The first hour
- Stop the water at the fixture or the main shutoff.
- Cut power to wet rooms at the breaker, if you can reach the panel without standing in water.
- Get people and pets out of rooms with sewage, floodwater or a sagging ceiling.
- Photograph and video the source, the water and damaged belongings.
- Move what you can off wet floors: rugs, electronics, papers, furniture on blocks.
Hours 2 to 24
- Call your insurer to open a claim and write down the claim number
- Call a restoration company to start extraction and drying
- Call a plumber or roofer if the source isn't fixed yet
- Keep receipts for anything you buy, from fans to a hotel room
- Leave damaged materials in place for the adjuster unless they're a health hazard, and photograph anything you have to remove
What not to do
- Don't use a household vacuum on water or wet carpet
- Don't turn on ceiling fans or lights in a room where water came through the ceiling
- Don't sign over insurance benefits or agree to a large job before you understand the scope
- Don't paint over stains or close up walls before readings show they're dry
- Don't assume it's fine because the surface looks dry
Why the 24 to 48 hour window matters
The EPA advises drying wet building materials and furnishings within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. After that, wood swells, drywall softens, and mold can start on materials that stayed wet, especially in warm, humid weather. Getting drying equipment running inside that window is the single biggest thing you control.