A tree limb just crashed through your roof. Or you walked upstairs after a thunderstorm and found water pouring through the ceiling. Maybe you heard the crack of hail on your shingles at 2 a.m. and woke up to a puddle in the hallway.
Whatever the cause, you now have an active roof emergency — and you need to act fast.
Fort Wayne homeowners deal with severe weather year-round. Between spring thunderstorms, summer wind events, fall debris, and winter ice loads, emergency roof damage is far more common than most people realize. Allen County averages multiple severe weather events each year that cause enough damage to require immediate attention.
The good news: there are smart, safe steps you can take right now to protect your home and belongings before a professional roofer arrives. The bad news: there are also several things homeowners commonly do that make the situation worse — and can even void their insurance claim.
This guide walks you through exactly what to do, what to avoid, and how to get help fast.
Step 1: Prioritize Safety Above Everything Else
Before you even think about the roof, make sure everyone in the house is safe. If the damage is severe — large holes, structural sagging, exposed wiring, or active water near electrical outlets — get everyone out of the affected rooms immediately.
Do not go on the roof yourself during or immediately after a storm. Wet shingles are dangerously slick. Damaged decking can collapse under weight. And if lightning is still in the area, being on a roof is the last place you want to be.
If a tree has fallen onto your home and there is structural instability — walls leaning, ceiling sagging significantly, or gas smells — call 911 first. Your roof can wait. Your safety cannot.
Step 2: Control the Water Inside Your Home
Once everyone is safe, focus on minimizing water damage inside the house. This is where you can save thousands of dollars in secondary damage.
Place buckets, trash cans, or any large containers under active drips. Lay towels or old blankets around the containers to catch splashing. If water is pooling on the ceiling but hasn’t broken through yet, carefully poke a small hole in the center of the bulge with a screwdriver and place a bucket underneath. This sounds counterintuitive, but it prevents the weight of pooling water from collapsing an entire section of ceiling — which creates far worse damage.
Move furniture, electronics, and valuables away from the affected area. If water is flowing toward a room with carpet, roll the carpet back from the wet area if possible. The faster you limit water contact with your belongings and building materials, the less you’ll spend on interior repairs later.
Step 3: Document Everything Before You Touch Anything
This is the step most Fort Wayne homeowners skip — and it’s the one that costs them the most money when filing an insurance claim for storm damage.
Before you start cleaning up or covering damage, take photos and video of everything. Document the damage from multiple angles. Photograph the exterior damage (from the ground — do not climb on the roof), interior water damage, damaged belongings, and any debris that caused the damage.
Use your phone’s timestamp feature or take a photo of a newspaper or screen showing the date. Insurance adjusters want to see the original state of the damage, and having thorough documentation dramatically improves your chances of a full claim approval.
Take photos of your roof from the ground on all four sides. Zoom in on any visible missing shingles, lifted flashing, or exposed areas. If a tree caused the damage, photograph the tree, the impact point, and any branch debris.
Step 4: Emergency Tarping — How to Do It Safely
If the weather has cleared and you can safely access the damaged area, applying a temporary tarp is the single best thing you can do to prevent additional water damage while waiting for a professional roofer.
What you’ll need:
- A heavy-duty blue or silver tarp (at least 6 mil thickness — the cheap thin ones will tear in the next wind gust)
- 2×4 lumber boards for securing the edges
- A staple gun or roofing nails
- A ladder with a stable base
- A second person to help (never do this alone)
The basic process:
The tarp should extend at least 4 feet beyond the damaged area on all sides. Drape it over the ridge of the roof if possible so water runs off naturally. Secure the edges by wrapping them around 2×4 boards and nailing the boards down. The weight of the boards plus the nails will hold the tarp in moderate wind.
Do not nail or screw the tarp directly through your shingles. This creates new penetration points that will leak after the tarp is removed. The board-wrap method keeps the tarp secure without creating additional damage.
If you cannot safely access the roof, lay the tarp over the damaged area from inside the attic. This is less effective but still provides meaningful water protection.
What NOT to Do After Emergency Roof Damage
In the panic of an emergency, homeowners often make well-intentioned mistakes that create bigger problems. Here are the most common ones we see in Fort Wayne:
Don’t attempt permanent repairs yourself. Spreading roofing tar, replacing shingles, or patching holes with plywood might seem helpful, but amateur repairs can void manufacturer warranties and give insurance companies a reason to reduce your claim. Temporary protection is fine — permanent repair work should be done by a licensed roofing contractor.
Don’t sign anything with storm chasers. After every major storm in Fort Wayne and Allen County, out-of-town contractors flood the area knocking on doors. They often pressure homeowners into signing contracts on the spot, sometimes including an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) that gives the contractor control of your insurance claim. This can lead to inflated claims, subpar work, and legal headaches. Wait for a trusted local roofer.
Don’t throw away damaged materials. Keep damaged shingles, pieces of flashing, or broken decking sections. Your insurance adjuster may want to see them, and your roofer needs to assess the original materials to plan the repair properly.
Don’t wait to call your insurance company. Most policies require you to report damage within a specific window — often 24 to 72 hours for storm-related claims. Even if you’re not sure the damage is covered, file the claim early. You can always withdraw it later if the damage turns out to be minor.
When to Call a Roofer vs. When to Call 911
Understanding when a situation requires emergency services versus a roofing contractor can save valuable time.
Call 911 if:
- A tree has caused structural collapse or there’s a risk of further collapse
- You smell gas or see sparking electrical wires
- Someone is injured
- The structure feels unstable when you walk through it
Call a roofing contractor if:
- Shingles are missing or torn but the structure is intact
- There’s a leak coming through the ceiling
- Flashing has pulled away or been damaged by wind
- Hail has caused visible damage to shingles or gutters
- A small section of decking is exposed but the home is otherwise sound
At Big Dog Roofing, we respond to emergency calls across Fort Wayne, Allen County, and all of Northeast Indiana. When you call us at 260-999-0347, we’ll walk you through immediate steps over the phone and schedule an emergency inspection as fast as conditions allow.
How Insurance Handles Emergency Roof Damage in Fort Wayne
Most homeowners insurance policies in Indiana cover sudden storm damage — including wind, hail, fallen trees, and tornado damage. However, the claims process has specific requirements that many homeowners don’t realize until it’s too late.
Your policy likely requires you to take “reasonable steps” to prevent further damage. This is why emergency tarping matters — it shows your insurance company that you acted responsibly to mitigate the loss. Insurance companies can deny or reduce claims if they determine the homeowner allowed preventable secondary damage.
Keep all receipts for emergency supplies — tarps, buckets, lumber, and anything else you purchased to protect your home. These costs are typically reimbursable under your policy as part of the claim.
For a deeper dive into the insurance process, read our guide on what homeowners should know about roof damage insurance claims in Indiana.
Your Emergency Action Checklist
Here’s the quick-reference version you can save to your phone or print and keep with your emergency supplies:
- Ensure everyone’s safety — evacuate affected rooms, call 911 if structural damage or gas leak
- Control water inside — buckets under leaks, move belongings, poke ceiling bulges to drain
- Document everything — photos and video of all damage before cleaning up
- Apply emergency tarp — heavy-duty tarp, 4 feet beyond damage, secured with boards
- Call your insurance company — report within 24 hours, file claim even if unsure
- Call Big Dog Roofing — 260-999-0347 for emergency inspection and next steps
- Save all receipts — emergency supply costs are typically reimbursable
- Do NOT sign contracts with storm chasers — wait for a trusted local contractor
Why Fort Wayne Homeowners Trust Big Dog Roofing for Emergencies
When your roof is actively leaking or damaged, you need a contractor who answers the phone, shows up fast, and knows how to handle insurance. That’s what we do.
Big Dog Roofing is a locally owned roofing company serving Fort Wayne, Allen County, and communities throughout Northeast Indiana including Columbia City, Auburn, Huntington, and Decatur. We specialize in storm damage repair and insurance claims, and we’ve helped hundreds of local homeowners navigate the process from emergency tarping to full restoration.
We provide free roof inspections for all storm damage, and we document everything with photos and video so your insurance claim is airtight.
Call Big Dog Roofing now at 260-999-0347 or request your free emergency inspection online.