What to do in the first hours after water or sewage gets in
Safety steps before the restoration company arrives, from the power and downed lines to children, pets and the heating system, each from CDC, Ready.gov or EPA guidance.
On this page: 6 sections
Water and sewage in a home bring hazards of their own, from electricity to contamination. These are the steps federal safety guidance gives for the time before a restoration company arrives. Each one links the page it comes from.
If you smell gas or there's a fire
Leave the building and call 911.1-2 Don't wait for a restoration company, and don't use a quote form for an emergency.
The power
If water is near outlets or the electrical panel, turn off the power at the main breaker only if you can reach it from a dry spot. If you'd have to stand in water to reach it, call an electrician to turn it off. Never touch a switch, or use an electric tool or appliance, while standing in water.1, 3
Downed power lines
Children and pets
Keep children and pets out of the area until it's been cleaned.1
The heating and air conditioning
If you know or suspect the heating or air conditioning system has mold in it, don't run it, since it could spread mold through the building.6
Then call a restoration company
When the home is safe to be in, call a restoration company to take out the water and dry the area. What water damage cleanup costs has the published price ranges, and How to check a restoration or mold company's license links each state's license lookup.
Each company on this site is listed with its phone number where it has one, so you can call the ones near you directly.
Safety guidance from the CDC, Ready.gov and the EPA, checked October 2026.
Tell us what's happening
One request instead of calling restoration companies one at a time. It's free.