Flooded Basement: Who Do You Call First?
Safety first: if water could be touching outlets, cords, or appliances, stay out, and cut power only if the breaker panel is dry and safe to reach. Stop the water source if you can. Then call a local water mitigation crew to remove the water and start drying, and notify your insurer. Document everything as you go.
The First Hour, Step by Step
The order matters. A plumber can fix a broken pipe, but a plumber doesn’t pump out the water or dry the structure. That is water mitigation work, and the sooner it starts, the less of your basement the water claims.
Stay out of the water
Standing water can carry current from outlets, extension cords, or appliances. Don’t wade in. If the breaker panel is dry and you can reach it safely, shut off power to the basement. If you can’t, wait for help.
Stop the water if you can
For a burst pipe or a failed water heater, close the main shutoff valve. If the water is coming from outside, from a storm or a backed-up drain, there may be nothing to shut off. Skip this step and move on.
Call a water mitigation crew
This is the call that changes the outcome, because drywall, framing, and flooring keep soaking the longer water sits. Our emergency line answers 24/7, and we are minutes away, not hours.
Notify your insurer
Report the loss and ask what your policy asks of you. Which kinds of water damage are covered comes down to your policy language. If you want a hand, we walk homeowners through the claim, help make the insurance calls, and document the damage for the adjuster.
Document everything
Take photos and video before anything is moved, and keep receipts for anything you buy to limit the damage. Don’t throw out ruined items until they are photographed. Good documentation makes every later conversation easier.