Emergency Roof Leak: What to Do Right Now

Need emergency roof repair right now? Call ERS Roofing at (516) 595-5395. We provide emergency tarping and leak repair across Long Island.

Step 1: Check for Electrical Hazards First

Before you touch anything, look up. If water is dripping near light fixtures, ceiling fans, or electrical outlets, there is a shock risk. Water and electricity are a dangerous combination.

• If water is near any electrical fixture, switch off the breaker for that room at your main panel.
• Do not touch light switches, outlets, or ceiling fans in the affected area until power is off.
• If you see sparking, hear buzzing from a fixture, or smell burning, leave the room and call 911.
• If you are unsure which breaker controls the affected area, turn off the main breaker until an electrician can assess it.

This step takes 30 seconds and could save your life. Do not skip it.

Step 2: Contain the Water

Once the electrical concern is handled, your job is to control where the water goes. You are not trying to fix the roof right now. You are trying to minimize interior damage.

For a dripping leak

Put a bucket or large pot directly under the drip. If the bucket starts to fill, have a second one ready. Place towels around the bucket to catch splashes. If you have a large plastic storage bin, it gives you more time between emptying.

For a bulging ceiling

If your ceiling has a water bulge (looks like a bubble or sagging area), it is holding water above the drywall. That section can collapse without warning, dumping gallons at once. Poke a small hole in the center of the bulge with a screwdriver and let the water drain into a bucket below. Yes, this creates a hole in your ceiling. But a controlled drain into a bucket is far better than a sudden ceiling collapse that floods an entire room and destroys whatever is underneath.

The string trick

If water is running across your ceiling instead of dripping straight down, you can guide it. Pin or tape one end of a piece of string to the wet spot on the ceiling and let the other end hang down into a bucket. Water follows the string down instead of spreading across the ceiling. This works surprisingly well and saves you from chasing water across multiple rooms.

Protect your belongings

Move furniture, electronics, and anything valuable away from the leak area. If you can't move large items, cover them with plastic sheeting, garbage bags, or tarps. Water stains are hard to remove from upholstered furniture, and electronics exposed to water are usually ruined.

Step 3: Temporary Roof Fixes (If the Storm Has Passed)

These are temporary measures to slow the leak until a professional can make a permanent repair. Only attempt these if the storm has passed, the roof surface is dry, and you can safely access the area. If conditions are not safe, wait for a professional.

Tarping the damaged area

If you can identify where the water is entering from outside, a tarp is the most effective temporary fix. Use a heavy-duty tarp (at least 6 mil thickness) that extends at least 4 feet past the damaged area on all sides. Weigh it down with 2x4 lumber screwed through the tarp into the roof deck, or use sandbags if you have them. Do not use bricks or cinder blocks. They can slide off and become dangerous projectiles in wind.

A warning on roof safety: wet roofs are extremely slippery. If you are not comfortable on a ladder and on a pitched surface, do not attempt this. A fall from a residential roof can kill you. Call a professional.

Roofing tape or cement for small areas

For a small visible crack or hole (less than a few inches), roofing tape or roofing cement from a hardware store can slow the leak temporarily. Clean the area, apply the tape or cement, and press firmly. This is not a permanent fix, but it can buy you days until a crew arrives.

Plastic sheeting from inside the attic

If you can access the leak from your attic, you can staple heavy plastic sheeting to the underside of the roof deck to redirect water into a bucket. This keeps water from spreading through your ceiling and insulation. It is not ideal, but it limits damage while you wait for exterior repair.

Step 4: Document Everything for Insurance

This step is easy to forget when you are dealing with buckets and wet floors, but it matters a lot when you file your insurance claim.

• Take photos and video of the leak, the water damage, and any damaged belongings before you clean up. Photograph ceilings, walls, floors, and any items that were damaged. Get close-ups of the damage and wide shots that show the full area.
• Save damaged materials. Don't throw away ruined drywall, insulation, or belongings until the insurance adjuster has seen them or told you it is okay to dispose of them.
• Note the date and time the leak started and what the weather conditions were. Your insurance company will want to match the damage to a specific weather event.
• Keep receipts for any emergency supplies you buy (tarps, buckets, tape) and any emergency repair costs. These are typically reimbursable under your claim.

For more on the insurance process, read our guide on whether insurance covers roof replacement in New York.

Step 5: Call a Professional Roofer

Once the immediate danger is handled and the leak is contained, call a licensed roofing contractor. An emergency call does not mean you need a full roof replacement right now. It means you need a professional to assess the damage, make a proper temporary repair if needed, and give you an honest evaluation of what the long-term fix looks like.

When you call, have this information ready:

• Where the leak is (which room, which part of the ceiling)
• How much water is coming in (drip, steady stream, or major flow)
• When it started and what weather caused it
• Whether you have attempted any temporary fixes
• Your roof's approximate age if you know it

When Is a Roof Leak a True Emergency?

Not every leak requires an immediate after-hours call. Here is how to gauge urgency:

What to Watch Out For After a Leak

Even after the leak is repaired, keep an eye on the affected area for the next few weeks:

• Mold growth: Mold can start growing within 24-48 hours on damp surfaces. Watch for dark spots or musty smells in the days after a leak. Long Island's humidity makes this worse during warmer months.
• Ceiling stains spreading: If the stain gets larger after the leak was supposedly fixed, water may still be getting in from a different entry point. Call your roofer back.
• Wet insulation: Insulation that got soaked loses its effectiveness and will not dry out properly on its own. It usually needs to be replaced.
• Warped or buckling flooring: Water that reached your floors can cause warping over the following days as it absorbs into the material.

How to Avoid Storm Chasers

After every major storm on Long Island, door-to-door roofers show up in affected neighborhoods offering immediate repairs. Some are legitimate. Many are not. Watch for these red flags:

• They showed up unsolicited at your door immediately after a storm
• They want to inspect your roof for free and pressure you to sign a contract on the spot
• They ask you to sign over your insurance claim to them (this is called Assignment of Benefits, and it can be a trap)
• They cannot show you a New York State Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) license
• They want full payment upfront or cash only
• Their business address is out of state or a P.O. Box

Stick with a local, licensed contractor who was here before the storm and will be here after. Check our guide on what to look for when your roof needs attention for more on choosing the right contractor.

ERS Emergency Roof Repair on Long Island

ERS Roofing & Siding provides emergency roof repair across Long Island, including Babylon, Lindenhurst, West Babylon, Amityville, Massapequa, and all of Nassau and Suffolk County. We respond quickly, tarp and secure the damaged area, and schedule permanent repairs as soon as conditions allow.

Call us at (516) 595-5395 or contact us online for emergency roof leak help.