Short answer: protect the inside of your home first. Put a bucket under active dripping, move furniture and valuables away from the area, take photos, and stay off the wet roof. If water is entering now, hire emergency roof repair. If the leak is not active, schedule roof repair.
1. Contain the Water Inside
Place buckets, towels, or plastic sheeting where water is entering. If the ceiling is bulging, that can mean water is pooling above the drywall. Avoid standing under the bulge and call for help quickly.
2. Document the Leak for Insurance
Take photos of ceiling stains, active dripping, damaged shingles visible from the ground, and any affected belongings. Documentation helps if the damage came from wind, falling debris, or another covered storm event.
3. Avoid Temporary Roof Work During Rain
Wet roofs are dangerous, especially on tile, metal, or steep shingle roofs. A professional roofer can assess whether temporary weatherproofing is safe and useful after conditions improve.
4. Schedule a Roof Inspection
The visible leak is not always directly below the roof failure. Water can travel along rafters, decking, underlayment, or flashing before showing up indoors. A roof inspection helps identify the actual source.
For step-by-step emergency guidance, read what to do in a Sacramento roof emergency. For urgent help, call for emergency roof repair. After the storm, see what to do after storm damage and how roof leaks are found and fixed. Sacramento · Roof inspection · Contact.