What to Do Right After Flooding Starts – Quick Homeowner Checklist

When flooding hits your home, panic can set in fast. Water rises, belongings get soaked, and every second feels like chaos. But staying calm and knowing exactly what to do in those first moments can make all the difference between minor damage and a major disaster.

This post gives you a simple, step-by-step checklist to follow the moment flooding starts — keeping you safe, minimizing damage, and setting you up for a smoother recovery.

Step 1. Prioritize Safety First

Before doing anything else, make sure you and your family are safe.

• ⚡ Turn off electricity at the breaker if it’s safe to do so. Never walk through standing water with power still on.

• 🧯 Avoid contaminated water — floods often carry sewage, chemicals, or debris.

• 🏠 Evacuate if necessary. If water levels are rising fast, leave immediately and move to higher ground.

Safety always comes before property.

Step 2. Stop the Source (If You Can)

If the flooding is coming from inside your home (like a burst pipe, broken appliance, or overflowing toilet), find and shut off the main water valve as soon as possible.

If it’s an external source like heavy rain or a storm, do what you can to block further water entry using towels, sandbags, or barriers.

Step 3. Document Everything

Before cleanup starts, take photos and videos of all visible damage — floors, walls, furniture, and valuables.

This helps with:

• Insurance claims

• Restoration company assessments

• Proof of damage for repairs or replacements

Tip: Try to capture both close-up and wide shots so you have a complete record.

Step 4. Call a Professional Restoration Company

Flood water spreads quickly and seeps into places you can’t see — behind walls, under floors, inside insulation. That’s why calling a 24/7 emergency restoration team right away is crucial.

A professional company like Super Dry: Water Damage Heroes will:

• Arrive fast to start extraction and drying

• Prevent mold and structural damage

• Help with insurance communication and documentation

📞 Call (737) 825-6920 immediately for emergency service in Austin, TX and surrounding areas.

Step 5. Protect What You Can (Safely)

While waiting for help to arrive:

• Move furniture, electronics, and valuables to dry areas if possible.

• Remove rugs or items that can trap moisture.

• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks under furniture legs to prevent staining or swelling.

• Keep wet fabrics separate to avoid color transfer and mildew.

⚠️ Don’t start tearing out walls or flooring — that can make things worse before professionals assess the damage.

Step 6. Avoid DIY Drying

Fans and open windows won’t cut it after serious flooding. Hidden moisture can stay trapped deep inside materials, leading to mold growth within 24–48 hours.

Professional-grade drying and dehumidification are essential to truly restore your space safely.

Step 7. Contact Your Insurance Company

Once everyone is safe and the restoration team is on the way, notify your insurance provider about the incident.

Provide your documentation and ask what coverage you have for flood or water damage. Super Dry’s team can help walk you through this process to make it easier and faster.

Final Thoughts

Flooding can happen in an instant, but the right response can protect your home and your health. Remember this quick checklist:

1. Stay safe

2. Stop the source

3. Document everything

4. Call professionals immediately

5. Protect what you can

6. Avoid DIY drying

7. Contact your insurance

Don’t wait for the water to “go down.” The longer it sits, the more it destroys.

📞 Call Super Dry: Water Damage Heroes now at (737) 825-6920 for 24/7 emergency flood cleanup and water damage restoration.

 Serving homeowners across Austin, Round Rock, and Taylor, TX — because when disaster strikes, every minute matters.