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What to do in the first 24 hours after water damage

These steps are for homeowners who are still dealing with water in the house. They are general safety and documentation advice, not a restoration plan and not a promise that someone from this site will arrive today.

If the situation is dangerous, start there. Leave the house and contact emergency services if you cannot reach a water or electrical shutoff safely, if you smell gas, if the ceiling is sagging, or if someone is injured. MoCo Water Damage is not an emergency dispatcher and does not provide a guaranteed response time.

1. Stop the water if you can do it safely

If a pipe, supply line, water heater, or appliance is still running, shut off the water at the fixture or at the main shutoff if you know where it is. The Texas Department of Insurance, writing after Winter Storm Uri, has reminded homeowners to learn where the outdoor shutoff is before a freeze, usually in an underground space near the street.

If water may be in contact with outlets, switches, or appliances, do not step into it to reach a breaker. Cut power only if you can do that from a dry location. When in doubt, wait for the fire department or a licensed electrician.

2. Protect people and belongings, then take pictures

Move people and pets out of the wet area. If you can do so safely, move furniture, rugs, and electronics off the wet floor. TDI has said that an insurer may deny a claim if you do not take reasonable steps to protect the property after a leak.

Photograph and, if you can, video the rooms before you throw anything away or make more than temporary repairs. TDI’s disaster-claims FAQ says it is generally acceptable to make temporary repairs, that you should photograph the damage first, and that you should not make permanent repairs until you have talked to your insurance company.

3. Start drying, because the first one or two days matter

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s mold guide says that if wet or damp materials or areas are dried within 24 to 48 hours after a leak or spill, mold will not grow in most cases. That is the reason this page exists. It is not a claim that mold always starts at hour 24, and it is not a guarantee about your house.

If the water is a clean, sudden indoor leak and the area is small, homeowners sometimes start with towels, a wet vacuum (not a household vacuum), and moving air. If the water may be contaminated, if it came from a sewer or a flood, or if it has already soaked a large area, it is safer to wait for a professional and to limit contact. Do not use a regular household vacuum on standing water.

Local photo coming soon

A photo you take, with permission, of a localized indoor leak being documented: a wet floor, a water line on a wall, or the shutoff valve, in a Montgomery County, Texas home. No children in the frame.

Documentation photos from a real local house will help this guide more than a staged stock image.

4. Call your insurer, then decide whether you want a contractor visit

If you have a homeowners, renters, or flood policy that might apply, call the company or your agent and ask what they need from you. Coverage depends on where the water came from. Sudden plumbing failures are often treated differently from rising floodwater or from a leak that went on for weeks. Our insurance page explains that distinction with Texas Department of Insurance citations. It is not a coverage decision about your policy.

If you want an on-site assessment, you can request a visit through this site. We forward complete requests to an independent partner contractor. We do not extract the water ourselves. Phone: (XXX) XXX-XXXX Phone number coming soon. Calls may be recorded.

What not to do in the first day

  • Do not assume a standard homeowners policy will pay for floodwater. In Texas, flood coverage is a separate policy.
  • Do not throw out damaged items before you photograph them, if you may file a claim.
  • Do not treat a sewage backup or river flood as if it were a clean spilled glass of water.
  • Do not expect this website to send a crew in a set number of minutes. We do not advertise a 24-hour arrival time.

Sources cited on this page

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