What Should You Do Before Flood Cleanup Starts?

Make the Area Safe

Standing water near outlets, appliances, or a breaker panel can be dangerous. Do not step into that water to reach a switch. A qualified electrician or emergency service should address an electrical hazard first.

Sewage and outside floodwater may contain contaminants. Keep children and pets away. Avoid opening walls or moving soaked contents if doing so would expose a person to unsafe water or unstable materials.

If the building has been affected by a major outside flood, unstable floors or debris may create other dangers. Wait until entry is safe.

Avoid running a household vacuum over water. Ordinary electrical equipment can create a hazard in a flooded area.

• Stay clear of water near electrical equipment.
• Keep people and pets out of contaminated rooms.
• Do not walk through deep or moving water.
• Call emergency services for immediate danger.

Water Damage Services That Fit This Question

• 24 Hour Flood Cleanup

  24 Hour Flood Cleanup extracts water and dries floors after a leak, backup or storm.

• Standing Water Flood Cleanup

  Standing Water Flood Cleanup extracts water and dries floor coverings after a leak, backup or storm.

• Sewage Backup Flood Cleanup

  The crew removes contaminated water after sewage backup damage, then sanitizes hard surfaces.

Stop the Source If Possible

For a fresh supply-pipe leak, close the nearby valve or main water shutoff only when it can be reached safely. A plumber repairs the broken pipe or fitting.

A failed appliance may need its water valve closed and the unit turned off from a safe, dry location. Roof and exterior openings require the appropriate trade. Cleanup addresses the water that already entered the property.

Even after a valve is closed, water already inside walls can keep dripping into a lower room. The dry-out must address that residual water.

If water came from an upstairs room, check the ceiling below from a safe location. Sagging material may be unstable and should be left for the crew to assess.

• Locate the shutoff before entering a wet room.
• Leave pipe work to a plumber.
• Do not operate a wet appliance.
• Tell the crew whether water is still entering.

Record the Damage Without Delaying Cleanup

Take wide and close photographs from safe locations. Note when the water was discovered, where it appears to have entered, and which rooms are wet.

Move dry valuables out of the path if that can be done safely. Keep receipts for emergency steps and a list of affected belongings. Do not discard damaged material before recording it unless safety requires immediate removal.

A simple room-by-room note helps the crew find damage that is not obvious at the first doorway. Record any sound of water behind a wall.

• Photograph water depth and visible staining.
• Write down the first signs of the loss.
• Save receipts and related trade reports.
• Keep an inventory of damaged contents.

Prepare for Extraction and Drying

Let the cleanup crew know whether the water is from plumbing, an appliance, sewage, rain, or an unknown source. Mention wet carpet, basement walls, ceilings, and adjoining rooms so the technician can follow the full water path.

A crew pumps out water, checks moisture behind visible damage, removes materials that cannot dry safely, and sets drying equipment. Call Flood Cleanup Response Team at (888) 471-9821 now; mold can start growing within 24 to 48 hours on wet materials.

Once extraction begins, the crew can explain which wet materials are being dried and which need removal. Keep the resulting records together.

• Describe the water source and depth.
• Identify all rooms showing wet surfaces.
• Mention sewage or outside flooding.
• Keep access to safe affected areas clear.

More Water Damage Questions

• Does Insurance Cover Flood Cleanup?
• How Long Does Flood Cleanup Take?
• How Much Does Flood Cleanup Cost?
• What Does Flood Cleanup Include?