Wind, a fallen limb and rain inside
Storm Rain Through the Roof in Cartersville, GA
A fallen limb, torn shingles or a lifted flashing can let rain into an attic and down a wall. Talk it through: call (678) 288-4775, then give the storm's date, the wet rooms and whatever is visible from the yard.
Leave and call out first if
Downed power lines in the yard or on the house: keep everyone away; use 911 if anyone is hurt. Georgia Power's line for downed wires: 1-888-891-0938.
A gas smell after the storm: leave first, touch no switch, and phone 911 or your gas company from outside.
Below the damaged roof, a ceiling that bulges or drips: keep out from under it, and use 911 if it falls on someone.
A damaged roof, a wet ladder or more wind coming: do not climb up. Stay on the ground and keep children away from fallen limbs and lines.
Four mistakes after the storm passes
Walking toward a line on the ground. Georgia Power gives a number for downed lines and names 911 as the other option.
Climbing up to look. A wet roof is a fall risk, and the photographs can be taken from the ground.
Throwing out damaged items before listing them. FEMA's claim checklist wants an itemized list of damaged goods, photos or video of them, and receipts.
Making repairs first. The Georgia insurance commissioner's office says to photograph or video damage before temporary repairs and to keep receipts.
Around Cartersville
The Weather Service's severe weather page names March through May as tornado season and July as the peak month for damaging wind. It does not single out Bartow County.
Georgia Power gives 1-888-891-0938 for downed lines and names 911 as the other option. Inside Cartersville, White, Cassville and Kingston the city gas system's leak line is 770-387-5642.
Bartow County's emergency management agency, at 5433 Covenant Drive, sends weather alerts through Everbridge. Its number is (770) 387-5089.
March, July and the quieter months
In summer 2025 the Weather Service's Rome station recorded its heaviest day on 2 August, with 2.30 inches. Its severe weather page treats July as the peak month for damaging wind.
Tornado season runs March through May on the same page. A storm can arrive outside both.
On the visit itself
Call (678) 288-4775, give the date of the storm and the wet rooms, and the contractor can arrange a visit.
A look from the ground at the damaged section, any fallen limb and the yard.
A check of the attic or the ceiling below for wet insulation and stained wood.
A plan to dry the attic space, the ceiling and the walls below.
A note of what a roofer needs to see, since the roof repair belongs to a roofer.
A list of photographs for your own records, taken before any temporary cover goes on.
After the storm, in order
Is anyone hurt, or is a line down?
911 first. After that, Georgia Power: 1-888-891-0938.
Is there a gas smell?
Leave, then phone from outside.
Is rain still coming in?
Move belongings from under the wet spot and catch drips, after you photograph the damage.
Is a ceiling sagging?
Keep out from under it. See stained, dripping or bulging ceilings.
Is the roof open to the sky?
A roofer covers it. The contractor can say what wet material is below.
What storm rain tends to reach
- Attic insulationThe pages give no rule; the contractor checks how wet it got
- Drywall ceilingThe Red Cross treats a sagging wet ceiling as heavy and dangerous; the contractor decides whether it stays
- Carpet belowCDC lists rugs among the items thrown away after floodwater when they cannot be disinfected
- Shingles and roof deckingA roofer's work, outside the water pages
After the roof is covered
Stained, dripping or bulging ceilingsWhen the rain showed up overhead
Standing water and soaked carpetWhen water reached the floor
Dark spots after a leakWhen the room stays damp for days
A note before anyone starts cutting
Tarps, roofers and paperwork
A tarp is quick, and a roof repair is a different job. Bartow County's building inspections page lists [email protected] as a contact and says nothing about roof repairs. The hiring questions page collects each desk and the questions to ask any contractor.