What to Do After Water Damage: The First 24 Hours
A step-by-step checklist for the first hour, the first day and the days after, so you protect your family, your home and your insurance claim.
Updated November 12, 2026 · By the Water Restoration Raleigh team
In the first 24 hours after water damage: make the area safe, stop the water, document everything with photos, move belongings out of the water, call your insurer, and start professional extraction and drying. Mold can begin growing on damp materials within about 24 to 48 hours, so drying should start the same day.
In the first hour
- Make it safe. Stay out of water that is in contact with outlets, cords or appliances. If you can reach the breaker panel without standing in water, turn off power to the wet area.
- Stop the water. Close the main shut-off valve or the valve at the fixture. For a water heater, also shut off its power or gas.
- Watch the ceiling. If a ceiling is bulging or sagging, keep everyone out from under it.
- Protect people and pets from contaminated water, especially sewage.
In the first few hours
- Document everything. Take wide photos of each room, close-ups of damage, the source of the water and the water line on walls.
- Move what you can. Electronics, documents, rugs, photos and small furniture go to a dry room. Put foil or wood blocks under furniture legs.
- Remove standing water on hard floors with towels or a wet vac, only if it is clean water and safe to do.
- Call your insurance company to open a claim and write down the claim number.
- Call a plumber or roofer to fix the source if needed.
The same day
- Get professional drying started. A restoration contractor maps moisture, extracts water and sets drying equipment.
- Keep receipts for anything you pay for, including emergency services and a hotel stay.
- Don't throw out damaged items until your insurer says it is OK, or until they are well documented.
Days 2 to 5
- Ask for daily moisture readings. They show progress and support your claim.
- Keep the equipment running. Turning off dehumidifiers to save power or reduce noise slows drying.
- Watch for musty odors or new stains, and tell the contractor.
- Get a written scope for repairs once materials are dry.
What not to do
- Don't use a household vacuum on water.
- Don't turn on ceiling fans or lights in wet ceilings.
- Don't use heat alone to dry. Heat without dehumidification can push moisture into other areas.
- Don't touch sewage or let children and pets near it.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have before mold grows?
Mold can start growing on damp materials within about 24 to 48 hours under the right conditions. That is why drying should start the same day.
Should I call my insurance company or a contractor first?
Stop the water and make the home safe first. Then call your insurer to open a claim. You can call a restoration contractor at the same time to start emergency drying.
Can I stay in my home during drying?
Often yes, if the home is safe and the damage is limited. Sewage, large losses or fire damage may make staying unsafe. Ask the contractor and your insurer.
Related help
Water in your home right now?
Stop the water, stay away from wet electrical areas, and take photos. Our first-steps checklist walks you through the next hour.