If your house is flooded, what to do first
Keep people clear of standing water and possible electrical hazards, and call from a safe location. Don't step into water to reach a breaker, unplug equipment, or retrieve a phone. CDC guidance allows shutting off main power only from a dry location; an electrician should handle an inaccessible or wet electrical system.
If you smell gas, leave the building and contact emergency services from outside. Keep children and pets away from affected rooms. A restoration call doesn't require entering the damage or completing a checklist first.
Stop the source without entering danger
Shut off the indoor water supply if the valve is safely accessible, and avoid forcing a stuck handle. For guidance on what to do if water pipe bursts soak a room, call while the leak is happening. Describe the location and any water you can see without approaching unsafe areas.
A fixed pipe can seem like the end of the job. Wet building materials still need assessment and drying after the supply stops. A plumber addresses damaged plumbing; restoration work addresses the water that escaped. Don't climb onto a wet roof or open a wall to hunt for the source yourself.
Protect belongings and record the damage
Move small valuables into a dry, safely accessible space, and photograph damage without putting yourself at risk. In a flooded house, what to do with belongings depends on access and contamination, so leave heavy furniture and anything surrounded by water for assessment.
When deciding what to do when flooded, house occupants should put safe access ahead of retrieving possessions. From a dry doorway, photographs can show the affected room, wet surfaces, and damaged belongings. Note when you discovered the problem and what you observed during the call. Keep receipts and request a written scope and moisture readings for insurance documentation.
What to do about ceiling water damage
Keep everyone out from beneath a sagging or bulging ceiling, and report the condition when you call. Water can weigh down ceiling materials; don't poke the bulge, climb above it, or walk on the weakened surface. Photograph from a safe distance only.
Avoid cleanup that spreads contamination
Leave sewage extraction to technicians using a contamination-specific cleanup plan. Don't use a household shop vacuum on sewage or aim fans across contaminated materials. EPA guidance calls for cleaning affected surfaces and drying the building completely.
Use this short checklist while arranging help:
- Leave HVAC off if water has affected the equipment or ducts; report the exposure during the call.
- Don't run HVAC across sewage-contaminated or visibly moldy materials.
- Don't mix bleach with other cleaning products.
- Leave wall cavities and wet finishes open for assessment rather than painting or sealing over them.
Call about the damage now
Call now and explain whether water is still entering, which rooms are affected, and whether access looks unsafe. One of our local restoration partners will take the next steps with you. You don't need to identify every soaked layer or move belongings before calling. The emergency water removal service covers extraction, while the drying assessment identifies moisture remaining in materials.