If Your House Is Flooded, Start With Safety
When your house is flooded, the order matters: stay safe, stop the water or wait it out, document the damage, then start drying. Doing these in the right order protects you first and your property second.
The first thing to work out is where the water came from, because the next few steps depend on it. Water from inside, such as a failed pipe, water heater or appliance, is often something you can stop yourself by closing a valve. Water from outside, such as a storm or rising water, is not something you can stop; the right move is to stay out and wait for guidance from local authorities. The steps below cover both.
Get everyone out and call 911 if there is fire or smoke, sparking or buzzing electrics, a sagging or bulging ceiling, structural damage or downed power lines. If you smell gas, leave the house and call 911 or the gas utility from outside. The CDC says not to turn on lights or do anything that can cause a spark, and not to go back in until you are told it is safe. If you are not sure whether it is safe to stay, leave. Property can be repaired and replaced. People cannot. Once everyone is safe, work through the steps below in order.
Stay Out of Water Near Electricity
Water and electricity are the next hazard. The CDC advises turning off power at the main breaker or fuse if circuits or equipment are wet or near water, but only do it if you can reach the panel from a dry floor. If the panel is in the water, or the only way to it is through water, leave it alone and call your electric utility or a licensed electrician. The CDC says to call an electrician if you would have to enter standing water to reach the main power switch.
- Never touch a panel, breaker, switch, cord or plugged-in device while standing in water or on a wet floor, and never turn power on or off while standing in water (CDC).
- Never use an electric tool or appliance while standing in water (CDC; Ready.gov).
- Have a qualified electrician evaluate water-damaged electrical equipment before power is restored. The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) recommends this step.
If the Water Came From Outside, Wait Until Authorities Say It Is Safe
Ready.gov advises returning home only when authorities say it is safe, and avoiding walking or wading through floodwater. Floodwater can carry sewage and chemicals, so treat it as contaminated. If you are stuck waiting, there is still plenty you can plan, such as which rooms to photograph first and who to call.
Stop the Water If It Is Coming From Inside
The EPA advises shutting off water valves if a pipe bursts. Close the main shutoff valve if you can reach it without standing in water near outlets, cords or the electrical panel. If you cannot reach it safely, call a licensed plumber. Our guide on what to do when a pipe bursts covers the rest of that situation.
Document the Damage Before You Move or Throw Anything Out
Before you start carrying things out, record what the water did. The NAIC advises taking photos or videos, making a list of damaged and lost items, saving damaged items so the insurer can inspect them, and keeping every receipt.
- Photograph the water line on the walls.
- Photograph the source of the water if it is visible.
- Photograph damaged items before they go in the trash pile.
- Keep receipts for anything you buy to protect the property or get through the first few days.
A simple way to document the damage is to work from wide to close. Start with a wide photo or a slow video of each affected room so the whole picture is on record. Then take close-ups of the water line, of damaged walls and flooring, and of each item you may need to replace. Add a written list as you go, because it is easy to forget what was in a room once everything has been moved.
Start documenting only after everyone is safe, the power question is settled and the water is stopped (or authorities have said you can go back in). You do not need to wait for the water to be gone, as long as you can take the photos without standing in water near outlets, cords or the electrical panel. Photographs taken while the damage is fresh show your insurer what the loss actually looked like.
Call Your Insurer and Ask What They Need
The NAIC advises contacting your agent or insurance company as soon as possible, because policies have claim reporting deadlines. The NAIC also notes that homeowners and renters policies generally do not cover flood losses. Flood insurance is separate coverage, bought through FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program or sometimes from a private insurer.
Coverage depends on your policy and the cause of the loss, so we cannot tell you what yours will pay for. Read your policy, ask your insurer directly, and see our water damage insurance claim tips for what to have ready before you call. At a minimum, have your policy number, your photos and your list of damaged items in front of you when you make the call.
Start Drying Within 24 to 48 Hours
The EPA and the CDC both advise cleaning and drying the home within 24 to 48 hours if possible, to limit mold growth. In practice that means removing standing water, moving wet contents out, opening up airflow, and running dehumidifiers only where it is safe to use electricity: never plug in or switch on equipment while standing in water, and have an electrician check anything electrical that got wet first. Standing water is removed with pumps and extraction equipment, which is the work of professional water removal.
Drying is easy to underestimate. Water that is left in walls, floors and belongings keeps feeding mold and slowly damages the materials it sits in. That is why the EPA and CDC give a window measured in hours, not weeks.
A surface can look and feel dry while the material underneath is still wet. A restoration technician can measure moisture in walls and floors to confirm when materials are dry, which is more reliable than touch.
If most of the water is in the basement, our guide to what to do with a flooded basement walks through that situation step by step.
Wear Protective Gear While You Work
Floodwater can carry sewage and chemicals, so wear protection. The CDC recommends an N95 mask or better, heavy work gloves and waterproof boots. The EPA's flood cleanup guidance adds goggles.
What to Keep and What to Throw Away
The CDC says items that cannot be cleaned and dried quickly should be thrown away. Hard surfaces can usually be cleaned and dried; the list below is about soft, porous items that soak up water. Photograph them first so your insurer can see what was lost.
Usually thrown away if soaked:
- Mattresses
- Carpeting and carpet padding
- Rugs
- Upholstered furniture
- Pillows
- Foam-rubber items
- Books and paper products
- Wall coverings
- Stuffed animals and baby toys
- Cosmetics
When you sort, work in stages. Carry out the clearly ruined items first so you have room to work, set aside anything you are unsure about, and keep photographing as you go. If you are not sure whether something can be saved, do not throw it away before your insurer has had a chance to see it. The NAIC advises saving damaged items so the insurer can inspect them.
Never Run a Generator Inside
The CDC says never to use generators, pressure washers or other fuel-burning devices inside the home, basement or garage, or near an open window, door or vent. Carbon monoxide is the risk, and it cannot be seen or smelled. Keep fuel-burning equipment outdoors, well away from the house.
When a Flooded House Needs Professional Water Removal and Drying
Towels and fans are fine for a small spill. They are not enough when the job is bigger. Call a water damage professional if any of these are true:
- Standing water is in more than one room.
- Water has soaked into walls or under flooring.
- The water was floodwater or sewage. The EPA advises consulting a professional when water damage is extensive or comes from sewage or contaminated water.
- Mold covers more than about 10 square feet, which is the EPA's rule of thumb for when to bring in help.
It helps to know what a professional adds. A restoration team brings extraction equipment for standing water, equipment to dry walls and floors, and the ability to measure moisture in walls and floors to confirm when materials are dry. A technician can also look at the whole job, including places water has reached that you cannot see, and tell you what is likely to be saved and what is likely to be replaced. We cannot promise that every material can be saved, and anyone who does promise that is guessing.
Where the water came from also changes how it has to be handled. Clean water from a supply line, water from a sewer backup and floodwater from outside are not treated the same way, and our water damage restoration page explains the water categories restorers use.
If you have any doubt about how far the water went, it is better to have the answer early than to find out later.
That is where we come in. Our flood damage restoration page explains how Romexterra Restoration helps after water gets into a home. We provide 24/7 emergency restoration service. For an active emergency, call us at (312) 549-9620.
