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The first 48 hours after water damage

Time matters because wet materials turn into bigger problems. The order below keeps you safe first and your claim intact second.

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Tap to call. Say your ZIP code and what happened.

A thin sheet of water spread across a kitchen floor beside the cabinets

In order

Use the order, not the clock, if you have to pick between steps.

  1. Minutes 0 to 15: safety

    Close the shutoff for the source. Stay out of rooms where water reaches outlets or a ceiling is sagging. Get people and pets out of sewage water.

  2. The first hour: record and report

    Photograph every room, then call your insurer. The California Department of Insurance says you must report damage to your insurer or agent to start a claim.

  3. The first hours: protect what is left

    Lift furniture off wet floors, set foil or wood blocks under legs, and move small items to a dry room. The state says an insurer will reimburse reasonable costs to protect the property if you keep receipts.

  4. The first day: start drying

    Remove standing water. Call the number on this site to reach an independent contractor who brings pumps and drying equipment.

  5. Day two: sort the belongings

    Porous materials that stay wet longer than a day or two are likely to grow mold, according to the state health department. Decide what to keep, dry or discard.

What to keep

Keep a log of each call to your insurer, with the date, the name of the person and what was said. Keep every receipt for emergency purchases and for protective work. Do not throw out damaged items until the insurer has seen them or told you that it is fine.

Mistakes that cost time

  • Waiting for the adjuster before closing a valve.
  • Running a flooded heating or cooling system.
  • Cleaning mold off a wall that is still wet.
  • Signing a work order that you have not read.

The insurance guide, the before-you-hire guide and the mold page explain each of these in more detail.

Water in the house right now?

Call, give your ZIP code, and say what happened. You will be connected with an independent restoration contractor. Calling early gives you more choices than calling after the damage has spread.

(951) 507-1096