What to Do in the First Hours After a Flood or Water Leak

Finding water where it shouldn't be is stressful. A burst pipe, an overflowing toilet, a leaking water heater or rising water after a storm can turn a normal day upside down. The good news is that a few calm, simple steps in the first hours can protect your family and limit the damage.

Make sure everyone is safe

Water and electricity are a dangerous mix. If water is near outlets, power cords, appliances or your electrical panel, stay out of that area. Don't touch anything electrical while you are standing in water. If you can reach your breaker panel safely from a dry spot, you can switch off power to the wet rooms. If you can't, call your power company or an electrician.

Leave the home and call for help if you notice any of these:

• A ceiling that is sagging or dripping heavily
• The smell of gas
• Water that is rising quickly
• Cracks or shifting in walls or floors

After a hurricane or flood, wait until local officials say it is safe to go back in.

Stop the water if you can

For a leak inside the home, find your main water shut-off valve and close it. In many South Florida homes it is near the water heater, in a utility closet or outside near the meter. If the water is coming from one fixture, such as a toilet or washing machine, the small valve behind it may be enough.

Know what kind of water you are dealing with

Not all water is the same. Water from a clean supply line is less of a worry than water from a drain, a toilet or an outdoor flood. Floodwater and sewage can carry germs, chemicals and debris. If that is what came into your home, keep children and pets away, wear gloves and boots, and avoid touching the water with bare skin. Throw out any food that came into contact with it.

Take photos before you clean up

Before you move furniture or pull up wet rugs, take photos and short videos of every affected room. Capture the source of the water, the height it reached and any damaged belongings. Keep receipts for anything you buy to deal with the damage.

Protect your belongings

Once it is safe, move what you can out of the water:

• Lift furniture onto blocks or move it to a dry room
• Pick up rugs, shoes, books and papers from the floor
• Unplug and move small electronics that stayed dry
• Take photos, documents and keepsakes to a safe, dry place

Don't use a regular household vacuum to suck up water. It isn't built for that and can be a shock hazard.

Start airing things out, carefully

If the water was clean and the area is safe, open interior doors and run your air conditioning to help lower humidity. Fans can help with small spills. Keep in mind that water often spreads further than it looks. It can soak into drywall, slip under flooring and travel behind cabinets, where it stays hidden. As general guidance, wet building materials can start to grow mold surprisingly quickly in warm, humid weather like ours, so it is wise not to wait long before getting a proper check. You can read more about why this matters in our frequently asked questions.

Call your insurance company

Let your insurer know what happened as early as you can. Coverage depends on your policy and the cause of the water, so your agent is the best person to explain the details.

Get the moisture measured

Even when the floor looks dry, the walls and subfloor may still be wet inside. A water damage professional can use moisture meters to find where the water went and plan the drying. You can learn more about how we handle water damage dry-outs.

If you'd like a professional to take a look, you can call iDry SoFlo at 305-833-8629.