Storm Damage & Insurance

How to Emergency Tarp a Damaged Roof

Updated October 2026 · 4 min read · By the Knoxville Roofing Quotes team

A tree limb just went through your roof, or a storm tore off shingles, and rain is on the way. Here's how emergency tarping works, how to do it safely if you can, and when to call a roofer instead.

What You Need

• Tarp: A heavy-duty tarp big enough to cover the damaged area with several feet to spare on every side
• 2x4 boards: Long enough to run past the edges of the tarp
• Screws and a drill: Screws through boards hold far better than nails through the tarp alone
• A helper: Tarping is a two-person job. A tarp can catch the wind like a sail
• A ladder tall enough to reach safely, set on firm, level ground

Hardware stores can sell out of tarps right after a storm, so keeping one in the garage before storm season is smart. Around Knoxville, the National Weather Service says tornadoes peak in April and large hail in May.

The Basic Method

Step 1: Assess From the Ground

Look at the damage from the ground first. Is the roof sagging or structurally compromised? Are there wires down? If anything looks unsafe, don't go up.

Step 2: Document Before You Touch Anything

Take photos and video of the damage before you move debris. Tennessee's Department of Commerce and Insurance advises documenting damage with photos or video, and your adjuster may ask for photos of anything you removed to make the home safe.

Step 3: Clear Large Debris

Remove only what keeps the tarp from lying flat. Leave large limbs to a tree service.

Step 4: Position the Tarp

• Where possible, run the tarp up and over the ridge (the peak) so water can't run underneath it
• Cover the damage with several feet to spare on every side
• Pull it taut. Loose tarps flap in the wind and fail

Step 5: Secure the Top Edge

The uphill edge matters most. Roll the tarp edge around a 2x4 and screw the board down through the tarp into the roof deck. If the tarp goes over the ridge, anchor that edge on the far side.

Step 6: Secure the Sides and Bottom

Use more 2x4s along the sides and bottom, screwed through the tarp into the deck. Lay the boards flat so they don't trap water or debris.

Step 7: Check for Pooling

Water should run off the tarp, not collect in it. Fix any low spots or loose areas before the rain arrives.

What Not to Do

• Don't rely on nails through the tarp alone. They tear out. Use boards and screws.
• Don't use only sandbags or rocks. Wind will move them.
• Don't work on a wet or windy roof. Protect the inside instead and wait or call a pro.
• Don't anchor to gutters. They'll pull away.
• Don't walk on the tarp. It's slippery.

If You Can't Get on the Roof

Protect the inside: Move belongings, put buckets under drips and lay plastic sheeting over floors and furniture. If water is pooling in a bulging ceiling, keep people away from it.

Call a roofer: Many local roofing companies offer emergency tarping. Ask for a written price before they start, and if insurance may pay, read our guide to your rights under Tennessee's roofing insurance law. That law lets a roofer charge for emergency repairs you acknowledge in writing as necessary, but bars them from misrepresenting that emergency repairs are needed.

Work from the attic: If you can reach the hole safely from inside, plastic sheeting stapled to the rafters can slow water down until help arrives.

How Long Can a Tarp Stay Up?

A tarp is a temporary fix. Sun breaks it down and wind works it loose, and the screws leave holes in the shingles that will need repair. Check it after every storm and get permanent repairs scheduled as soon as you can. After big storms, roofers get busy, so call early even if the work is weeks out.

Insurance Documentation

• Photograph and video the damage before and after tarping
• Write down the date, time and cause of the damage
• Keep receipts for tarps, materials and any emergency service
• Report the claim promptly. TDCI advises filing as soon as possible because policies can have notification deadlines

TDCI also advises taking reasonable steps to avoid further damage to your home after a loss. Ask your insurer how temporary repairs are handled under your policy. For the full process, see our guide to filing a roof insurance claim.

Related Articles

• How to File a Roof Insurance Claim After Storm Damage
• East Tennessee Hail Season: When It Peaks and What to Do
• When to Repair a Leaking Roof

Sources

• The Home Depot: How to tarp a roof
• GAF: What to know about tarping a roof
• OSHA: Fall prevention
• TDCI: Rebuilding after a loss, managing the claims experience
• TDCI: Insurance and contractor tips after Winter Storm Fern (2026)
• Tenn. Code Ann. 62-6-604: Payments and emergency repairs
• National Weather Service Morristown: Severe weather climatology