Baccaro Roofing GuideWeslaco Flood Roof Recovery Checklist
This week's flooding hit Weslaco harder than anywhere else in the Rio Grande Valley. About seven inches of rain left some streets waist-deep, and the city has begun cleanup with help from its newly built detention ponds, according to KRGV's report on the Weslaco flood cleanup. If you evacuated and are now heading back to your house, the days right after the water recedes matter most for your roof, your safety, and any insurance claim you may need to file.
This is your practical, step-by-step recovery checklist. Work through it in order. Safety comes first, documentation comes second, and repairs come after that.
1. Stay safe before you go up or even go inside
Before you think about the roof, make sure the home is safe to enter.
- Power: If your home took on water or you smell anything burning, do not flip breakers. Leave the main off until an electrician clears it.
- Standing water: Never wade through floodwater that may be electrified or contaminated. Even shallow water can hide debris, sinkholes, or downed lines.
- Structure: Look for sagging ceilings, bowed walls, or a roofline that suddenly looks uneven. If anything looks like it is giving way, stay out and call a professional.
- The roof itself: Do not climb onto a wet, possibly damaged roof. Saturated decking can give way under your weight. You can assess most damage from the ground, from a ladder at the edge, or from inside the attic.
Weslaco and Progreso both signed local disaster declarations this week, and the eastbound I-2 frontage road between Westgate Drive and FM 88 was closed, as covered in KRGV's report on the disaster declarations. Roads and conditions can still be dangerous, so do not rush the trip home.
2. Document everything BEFORE you clean up
This is the step homeowners most often skip, and it is the one that protects you. Insurance adjusters need to see the damage as it happened, not after you have hauled debris to the curb.
- Take wide photos and short videos of every room, the attic, and the exterior, including the roof from the ground.
- Capture close-ups of water stains, lifted shingles, soaked insulation, and any standing water.
- Make sure your photos are dated. Most phones stamp the date automatically, but double-check.
- Write a simple list of damaged items and rough dates of when you noticed each problem.
Do this before you move anything. The fire chief had warned residents in low-lying areas to evacuate ahead of a forecast of 10-plus inches of rain and three to four feet of water, as reported in KRGV's coverage of the evacuation warning. A storm that serious leaves real damage, and your photos are the proof.
3. Spot roof flood and storm damage
Floodwater is only part of the story. The same storm system that dropped the rain brought wind, and wind is what lifts shingles. Here is what to look for.
- Wind-blown or lifted shingles: Curled, cracked, or missing shingles, or shingles that no longer lie flat. Check the ground for granules and shingle pieces.
- Saturated or soft decking: From inside the attic, press on the underside of the roof deck. If it feels soft, spongy, or springy, the wood is soaked.
- Ceiling stains: Brown rings or yellow patches on ceilings and upper walls mean water has already gotten through.
- Attic moisture: Look for damp insulation, beads of water on rafters, or a musty smell. A flashlight on a dry day shows daylight where it should not be.
- Mold risk: Mold can start growing within 24 to 72 hours of water intrusion. Moving fast on a wet attic or ceiling is not just about the roof, it is about your family's health.
- Ponding on low-slope roofs: On flat or low-slope sections, standing water that has not drained is a warning sign the system needs attention.
If you find any of these, that is your cue to get a professional eye on it. A free Weslaco roof repair inspection will tell you whether the damage is cosmetic or structural.
4. Stop further water with an emergency tarp
If you find an active leak or an opening, the goal is simple: stop more water from getting in until a permanent repair can be made. A properly secured tarp buys you time and prevents the damage from spreading deeper into the decking, insulation, and ceilings.
This is not a job to attempt on a wet, steep, or damaged roof. If it is not safe, do not climb. Baccaro Roofing handles emergency roof repair and can tarp a damaged roof quickly so the inside of your home stops taking on water.
5. File the claim right and meet the adjuster
With Governor Greg Abbott including all four RGV counties in a disaster declaration, many Weslaco homeowners will be filing claims at once. Do it the right way and you protect yourself.
- Call your insurer and open the claim in your own name. The claim stays in the homeowner's name, start to finish.
- Hand over your dated photos and your damage list.
- When the adjuster comes out, have a roofer on-site with you. Baccaro provides a free, no-obligation assessment with full photo documentation and meets the adjuster on-site so nothing gets missed.
That on-site presence matters. An adjuster moving fast through a disaster zone can overlook real damage, and having someone there who knows roofs keeps the assessment honest and complete. Learn more about how we support a storm damage repair claim, or start with our insurance claim guidance.
6. Avoid out-of-town storm-chaser scams
After every declared disaster, out-of-town crews flood into the Valley chasing quick money. They knock on doors, pressure you to sign on the spot, demand large deposits, and are gone before the next storm, leaving you with no warranty and no one to call.
Protect yourself:
- Be wary of anyone who showed up uninvited right after the storm.
- Never pay a large deposit up front to a crew you cannot verify.
- Do not sign anything under pressure. A real roofer will give you time.
- Hire local, owner-operated, and reachable. If you can drive to their address, that means something.
Baccaro Roofing is owner-operated by Ronnie Baccaro, based right here at 4305 N 10th St in McAllen. We are not going anywhere after the storm. If you also have a home or family in the area needing McAllen roof repair, we cover that too.
Get a free Baccaro inspection
If you evacuated from Weslaco and are back home now, let us take the worry off your roof. Baccaro Roofing is owner-operated by Ronnie Baccaro, with 5-plus years of work, more than 500 RGV projects completed, and a 5.0-star rating across 20 Google reviews. We install GAF, Owens Corning, and CertainTeed product lines.
Inspections are always free and no-obligation. Call (956) 600-0501 and we will get out to your home, document the damage, and tell you straight what your roof needs.
Frequently asked questions
How soon after the flood should I get my roof inspected?
As soon as it is safe to be on the property. Mold can begin within 24 to 72 hours of water getting in, and a fast inspection means damage gets caught before it spreads. The inspection is free, so there is no reason to wait.
Will my insurance cover flood and storm roof damage?
Coverage depends on your policy and the cause of the damage, which is why documentation matters so much. Baccaro provides a free assessment with dated photos and meets your adjuster on-site, and the claim stays entirely in your name.
A roofer knocked on my door right after the storm. Should I sign?
Not under pressure. Out-of-town storm chasers move fast and disappear. Take the time to verify who you are dealing with, and choose a local, owner-operated roofer you can find at a real address.
Do I have to pay for the inspection?
No. Every Baccaro inspection is free and no-obligation, whether or not you end up filing a claim or doing the repair with us.