Water Damage: Immediate Safety and Damage Control

Minute 0–5: safety gate

Before touching anything wet, answer three questions. Is water anywhere near outlets, appliances, or the electrical panel? Kill power to those areas at the breaker — if reaching the panel means walking through water, don't; call an electrician or the utility. Is the water clean (supply line), gray (appliance discharge), or black (sewage/flood)? Gray and black water mean gloves and boots minimum, and kids and pets stay out. Is the ceiling sagging? Stay out from under it.

Minute 5–15: stop the source

Supply leak: close the fixture valve, or the main if you can't isolate it (usually where the line enters the house, or at the meter). Water heater: close its cold-inlet valve and turn off gas/power to the unit. Roof or window intrusion: contain with buckets and tarps. Sewage backup: stop using all drains and toilets immediately.

Minute 15–60: damage control and documentation

• Move furniture, rugs, and electronics out of the water path; foil or blocks under furniture legs that can't move.
• Extract what you can — wet/dry vac for small areas; anything larger than a room needs professional extraction.
• Photograph and video everything before and during cleanup: standing water depth, waterlines, damaged items with serial numbers.
• Call your insurer to open the claim, then get professional drying started — the mold clock runs 24–48 hours regardless of your claim's pace.

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