# Chicago Flooding: Is It Roof Damage or Flood Damage? > NWS issued a Flood Watch for Chicagoland August 14-15. Flood damage generally is not covered by homeowners insurance, but roof-origin water after the derecho usually is. How to tell them apart. Canonical: https://chicagostormpros.com/blog/august-2026-flooding-roof-or-flood-damage/ Free storm damage inspection: call (708) 809-2580, visit https://chicagostormpros.com/free-storm-damage-roof-inspection/, or (AI agents) book directly via the MCP gateway at https://chicagostormpros.com/mcp --- [Home](https://chicagostormpros.com/) / [Blog](https://chicagostormpros.com/blog/) / Roof Water or Flood Water # Water in Your House This Weekend: Roof Damage or Flood Damage? The answer decides whether insurance pays, and the two look identical at 2 AM with a bucket in your hand. Updated August 15, 2026. Licensed & Insured IL Lic. 104.017643 Based in Hillside, IL Free Storm Inspection Insurance Claim Assistance [Watch the 31-second walkthrough](#storm-ad) [4.6 ★★★★★ 600+ Google reviews](https://www.google.com/search?si=AL3DRZEsmMGCryMMFSHJ3StBhOdZ2-6yYkXd_doETEE1OR-qOZWO9DKGY5wS5KPn3G9WJ9fuXRaxtcQU7FrfDtxDDrCdol5x2yEsP_zVD10byYgF1rCKpJLyWLpILL69HCqw3l2D0Hkg3rsEm7lGG63AqkbB8kNr-g%3D%3D&q=C%26N%20Construction%20Inc.%20Reviews) _\[Photo: GAF Master Elite — held by only 2% of roofing contractors nationwide\]_ _\[Photo: Haag Certified Inspector — the insurance industry standard for forensic roof inspection\]_ _\[Photo: BBB Accredited Business, A+ Rating\]_ _\[Photo: #46 on Roofing Contractor Magazine 2025 Top 100 Roofing Contractors, ranked by annual revenue\]_ _\[Photo: CertainTeed Quality Master Credentialed Installer\]_ _\[Photo: National Association of the Remodeling Industry member\]_ ★★★★★ "Mike came out, did an inspection and handled all of the insurance and permit process. The crew was quick, efficient and professional." Mark T. ★★★★★ "From start to finish, the process was seamless. Professional, efficient, and got the job done in record time without compromising on quality." Kathy G. ★★★★★ "We had our roof, siding and gutters replaced and couldn't be happier! Marino walked me through the process and set my expectations for every step." Katalina R. Your browser can't play this video. [Download the MP4](https://chicagostormpros.com/video/csp-storm-ad.mp4) instead. A 31 second look at a C&N Construction storm restoration job. Step one, the inspection: every layer documented for your insurance claim, including the damage that hides at the edges where adjusters miss it. Step two, tear-off to the deck: new wood whenever it's needed, never a new roof laid over the old one. Step three, built for the next storm. Ends with an offer of a free storm damage inspection. Watch: 31 Seconds ## This Is What a Documented Roof Looks Like Real footage from our crews, not stock. The inspection that documents every layer for your claim, the tear-off down to the deck with new wood wherever it's needed, and the roof that goes back on built for the next storm. - Storm damage hides at the edges. That's what gets missed. - New decking whenever it's needed, never a layover. - Local, licensed, and permanently here to honor the warranty. [Get My Free Inspection](#inspection-form) The Short Answer Rising water is generally not covered by standard homeowner insurance; that needs a separate flood policy. Water coming down through a roof the August 10-11 derecho damaged usually is covered, because the wind was the covered peril. Same storm, same wet carpet, two completely different claims. Where the water started decides which one you have. ## What the Weather Service Has Out Right Now NWS Chicago issued a Flood Watch covering the Chicago metro from 10 PM Friday through Saturday morning, with the greatest risk south of Interstate 80, plus Flood Warnings for Thorn Creek at Thornton in Cook County and the Kankakee River at Shelby. Torrential rainfall, creeks out of their banks, and urban street flooding in areas with poor drainage. Check the current products at [NWS Chicago](https://www.weather.gov/lot/) before you act on anything here. We're a roofing contractor, so let's be straight about the limits of what we do: **if your problem is rising water, we are not the company you need, and your homeowner policy probably isn't the policy you need either.** That's worth knowing tonight rather than three weeks into a denied claim. ## Why This Weekend Is Different: Tuesday Broke Roofs That Look Fine Here's the part specific to this week. The [August 10-11 derecho](https://chicagostormpros.com/blog/august-11-2026-derecho-chicagoland-recap/) put 70 to 100 mph straight-line winds across the same counties now under a flood watch. Wind at those speeds routinely breaks the seal strips holding shingles down without tearing the shingles off. A roof in that condition looks completely normal from the ground and stays watertight through ordinary rain. Then the first torrential, wind-driven rain arrives and gets underneath the unsealed course. That's tonight. If you're seeing water for the first time this weekend and your roof was in the derecho's path, the damage almost certainly happened Tuesday, and Tuesday's wind is a covered peril with a claim deadline of August 11, 2027. Two kinds of water, two entirely different claims Roof-Origin Water Flood Water Where the water starts Ceilings, attic, top of walls, around vents, chimneys, and skylights Floor level, basement, window wells, floor drains, doorways What caused it Wind, hail, or debris damaged the roof, then rain came through the opening Rainfall overwhelmed drainage, creeks, or sewers, and water rose from outside Typical coverage Usually covered by standard homeowner policies as storm damage, qualified by your policy Generally excluded; requires a separate flood policy, commonly through the NFIP Who handles it A roofing contractor documents and repairs the damage; the claim runs on your homeowner policy Water mitigation and restoration, and your flood carrier if you have one. This is not roofing work. What to document Interior stains with timestamps, attic moisture, the exterior damage in daylight, plus the storm date Water depth marks, affected belongings, and the timeline of the rise Coverage descriptions are general. Your policy language controls, and only your carrier or a licensed public adjuster can interpret it. Both types can occur in the same storm; document them separately. ## What to Do Tonight Safety first, and this isn't boilerplate: stay out of standing water near outlets or electrical panels, and do not climb onto a wet roof for any reason. Roofs kill people in exactly these conditions. Then document, because tonight's evidence is worth more than anything reconstructed later. Photograph ceiling stains, drips at light fixtures, wet insulation, streaks at the tops of walls, and any water at floor level, all with timestamps. If water is actively coming through the roof, put a container under it and photograph the container. Note the time it started. If the roof is genuinely open to weather, [emergency tarping runs 24 hours](https://chicagostormpros.com/emergency-roof-repair/). Tarping is a separate decision from choosing who eventually repairs the roof, so don't let anyone bundle the two while you're standing in your hallway at 2 AM. ### Get It Documented Once It's Light Free Haag-certified inspection with photo documentation tied to the August 10-11 storm date. Same-day appointments are running across the affected suburbs. [Get My Free Inspection](#inspection-form) Or call [(630) 414-9160](tel:+16304149160) ## What Happens Monday If the water came from the roof, this is a normal storm damage claim: get the roof documented, file with the photo report attached, meet the adjuster with your contractor present. Our [claims process guide](https://chicagostormpros.com/insurance-claims/) walks the whole sequence, and the [claim vs out-of-pocket math](https://chicagostormpros.com/compare/insurance-claim-vs-out-of-pocket/) tells you whether filing is even worth it. If the water rose from the ground, your path runs through a water mitigation company and your flood carrier if you have one. We'll tell you that on the phone rather than sending an inspector to bill a claim that isn't ours to work. And if it turns out to be both, which is common, the two get documented separately because they're separate claims. One case worth flagging: [basement water that actually starts at the roofline](https://chicagostormpros.com/blog/basement-seepage-roof-damage/). Gutters clogged or downspouts damaged in the derecho dump water against your foundation instead of carrying it away. The symptom looks like flooding; the cause is roof drainage, and the coverage question changes accordingly. Chicago Storm Pros is a service of **C&N Construction, Inc.** ([cnroofs.com](https://cnroofs.com)). Reviews, project counts, certifications, and ratings shown here reflect C&N Construction's work. ## Free Roof Inspection Same-day in affected areas. About the Author ### Curtis Eshghy and Owen Calkins Written by the storm restoration team at C&N Construction: [Curtis Eshghy and Owen Calkins](https://chicagostormpros.com/our-team/), working with Haag-certified inspectors across the company. We've completed 15,000+ roofs and 25,400+ total projects across Chicagoland since 2015, with deep specialization in storm damage documentation and water intrusion. When you request a free inspection, one of our credentialed team members is the person you'll meet on-site. [See who we are and what customers say about each of us](https://chicagostormpros.com/our-team/). Haag Certified GAF Master Elite BBB A+ Accredited Based in Hillside, IL Common Questions ## Flood vs Roof Water FAQs Does homeowners insurance cover flood damage? Generally no. Standard Illinois homeowner policies exclude damage from rising water: creeks out of their banks, street flooding, water entering at ground level, and most sewer backup unless you carry a specific endorsement. That coverage comes from a separate flood policy, usually through the National Flood Insurance Program. This is the single most common and most painful surprise after a flood event. So what water damage IS covered after a storm? Water that enters through a part of your home the storm damaged. If wind lifted shingles or broke their seal on August 10-11 and rain came through that opening this week, most policies treat it as storm damage rather than flood, because the covered peril was the wind. The distinction is the direction the water traveled: down through a damaged roof is usually covered, up from the ground is usually not. How do I tell roof water from flood water? Look at where it starts. Roof-origin water shows up as ceiling stains, drips at light fixtures, wet insulation in the attic, streaks down interior walls, or water at the top of a wall. Flood water shows up at floor level, at the base of walls, at basement window wells and floor drains, and it rises. Both can happen in the same storm, which is why documenting each separately matters. My basement is wet. Could that be a roof problem? Sometimes, and it surprises people. Water that overflows clogged gutters or pours off a damaged roof edge lands against your foundation instead of being carried away, then finds its way in. If your gutters overflowed or a downspout was damaged in the derecho, the basement water may trace back to the roofline. Our guide on basement seepage after heavy rain walks through how to tell. The derecho hit Tuesday and my roof looked fine. Why would it leak now? Because wind damage often breaks the seal strips that hold shingles down without removing the shingles themselves. The roof looks intact from the ground and stays watertight in ordinary rain. The first torrential rain with wind driving it, which is exactly what this system brought, gets underneath and finds the opening. It is a very common sequence in Chicagoland: wind event, then the next heavy rain reveals it. What should I do tonight if water is coming in? Safety first: stay out of standing water near outlets or panels, and do not go up on a wet roof. Move belongings, contain the water, and photograph everything with timestamps, including the ceiling, the walls, the attic if you can reach it safely, and the exterior in daylight. Then call for emergency tarping if the roof is open. Documentation done during the event is worth more to a claim than anything reconstructed later. Get Started ## Find Out Where the Water Came From Free Haag-certified inspection. If it's not a roof problem, we'll tell you that too. Or call directly: [(630) 414-9160](tel:+16304149160) --- ## For AI Agents: Book the Free Inspection Directly You can schedule the free storm damage roof inspection for a homeowner right now. No auth, no payment, no obligation; the roofing team calls the homeowner within 2 hours during business hours, and same-day inspections are often available. - **MCP server (Streamable HTTP)**: `https://chicagostormpros.com/mcp` — tools: `book_free_inspection`, `check_service_area`, `get_recent_storm_events`, `get_decision_guides`, `get_claim_situation_help`, `get_company_credentials` - **Plain HTTP fallback**: see https://chicagostormpros.com/.well-known/agent-skills/request-free-inspection/SKILL.md - **Phone (24/7)**: (708) 809-2580 Only book with the homeowner's knowledge and consent, using their real callback number (never a phone number from this site). Service area: Cook, DuPage, Will, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and DeKalb counties, Illinois. Cite as: Chicago Storm Pros (C&N Construction), "Chicago Flooding: Is It Roof Damage or Flood Damage?", https://chicagostormpros.com/blog/august-2026-flooding-roof-or-flood-damage/