insurance coverage, and move toward a code-compliant repair. If you’d rather bring in a pro quickly, you can schedule a free post-storm roof inspection with our team — it includes photos and a line-item estimate ready for your claim.

Free Roof Inspection After Storms in Southeast Louisiana & Mississippi

The First Minutes — Stabilize the Interior

Your initial goal is safety and containment. Address electricity and pooling water before anyone thinks about ladders or the roof surface. These early moves limit secondary damage and show that you took reasonable steps to mitigate loss — a key requirement in most policies.

Stay off the roof. Wet shingles and metal are slippery and hazardous.
Shut power to wet zones. If water is near lights or outlets, trip the affected breaker.
Relieve pooling water. Place containers under drips; if a ceiling bulges, carefully puncture the lowest point and drain into a bucket.
Protect finishes. Move furniture and rugs; use plastic sheeting or towels on floors.

After containment, re-check adjacent rooms for new drips or damp baseboards so moisture doesn’t spread unnoticed.

Hour 1 — Document for the Claim

Insurers reimburse what they can verify. Capture the scene before you rearrange or start drying. Take wide and close photos of stains and the attic (if safe), record times and actions, and save receipts for fans, dehumidifiers, plastic, and other water mitigation supplies. With evidence secured, you can move on to short-term controls without weakening your claim file.

Hours 2–6 — Temporary Controls That Actually Help

Short-term measures buy time until a licensed crew can tarp and diagnose the failure point. If weather remains unsafe, work from the interior. Create a controlled path with plastic sheeting so drips flow into one container, ventilate, and run a dehumidifier continuously. When exterior protection is needed, request emergency tarping and leak mitigation — our roof-damage service provides 24/7 tarping and documentation for your carrier.

These steps won’t “fix” the roof, but they stop secondary damage — exactly what adjusters look for during review. Avoid smearing sealant over soaked materials; trapped moisture invites odor and microbial growth.

Hours 6–24 — Dry Out Aggressively in Gulf Conditions

Warm, moist air drives water deeper into drywall and framing. Drying now is faster and cheaper than remediation later. Remove soaked textiles so water doesn’t wick into subfloors, open obviously wet areas (toe-kicks, closet corners) so air can circulate, and check adjacent spaces behind furniture and along baseboards — water often travels. Keep fans and dehumidifiers running without interruption.

Hours 24–48 — Get a Professional, Photo-Documented Inspection

By day two, confirm where water really entered (often different from the drip) and plan a code-compliant repair. Book a free storm inspection — we perform a ground-level exterior review, attic moisture check (if accessible), and deliver a photo-rich, line-item estimate you can submit with your claim. If needed, we’ll install or replace temporary tarps to protect the home until permanent work begins.

If the storm caused lifted or creased shingles, failed flashing, or hail impacts across multiple slopes, the right path may be storm damage roof restoration rather than a small patch. Our restoration page explains the process — from emergency tarping and moisture checks to claim-ready documentation and code-compliant repair or replacement.

Insurance Basics for Louisiana & Mississippi Homeowners

Policies differ, but regional patterns are consistent — and knowing them avoids surprises at payout. Wind/hail deductibles are often a percentage of dwelling coverage, not a flat number. ACV vs. RCV matters — recoverable depreciation typically releases after proof of completion. Mitigation is mandatory, so keep photos and receipts. For inspections and leak emergencies around Slidell and nearby communities, our emergency roof repair in Slidell page outlines response, FAQs, and next steps with the insurer. Southern Home Improvement

Repair or Replace — How Pros Decide

A quick patch can be fine for a localized failure — a pipe boot, a short flashing run, a handful of tabs. When wind or hail affects multiple slopes, ridge lines, or penetrations, full replacement can be more economical and reliable over the next storm cycle. For a broader view of options, warranties, and scheduling across our service area, see roof replacement & installation — it covers service zones from Slidell to Baton Rouge and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Why Drips Rarely Appear Where Leaks Start

Roofs are systems. Water follows underlayment laps, decking seams, and framing until it finds a path indoors. Common sources include lifted or creased shingles, missing ridge caps, step/counter-flashing issues, deteriorated pipe boots and vents, skylight seals, and bent drip edges or fascia that push water under laps. Finding the source — not just painting the stain — prevents repeat callbacks and protects warranties.

What Not to Do — Even If It Seems Faster

Well-meant fixes can worsen damage.

Don’t walk the roof when it’s wet or windy.
Don’t seal over soaked materials — you’ll trap moisture.
Don’t repaint immediately — wait for dry-to-spec readings and a verified fix.
Don’t discard damaged items before your adjuster signs off.

Local Help — Fast Tarping, Code-Compliant Repairs, Clean Job Sites

Southern Home Improvement Center serves Slidell, Mandeville, Metairie, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast with rapid emergency response and clear, written scopes. When you’re ready, book your free inspection and we’ll confirm your time, document the damage, and outline next steps that align with code and manufacturer requirements.