Water damage emergency

Do things in this order: safety, source, documentation, drying. Electricity and water together are the one thing that can kill you; if the panel is in the wet area or you have to stand in water to reach it, call the utility or an electrician instead of wading in.

Treat unknown water as contaminated until proven otherwise. Sewage backups and floodwater carry pathogens, and the industry standard for restoration work — ANSI/IICRC S500 — classifies water by contamination level precisely because the safe response differs. Do not put children, pets or anyone with a compromised immune system anywhere near it.

Then document, before you move a thing. Photograph and video every room, the water line on the walls, the source, and the contents. Keep receipts for everything you spend, including fans, a hotel room, or a plumber at 2am. This is the evidence base for any claim, and it takes ten minutes.

Then dry. The EPA advises cleaning and drying wet or damp spots within 48 hours. Every hour past that raises the chance you are dealing with mold as well as water, and mold remediation is its own bill — Fixr puts it at a national average of about $3,500, typically $1,500–$9,000.

How to choose

Find your main water shutoff before you need it

Usually where the supply enters the house, near the meter, or in a basement or crawl space. Knowing where it is turns a catastrophe into an incident.

Power off, if safe

Cut circuits serving flooded areas. If reaching the panel means standing in water, don't — call the utility company.

Assume contamination

Sewage backup, toilet overflow with waste and rising floodwater are the most hazardous category under the IICRC S500 classification. Protective equipment and professional handling are not optional there.

Photograph before you touch

Wide shots per room, close shots of the source and damage, and everything you throw out. Keep every receipt.

Start drying within 48 hours

Per EPA guidance on preventing mold after water damage. Open cavities, remove soaked porous materials, run air movement and dehumidification.