AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – We’re seeing rain for the first time in over a month, adding more concern for those still dealing with structural damage after Hurricane Helene.

Local roofing companies are challenged to keep up with the demand for roofing needs.

For the past month, people have only been worried about what lies before them on the ground of debris. But after the last two days, the battle is spilling onto their roofs.

Roofing companies say the urgency for repairs increases with more weather in the future and only limited resources to fix it.

Tarp is becoming the new roof style for hundreds of people.

Augusta resident Susan Wyatt says the heavy rain was the first real test for her roof after Helene. It’s a failed test.

“This morning I had the mop and everything. You put a bucket in, it can still drip and drip and everything has changed the color of the ceiling again,” Wyatt said.

Wyatt says she’s not alone.

“Everyone is trying to find their roofs and rebuild their houses. And a friend up there had some really bad damage to the back of their house,” Wyatt said.

Contractors say their workload was already overwhelming after the storm, but now it’s on another level.

“Now homeowners are dealing with water pouring into their homes, you know. So it’s a lot more demanding as far as what needs to be done,” said Daniel Williams, general manager of Best Choice Roofing in Augusta.

Roofing companies like Brighter Side Roofing and Best Choice Roofing say they’ve gone from 15-20 jobs a month to now dealing with hundreds.

But they say the biggest challenge is not having enough manpower to complete in-person estimates, slowing down the scheduling process.

Samuel Leverette, owner of Brighter Side Roofing, said, “A roofing company, we can come and give you estimates. But often our estimate may not match what the insurance company will do. So we go in, we get in touch with your insurance company, we go ahead and see exactly what they will and won’t cover and see what the price is, what the cost is going to be.”

Meanwhile, Wyatt and her neighbors are hopeful, so they have one less thing to worry about after the storm.

“I know the Lord will take care of it,” she said.

Roofing companies I spoke with say the average wait time for a roof replacement is six to eight weeks, and the tarp can be done in a matter of days.

They ask for patience and to simplify the process by first going through the insurance company to find out what and how much they will cover with an adjuster’s summary report.

They say roof replacement costs can range from $8,000 to $14,000.

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