If water is coming in right now, the order of operations matters more than the repair itself. Make people safe, stop the water from spreading, document it, then get the roof closed. The permanent fix can wait for daylight and a dry window — the first four steps cannot.
First 15 minutes
- Get everyone out from under it. A ceiling holding water can come down without warning.
- Cut power to affected circuits if water is near lights, fans, or outlets. Do not stand in water to reach the panel.
- Contain the drip. Buckets, towels, plastic sheeting over furniture, and a wet vac on standing water.
- Relieve a bulging ceiling. A small hole at the low point drained into a bucket saves the whole ceiling.
- Photograph before you clean. Wide shots, close-ups, and a narrated video with the date.
Do not climb a wet or storm-damaged roof. Pacific Northwest roofs grow moss and stay slick for days. Everything on this page can be done from inside or from the ground until a crew arrives with fall protection.
Tarping, done correctly
A tarp thrown over a hole and weighted with bricks lasts one gust. A tarp that holds through a Clark County windstorm is installed like this:
- Sized to run past the ridge so water cannot get under the top edge.
- Rolled and secured over furring strips or 2x4s, screwed through into decking, not just weighted.
- Edges lapped shingle-style so water sheds over seams, never into them.
- Pulled tight — a loose tarp flaps, tears, and enlarges the hole it was covering.
- Treated as temporary. Thirty to ninety days, then it degrades in UV and needs replacement.
What emergency roof repair costs
| Service | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency tarping | $400 – $1,200 | Varies with pitch, height, and coverage area |
| After-hours or storm call-out | $150 – $400 premium | Often waived if the permanent repair is contracted |
| Permanent shingle / flashing repair | $600 – $2,500 | Depends on the failed component |
| Decking replacement | $75 – $150 per sheet | Common after storm or long-term leaks |
| Interior ceiling dry-out and rebuild | $800 – $3,500 | Insulation, drywall, texture, paint |
| Tree or limb strike | $5,000 – $25,000+ | Structural framing, often an insurance claim |
Documenting for your insurance claim
- Photos of the exterior damage from the ground, plus any safe close-ups a crew takes from the roof.
- Interior photos of every wet surface, plus a walkthrough video.
- The date and time the damage occurred and when you discovered it.
- The tarping invoice, kept separate — it is submitted as emergency mitigation.
- A written, line-item repair scope from a licensed contractor rather than a lump-sum number.
Report the claim the same day. Late reporting is one of the most common reasons storm claims get reduced, even when the damage is clearly covered.
Storm season in Clark County
Our damaging weather is mostly November through March: sustained wind off the Gorge, saturated ground that lets Douglas firs go over, and weeks of rain that find every weak flashing at once. The roofs that fail in these storms are almost never surprises — they are the ones with lifted moss, a 12-year-old pipe boot, or a valley full of needles. Pre-season inspection is the cheapest emergency prevention there is.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as an emergency roof repair?
Active water entering the living space, missing shingles or exposed decking after a storm, a tree or limb strike, or a sagging ceiling holding water. Anything letting weather into the structure right now is an emergency; a stain that has been there for months is not.
How much does emergency roof repair cost in Vancouver, WA?
Emergency tarping typically runs $400–$1,200 depending on roof pitch, height, and area covered. The permanent repair that follows generally runs $600–$4,000, and tree-strike damage with structural repair can go well beyond that.
Should I tarp my own roof?
Only from the ground or a stable ladder edge, and never on a wet or steep roof, in wind, or in the dark. Falls cause far more injuries than roof leaks cause damage. If the roof cannot be reached safely, contain the water inside and wait for a crew.
Will insurance pay for emergency tarping?
Most policies cover reasonable emergency mitigation to prevent further damage, and many require you to take it. Keep the tarping invoice and dated photos taken before and after — they are submitted with the claim as mitigation costs.
How fast can someone come out?
During a regional windstorm, every roofer in Clark County is booked at once and tarping is triaged by severity. Calling early, sending photos, and having your address and access details ready moves you up the list.
What should I do while I wait?
Move belongings and electronics out of the path, put buckets under drips, relieve a bulging ceiling with a small hole, kill power to affected circuits if water is near fixtures, and photograph everything before you clean anything up.
Keep reading
RestorationRepublic tarps, repairs, and rebuilds storm-damaged roofs across Vancouver and Clark County — including the ceiling and insulation below the leak.
Talk to a real project manager
RestorationRepublic handles kitchens, baths, repairs, and water damage across SW Washington — one licensed contractor, one written scope, one accountable point of contact.
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