Hour 0: Don't rush back in
Wait for officials to declare it safe. Floodwater leaves behind live electrical hazards, gas leaks, sewage contamination, and structurally weakened floors and foundations. When you do enter: wear waterproof boots, rubber gloves, and an N95 mask. Turn off the main breaker before touching anything wet — if the panel is wet or in standing water, call an electrician first. Sniff for gas; if you smell it, leave and call the utility.
Hour 1: Document before you touch
This is the most valuable hour of your recovery. Before moving a single item, photograph and video everything: waterlines on walls (with a tape measure in frame), damaged rooms from multiple angles, ruined furniture, appliances, and personal property. Open closets and drawers. Photograph the exterior, the yard, and any debris lines showing how high the water got. If you shot a pre-flood video (we told you to), the before/after pair is claim gold. Upload everything to the cloud now.
Day 1: Start the claim
Call your flood insurer immediately — don't wait until cleanup is done. For NFIP policies, you generally have 60 days to file a Proof of Loss, but starting early gets an adjuster assigned faster and may unlock advance payments. Keep a claim diary: every call, every name, every reference number. See our full walkthrough: what to do if you experience a loss.
Days 1–2: Get the water and mud out
Pump out standing water gradually — no more than a third of the volume per day. Draining too fast can collapse basement walls from outside pressure. Shovel out mud, then hose down hard surfaces. Remove soaked carpet, padding, drywall (cut at least 12–18 inches above the waterline), insulation, and upholstered furniture — they won't dry, they'll mold. Keep samples of carpet and flooring for the adjuster, and don't throw anything away until the adjuster has seen it (or you've photographed it thoroughly and your insurer agrees).
Days 2–7: Dry it like you mean it
Mold starts in 24–48 hours. Open windows, run fans and dehumidifiers nonstop, and pull moisture readings if you can borrow a meter. Disinfect hard surfaces with a bleach solution (1 cup per gallon of water) — never mix bleach with ammonia. Wash every garment and textile that touched floodwater in hot water. Anything that stayed wet for days and can't be fully dried goes.
Week 2+: Rebuild smarter
Before you rebuild, ask what the flood taught you. Elevate utilities (furnace, water heater, electrical panel) above the base flood elevation. Use flood-resistant materials below the waterline: closed-cell insulation, tile instead of carpet, pressure-treated lumber. If your community participates in the NFIP, substantial-damage rules may require you to bring the structure up to current code — your adjuster and local floodplain office can confirm. Every mitigation step can lower your future premium.
Watch your health
Floodwater carries sewage, chemicals, and bacteria. Treat every cut immediately, wash hands constantly, and don't let kids play in flood debris. If you develop fever, vomiting, or a wound that won't heal after flood exposure, see a doctor and mention the exposure. Throw out any food that touched floodwater — including canned goods with dented or swollen seams. When in doubt, throw it out.
The paperwork that pays
- Pre- and post-flood photos/video, uploaded offsite
- Claim number, adjuster name, every call logged
- Receipts for every emergency expense (hotels, pumps, cleanup crews)
- Contractor estimates — get at least two, in writing
- Proof of Loss filed within your policy's deadline