What To Do After Indoor Flooding

Water is spreading through your home right now. Panic wastes the minutes that matter, this checklist doesn't. Follow these eight steps in order to protect people first, limit damage second, and set up professionals for success third.

Step 1, Protect People First

Before anything else: stay out of standing water until you know it's safe. Water and electricity are a lethal combination, if water is near outlets, appliances, or your breaker panel, don't wade in.

• Turn off power to affected areas at the breaker only if the panel is dry and safely reachable.
• Keep children and pets completely away from flooded areas.
• If water may be contaminated (sewage backup, floodwater from outside), treat it as hazardous, don't touch it without protection.
• Watch for slippery floors, floating debris, and compromised flooring.

Step 2, Stop The Source (If Safe)

Every minute of active flow multiplies the damage. If you can safely reach it:

• Fixture leak: turn the valve behind the toilet, sink, or appliance.
• Pipe burst: shut the main water valve, usually near the street, in the garage, or by the water heater. Every homeowner should know where this is before an emergency.
• Appliance: unplug it (if dry) and shut its supply valves.
• Stormwater: you can't stop the storm, place towels at entry points and move valuables instead.

Step 3, Save What Matters Most

Water damage is triaged like an emergency room, irreplaceable items first:

• Electronics, laptops, and chargers, move to dry rooms immediately.
• Important documents, passports, and medications.
• Lift furniture legs onto aluminum foil, wood blocks, or plastic, wet wood stains carpet and carpet dyes stain wood.
• Roll up area rugs and move them to a dry area.

Step 4, Document Everything

Your insurance claim lives or dies on documentation. Before moving or cleaning anything significant:

• Photograph water lines on walls, every affected room, and damaged belongings.
• Video a slow walkthrough narrating what you see.
• Photograph the source if visible (burst pipe, failed hose).
• Save receipts for any emergency purchases.

Step 5, Call For Professional Extraction

This is the step most people delay, and the delay is what turns a manageable loss into a disaster. Professional extraction equipment removes water 50+ times faster than consumer wet-vacs, and technicians find the hidden moisture you'll miss.

When you call, have ready: the water source, which rooms are affected, whether water is still spreading, and whether it's clean or potentially contaminated.

Vero Beach 24/7: +1 (380) 237-1358

Step 6, Remove What You Safely Can

While waiting for professionals, only if the water is clean and shallow:

• Mop or wet-vac standing water.
• Hang wet fabrics and prop up cushions for airflow.
• Don't use your household vacuum, it's an electrocution risk and will be destroyed.
• Don't pull up carpet yourself, improper handling causes more damage.

Step 7, Start Air Moving

• Open windows if outdoor humidity allows (in Florida, AC usually beats open windows).
• Run ceiling fans and portable fans pointed at wet areas.
• Turn your AC down a few degrees, air conditioning is a dehumidifier.
• Don't turn on HVAC if ducts may be contaminated or the air handler is wet.

Step 8, Contact Your Insurance Company

Report the claim as soon as the immediate crisis is managed, most policies require prompt notification. Have your documentation ready and ask:

• What's my deductible, and does this loss exceed it?
• What documentation do you need from me and the restoration company?
• Do I need approval before authorizing demolition or material removal?

Our insurance guide walks through the full claims process.