The short answer
What to do the moment your roof starts leaking
When water is coming through the ceiling, the clock matters. While we're on the way, you can limit the damage — and we'll walk you through it on the phone.
- Shut off electricity to the wet areas at the breaker panel, as long as you can reach the panel without standing in water.
- Move valuables and electronics out from under the leak.
- Catch dripping water in buckets and keep people and pets out of the room.
- A ceiling bulging with trapped water can be drained with a small hole into a bucket, but only once power to that area is off, well away from light fixtures and ceiling fans. If the ceiling is sagging badly, don't touch it: leave the room, because it can come down.
- Photograph everything — the source, the path, and the damage — for your claim.
- Stay off the roof during a storm; we'll handle the tarping safely.
- Call us — 24/7 — so we can stabilize the roof before more water gets in.
Stabilize first, then repair right
Emergency response is a two-step job. First we stop the intrusion with professional-grade tarping and sealing so your home is protected through the next downpour. Then, once conditions allow, we return for a permanent repair built to Broward HVHZ code — and we document the storm damage thoroughly so it supports any insurance claim you decide to file.
What your insurer expects before the adjuster arrives
Florida homeowners policies generally expect you to take reasonable steps to protect the home from further damage after a covered loss, and an emergency tarp is the textbook example. Report the claim promptly, keep the temporary work to what actually stops the water, and talk to your adjuster before the permanent repair starts.
Some policies put a number on that temporary work. Citizens Property Insurance's personal lines forms for new and renewal policies effective December 1, 2025 limit Reasonable Emergency Measures to immediate actions that protect covered property, require prompt notice of the loss, and cap temporary protective roof covering at up to 2% of the Coverage A (dwelling) limit. Citizens notes the wording varies between policy types, and private carriers write their own terms, so read your declarations page and policy before you assume any amount is covered.
What to document for the claim
The record you build in the first day is what the adjuster works from. We document our side of the job, and these are the pieces only you can keep.
- Photos and video of the roof, ceilings, walls and belongings before anything is moved or tarped, then again after.
- Receipts for the emergency tarp, any water extraction, fans or dehumidifiers, and supplies you bought yourself.
- Damaged materials: keep pieces of broken tile, torn shingle, wet drywall or ruined items until the adjuster has seen them or tells you they can go.
- A short written timeline: when the leak started, when you called your insurer, and who came out and when.
Operation Blue Roof after a declared disaster
After a major hurricane, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers may run Operation Blue Roof, which installs fiber-reinforced sheeting over damaged roofs free of charge. It runs only once FEMA assigns the mission at the affected state's request, so it is not available after an ordinary storm. You sign up by submitting a Right of Entry form, which lets Corps workers assess the house and contracted crews work on the roof.
Eligibility is narrow, and it matters in Broward. The home must be your primary residence, no more than 50% of the roof framing can be damaged, and you must be the owner or a renter with legal permission to stay. The roof must be standard shingle or a similar material crews can nail a tarp into. Metal roofs are considered case by case, and the Corps says its contractors cannot cover slate, asbestos or clay tile, so owners of tile homes shouldn't count on it. The program never charges, and its representatives won't ask for Social Security or bank account numbers; report anyone who does to the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 1-866-720-5721.
Official sources
Use these official sources to check current rules and requirements. What applies depends on your property, permitting authority and policy; cost ranges on this page are editorial planning estimates.
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Your questions, answered.
Do you really offer 24/7 emergency roof repair?
Yes. We provide round-the-clock emergency tarping and water-intrusion control across Coconut Creek and Broward County, then schedule a permanent repair. Call us as soon as water comes in — the faster we tarp it, the less interior damage you'll have.
How much does emergency roof repair cost?
Emergency stabilization (tarping and water-intrusion control) typically runs $400–$1,500 depending on access and the size of the affected area. That's separate from the permanent repair, which we price after a full inspection — and storm-related work is often covered by insurance.
Will insurance cover an emergency roof repair?
If the leak is from a covered event like a storm, insurers generally expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage — which is exactly what emergency tarping is. Some policies cap that temporary work: Citizens' forms effective December 1, 2025 limit temporary protective roof covering to up to 2% of the Coverage A limit. Check your own policy, and keep photos and receipts. We document the damage and the stabilization so it supports your claim.
Can I get a free blue tarp from FEMA after a hurricane?
Only when Operation Blue Roof is activated. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers runs it for FEMA after a declared disaster, and it covers primary residences with shingle or similar roofs and no more than 50% framing damage. The Corps says it cannot cover clay tile, so owners of tile homes shouldn't count on it.