I have missing shingles after a storm

Is this an emergency?

It is urgent rather than life-threatening, and the clock is set by the weather forecast. Exposed underlayment can hold out light rain briefly; exposed decking cannot. If water is already entering the home, treat it as an emergency roofing call and a water-damage call at the same time.

It becomes a genuine emergency if there is any sagging in the roof or ceiling, if a tree or large debris is resting on the structure, or if there are downed power lines anywhere near the roofline. Downed lines mean staying clear and calling 911 and the utility — nothing on the roof is worth approaching a live conductor.

What should I do right now?

1. Stay on the ground. Photograph the roof from several angles, including the ground-level debris and any shingles that landed in the yard.
2. Go into the attic with a flashlight and look for daylight, wet sheathing, or wet insulation. Photograph anything you find.
3. Check ceilings and the tops of interior walls for stains or bulging, and move belongings out from underneath.
4. Put containers under active drips, and if a ceiling is bulging with trapped water, keep people out of that room.
5. Arrange professional temporary protection (tarping or peel-and-stick underlayment) if any deck or underlayment is exposed.
6. Contact your insurer to open a claim and ask what documentation they want before repairs start.

Who should I call?

A licensed roofing contractor is the primary trade — for the inspection, temporary protection and the permanent repair. Many will do emergency tarping as a separate first visit.

A water-damage restoration company is the likely second trade if water reached insulation, drywall or flooring. Roofers stop the water coming in; restoration companies dry what already got wet, and in this climate that needs to start quickly.

An electrician is a third trade only if water has reached fixtures, wiring or a panel — in which case the affected circuits stay off until it is inspected.

Temporary protection: what is reasonable

Professional tarping means securing a weather-rated tarp over the exposed area, anchored so it does not become a sail in the next squall. Done properly it buys weeks; done badly it lifts in the first gust, and fasteners driven in the wrong place create new leak paths.

It is a temporary measure by definition. Insurers generally expect reasonable steps to prevent further damage after a covered loss, which is what tarping is — it does not replace the permanent repair, and it should not be treated as one.

Repair or replace?

South Florida considerations

Wind-borne debris and sustained high winds are the dominant failure mode here, and damage is frequently concentrated on the windward slope and at edges, ridges and eaves where uplift pressure is highest — so a roof can look fine from the street and be badly damaged on the far side.

After a named storm, demand for roofers and tarping spikes across the region at once. Documenting the damage promptly and getting on a reputable contractor's list early matters more here than the specific day you choose to schedule the permanent repair.

Permitting and inspection requirements for roofing work are set locally in Florida and can affect how a repair is scoped. Ask any contractor to explain what will be permitted and inspected before work begins.

What not to do

• Do not climb onto a wet or storm-damaged roof, and do not send someone up a ladder in the wind.
• Do not sign a contract before you understand the scope, or hand over the full amount up front.
• Do not throw away the shingles that blew off — they help document the loss.
• Do not delay the interior drying while you wait for the roof to be permanently repaired; the two run in parallel.

Getting help

Describe what is happening and UrgentHomePro will try to connect you with an available independent local provider. You decide whether to hire anyone who contacts you.