If a storm has pushed rain into your home, call our 24/7 line and describe where it came in. While you wait, move furniture and valuables away from the wet area, put buckets under drips, and stay out of rooms with a sagging ceiling or active dripping from light fixtures.
Downed lines or a gas smell mean the utility or 911 gets the first call. After that, killing power to a dripping ceiling room is reasonable only if you can reach the panel dry.
Storm water damage cleanup is the removal and drying of water that entered through the building envelope: windows, doors, roof edges, flashing, siding and chimneys. It is different from rising water, which is covered under flood damage restoration.
Water coming through the roof or windows right now
Do not go on the roof. Contain what you can from inside: catch drips, lift wet rugs, and pull ceiling insulation only if it is safe. A bulging ceiling holds water and can drop without warning, so keep people out from under it and call us.
Photograph the leaks and any damage to the roof or siding from the ground. A storm that opens the roof at midnight should not leave you alone with a dripping ceiling until morning, so the line stays staffed.
How rain gets in during a storm
Window and door frames
Wind pushes rain sideways past worn seals and into the wall cavity beneath.
Roof edges and flashing
Lifted shingles or loose flashing around chimneys and vents let water under the covering.
Siding and trim
Torn or missing pieces expose the sheathing, which absorbs water quickly.
Gutters and downspouts
Clogged or torn gutters overflow against the wall and into soffits.
Attic vents
Strong wind can drive rain through louvers and wet the insulation.
Water still spreading? The 24/7 emergency line is open right now.
☎ Call (516) 845-9582Signs of hidden storm water
- Brown rings or bubbling paint on a ceiling after the storm.
- Wet insulation or damp rafters visible in the attic.
- Swollen window sills and damp drywall below the glass.
- A musty smell in a closet or room with an exterior wall.
- Warped baseboards or lifting laminate near doors.
- Water stains that grow when it rains again.
Wind and rain versus rising water
State guidance from DFS says wind damage has a better chance of coverage under a standard homeowners policy than flood does. That distinction can decide your claim, so how the water entered matters. Rain through a damaged roof is a wind-related loss, while water that rose from the ground is flood.
Gusts off both the bay and the harbor reach this peninsula, so exposed roofs and siding take the first hit. Sandy in October 2012 pushed the Sound over its shoreline by feet, and a September 2021 cloudburst stranded drivers on flooded local roads. Check your FEMA flood zone, and ask the insurer which losses count as storm and which as flood. Heavy-rain drainage trouble on one village road is covered on the Manorhaven page.
Assessment, removal and drying
Locate the entry point
Stains are followed back to the opening, then confirmed with meters and a thermal camera.
Remove standing water
Extraction units clear floors and carpet. Our page on water extraction explains the equipment.
Strip wet insulation and finishes
Soaked attic insulation and ceilings that are sagging come out, since they hold water against framing.
Dry the cavity
Air movers and LGR dehumidifiers run with daily readings, following structural drying practice.
Check again
Readings must reach the dry goal before walls are closed up.
Board-up, tarping and who does what
Stopping new rain is a different trade from drying.
| Task | Handled by | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Roof tarping | Roofer or contractor | Do it before more rain arrives |
| Window board-up | Contractor or glazier | Keeps weather out until glass is replaced |
| Water extraction and drying | Us | Starts once the opening is covered |
| Ceiling and drywall repair | Contractor or us as scoped | See ceiling water damage repair |
| Roof and siding replacement | Roofer | After the insurer inspects |
Repair choices and trade-offs
A temporary tarp buys time but can fail in the next wind, so a permanent roof repair should follow quickly. Drying wall cavities in place saves finishes, but needs access, and when siding is torn, removing a strip of it may be the only way to reach wet sheathing. Waiting for the insurer before permanent repairs can slow things down, though DFS advises it.
Emergency measures such as tarps and board-up are generally reasonable, and receipts for them should be saved.
Cost factors and insurance
Cost depends on water category (rain is usually Category 1 or 2 once it hits dirty roofing), the area wet, the materials, drying days and equipment, and rebuild scope. You get the scope and price in plain terms before work begins.
File as soon as possible, keep damaged property until settlement, and keep records of every call. DFS names no fixed filing deadline, so your policy wording and your insurer are the sources to check. We make no promises about approval. Homes near Old Westbury have the same options, and our Old Westbury page covers that area.
Frequently asked questions
Do you handle storm water damage emergencies at night or on weekends in Port Washington?
Yes. Overnight storm calls and holiday calls reach a live dispatcher. Tell dispatch where the water came in.
Do you tarp roofs or board up windows?
No. A roofer or contractor does that. We remove the water and dries the structure while the roofer handles the opening.
Is storm damage covered by homeowners insurance?
Wind damage is more likely covered than flood. Ask your insurer how the policy classifies this particular loss.
What if the water came up from the ground?
That is rising water, handled differently. See flood damage restoration.
Should I wait for the insurer before cleaning?
Photograph first and take emergency steps to prevent more damage. Leave permanent fixes until the adjuster has seen the damage.
Can wet attic insulation stay?
Soaked insulation is usually removed because it holds water against the framing and ceiling below.
Ready to talk it through? Call the 24/7 line.
☎ Call (516) 845-9582