Give the responder a useful first report
Provide the address, building access contact, locations of active leaks and any visible missing covering or fallen debris. Photographs taken indoors or from safe ground-level positions can help the responder plan. Do not climb onto the roof to obtain a better view.
Keep people clear of sagging ceilings, unstable roof areas, fallen electrical lines and water contacting electrical equipment. Follow emergency-service or utility instructions where those hazards are present. Severe thunderstorms can bring wind, hail, lightning and flooding together.
Agree on the temporary-protection scope
Ask which openings or roof areas can be protected, how the temporary work will be documented and what conditions require a return visit. A steep-slope shingle opening and a damaged low-slope membrane may need different methods.
Get the temporary-work authorization and charges in writing. Identify the contact if the protection shifts or leaks, and ask when the permanent assessment can occur. No temporary measure should be described as a guaranteed weatherproof roof.
Preserve a claim record without delaying necessary protection
Texas Department of Insurance guidance generally allows temporary repairs and recommends photographing damage before work. It advises speaking with the insurer before permanent repairs. Ask your insurer about required records and retain invoices for protection work.
Have the responder document observed conditions, the area protected, materials used and before-and-after photographs. The insurer evaluates reimbursement under the policy; authorization for a tarp is separate from approval of a replacement claim.
Move from temporary work to a durable scope
Request an inspection of the affected roof assembly, adjacent details and interior evidence. The permanent proposal should identify what needs repair or replacement, what remains uncertain, and any further investigation needed. Keep the temporary protection on the follow-up list until permanent work is complete.