Roof Leak Emergency — What to Do in the First 24 Hours

You wake up at 2 a.m. to a drip on your face. Your monsoon nightmare just

started. Here's the exact sequence — what to do, what not to do, in what

order.

Minute 0–10: Stop the interior damage

1. Move furniture and electronics away from the drip. Cover what you

can't move with a plastic sheet (or trash bags split open).

1. Catch the water in 5-gallon buckets. Don't use a single bowl —

you'll be swapping it every 20 minutes.

1. Poke the ceiling drywall with a screwdriver where the bulge is

worst. Yes — controlled puncture. The water is going to come out

somewhere; better a small hole over the bucket than a 4 ft² ceiling

collapse over your couch.

1. Trip the breaker for any circuit running above the affected

area. Wet drywall and live wires don't mix.

Do not climb on the roof in the rain. Wet shingle and wet tile are

both lethal slip hazards. Microburst winds are worse. Wait for the

storm to pass.

Minute 10–60: Document everything

Insurance pays for damage you can prove. While the leak is happening:

1. Photo and video the active drip — timestamp matters
2. Photo and video your buckets filling up
3. Photo any visible wet drywall, flooring, furniture
4. Note the time the leak started and the storm conditions
5. Save weather radar screenshots for that exact time

Adjusters look for fresh-damage indicators. The wetter and more dramatic

your documentation, the easier the claim.

Hour 1–4: Contain and tarp (if safe)

Once the storm passes — not a minute before — you have two safe options:

Option A: Wait for a roofer

Most NorthernAZRoofing partner contractors run 24/7 emergency tarp

service during monsoon. Cost: $400–$700 typical, fully credited toward

repair if you go with them.

Option B: DIY tarp (only if safe)

• Wait until winds are below 15 mph and the roof is dry
• 20×30 ft heavy-duty tarp ($60 at Home Depot)
• 2x4 furring strips and 1.5-inch roofing nails
• Run the tarp from peak to past the leak, wrapping over the ridge by

at least 4 ft

• Sandwich the tarp edges between two 2x4s and screw them to the

sheathing through the tarp

• Do not nail through the tarp directly — the holes leak

Don't DIY a tarp on a tile roof. You'll break tiles and the tarp

won't hold without specialized weights. Wait for a pro.

Hour 4–24: Insurance and roofer calls

Once the roof is tarped:

1. Call your insurance carrier — open a claim, get a claim number,

schedule the adjuster

1. Call a roofer — schedule a full inspection, request that they

attend the adjuster meeting

1. Document interior damage — every wet item, photographed and noted
2. Save receipts — for tarps, fans, dehumidifiers, anything you

buy to mitigate

AZ policies require homeowners to make "reasonable efforts" to mitigate

further damage. Save every receipt — you can claim them back.

Hour 24–72: Dry it out

Wet drywall and insulation grow mold within 48–72 hours.

1. Remove wet insulation — most NAZ attics are blown-in fiberglass

or cellulose. Anything wet has to go. Bag it for disposal.

1. Set up fans and dehumidifiers — rent commercial units from Sunbelt

if your home insurance doesn't deploy a restoration service

1. Cut out wet drywall — if more than 1 ft² is wet, cut it out

cleanly back to studs. Leaving it dries slowly and grows mold.

1. Check for hidden water paths — water travels along rafters and

can show up 6 ft from the actual leak

What insurance covers

Standard AZ HO-3 policy:

• Roof repair (after deductible)
• Damaged personal property
• Drywall and ceiling repair
• Insulation replacement
• Restoration cleanup
• Loss of use (if uninhabitable)

Standard AZ HO-3 policy does NOT cover:

• Damage from "wind-driven rain" through a vent (in many policies)
• Damage from a known prior leak (insurance argues "wear and tear")
• Damage from a roof over 20 years old in some 2026 policies (ACV cap)
• Mold beyond a small cap (often $5,000)

Mistakes that void coverage

1. Waiting more than 30 days to file — 2026 AZ policies often have

a "prompt notice" requirement

1. DIY repairing the roof before the adjuster sees it — never

repair the actual roof until the adjuster has been there

1. Using non-licensed contractors — claim payouts often require

AZ ROC licensed work

1. Throwing away damaged property before documenting it — adjusters

want to see it, photographed, before disposal

Save a NAZ roofer's number now, before monsoon. Match through our

wizard — most partners offer 24/7 emergency tarp + adjuster meetings.