Stay away from standing water near electrical equipment, visibly damaged ceilings or structures, sewage-contaminated water, gas odors or active fire hazards.
If the situation is safe enough to approach, work in a simple order: protect people, control the source when possible, create a record, then move toward extraction and drying.
Protect people and pets
Move everyone away from wet areas with electrical, structural or contamination concerns.
Stop the source only if it is safe
Use a known, safely reachable shutoff for a clean-water leak. Do not enter water or reach across electrical hazards to do it.
Keep wet areas electrically isolated
Do not use appliances, extension cords or household equipment in standing water or saturated areas.
Photograph what you can see
Capture the source, affected rooms, floors, walls, ceilings and damaged belongings from safe positions before major cleanup changes the scene.
Move toward extraction and drying
Visible water can be removed, but moisture often remains inside flooring systems, drywall, insulation, cabinets and framing.
- Water has reached multiple rooms or hidden cavities.
- Sewage or outdoor floodwater is involved.
- Ceilings, walls or flooring appear unstable.
- Insulation, subflooring or wall cavities are saturated.
- You cannot safely identify or control the source.
Has the source stopped?
Continue with the full first-step recovery checklist.