The first hour decides a lot — how much gets saved, how much mold you fight later, and how well your insurance claim goes. Work this list in order.
Never wade into water that may be energized. If outlets, appliances, or your electrical panel are underwater, don't touch anything — kill power at the main only if you can reach it safely and it's dry. If the ceiling is sagging with trapped water, keep out of that room.
Burst supply line? Close the valve behind the toilet or under the sink. Water heater failure? Shut its intake valve. Storm water coming in? You can't stop the rain — skip to documentation and call for extraction.
Wide shots of every affected room, close-ups of water lines on walls, damaged belongings in place. Your future insurance claim (or dispute) lives on this evidence. Pull belongings out of standing water after you've documented them.
Mop, towels, fans on wet hard floors. Lift area rugs off wet carpet. But don't rip out baseboards or cut drywall yourself — a restoration contractor wants to see the moisture profile first, and Houston's humidity means DIY drying often just hides the moisture until mold takes over.
In Houston's humidity, wet drywall and padding inside 48 hours is where mold colonies start. This is the single biggest reason to call a licensed contractor today instead of seeing if it dries out on its own.
Water extraction, structural drying, and dehumidification need commercial equipment and moisture meters — not shop vacs. We connect you with licensed, vetted Houston contractors who respond fast. Get matched now
Sudden and accidental water damage (burst pipes, appliance failures) is usually covered; gradual leaks and external flooding typically aren't (flooding requires separate flood insurance). Document first, call your insurer second, and let the contractor's moisture report support the claim.
