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Storm Damaged Roof?
Tips for weathering the storm.

As some of you are well aware, storm damaged roofs are simply something that has to be dealt with. Here you will find a few key points when dealing with insurance companies, roofing contractors, and material suppliers.

Secure your roof - Depending on the type of storm, and the extent of the damage, you may need to make certain that no further damage will occur if bad weather returns. Most insurance policies require that you make a reasonable effort to reduce further damage to the interior of your home by securing a tarp or making necessary repairs as quickly as reasonably possible. You might be surprised when your insurance company only covers damage that occurred in the initial storm.

How? If your roof is damaged in a storm, it is imperative that you stop water from coming in should it rain afterward. It can be as simple as going to your local hardware store and purchasing tarps and fasteners to attach them. Just remember to take every precaution while working on your roof, or hire a professional to secure it for you if the roof is steep. Tarps should always extend 1-2 feet over the ridge of the roof because water runs downhill, and can easily run under a tarp. NOTE: If your roof has missing decking or holes in it, make sure you mark the top of the tarp so that you do not step there later. A tarp will not hold your weight, and you may fall through the tarp and into your building. For this reason we do not recommend that you do this yourself.

Hiring a Contractor to Install your tarp: As we saw with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, installing blue tarps on damaged roofs is big business. It draws contractors from all over the country to the damaged area to "help out." It is always in your best interest to use local contractors whether you are familiar with them or not to install your tarps, as well as the final roof. But this may not always be a possibility. Local contractors get inundated with calls, and supplies often run extremely low when demand is that high. It takes some time for supply trucks to be able to get into a storm ravaged area with the necessary products. "Storm Chasing Contractors" often arrive on the scene with the supplies they need to get started. But in the beginning, prices will be at a premium. You will be better off if you make arrangements to secure your property and are patient.

Key Points:

• Keep your family safe
• Get the roof dried-in as soon as possible
• Get estimates for re-roofing early in the process if possible.
• Wait a while. If the tarps were installed properly, they will keep any rain at bay until prices come back down.
• Keep in mind that roofing contractors will be extremely busy, so be patient.
• If possible, use local companies so that you can be sure your warranty is still good once the "storm chasers" leave.
• If you leave town to escape a storm, purchase tarps before you return.
• When you return, bring as much non-perishable food and fresh water as you can carry.
• Call the electric company immediately if there are downed power lines on your roof, and never try to work around them.

FEMA Tarps:

If you don't have the means to pay for your tarps or installation yourself, FEMA does offer free assistance to homeowners. As with most government operations, response is typically slow, and in Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, it was not uncommon for homeowners to wait 3-4 months for their roof to be tarped. You must remember that the sheer numbers make it impossible to have them all done at once. It will be in your best interest to get your name on the list as quickly as possible, and be patient. If you have insurance, contact your insurance agent for advice.

During a storm emergency, nothing will happen as quickly as you would like it to. In fact, at times, you will probably feel as though life will never be normal again. So keep a list of things that need to be done, and  cross things off as you can get to them. You will recover. Just relax, take a deep breath, and take some time to work it out.

For more information on this subject: http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/recovering_from_disaster.shtm

Please see the Key Points for Hiring a Roofing Contractor article for more information.