What to Do First After Discovering a Flooded Basement

Finding water in the basement is one of those moments when it's hard to think straight. The good news is that the right order of steps is simple, and following it protects you first and the house second. This guide walks through what to do in the first minutes, the first hours and the first two days after discovering a flooded basement, with the Kennesaw specifics that matter. For an overview of every kind of water loss, see our guide to water damage restoration in Kennesaw, GA.

Step 1: Don't step in until the power is safe

Basements hold furnaces, water heaters, washers, dryers, outlets and often the main electrical panel. The CDC's advice is never to turn power on or off, or use an electric tool or appliance, while standing in water. If you can reach the main breaker from a dry spot, shut it off. If you'd have to wade to reach it, call an electrician or the power company and wait. If you smell gas, leave the house and call the gas company or 911 from outside.

Step 2: Find out where the water is coming from

The source decides almost everything that follows: the cleanup method, whether the water is safe to touch and how insurance treats it.

• A plumbing leak from a water heater, washing machine hose or supply line. Shut off the main water valve or the appliance's valve.
• A sump pump failure, often during a storm or power outage. Check whether the pump is running and the discharge line is clear.
• A floor drain backing up, which may be sewage. Stop using water in the house and see sewage backup cleanup.
• Rain or groundwater coming through walls, windows or the floor. That's treated as floodwater, which changes the insurance picture.

Step 3: Photograph everything before you move anything

Take wide shots of each area and close-ups of the water line on walls, damaged flooring, furniture, appliances and stored belongings. Video works too. Georgia's insurance commissioner's office advises writing down and photographing all damage and saving every receipt. You'll want this before a single box is carried upstairs.

Step 4: Protect what you can, safely

Once the power is off and the water isn't contaminated, move valuables, papers and electronics to a dry floor. Prop up furniture legs on blocks or foil to keep them out of the water. Don't run household vacuums or fans plugged into basement outlets. If the water came from outside or a drain, wear rubber boots, rubber gloves and goggles, as the CDC advises for contaminated water, or leave it to the professionals.

Step 5: Call your insurer and a water removal contractor

Notify your insurance company right away and ask what it needs from you. Then call for water removal and basement flooding cleanup. Tell the contractor how deep the water is, whether the basement is finished, whether you have a sump pump and whether the water smells like sewage.

Step 6: Don't pump a flooded basement too fast

If the basement flooded because the ground outside is saturated, flood recovery guidance from FEMA and the American Red Cross warns that pumping all the water out at once can damage walls, because soil and water pressure outside push inward. Professionals pump such basements in stages. When the water came from a plumbing leak and the soil outside isn't saturated, this is less of a concern, which is one more reason to know your source.

Step 7: Start drying within 24 to 48 hours

The EPA says water-damaged areas and items should be dried within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. In a basement that means extraction, removing wet carpet pad and insulation, cutting out the lower part of soaked drywall where needed, and running dehumidifiers and air movers while moisture readings are recorded. Industry guidelines based on the IICRC S500 standard say wet insulation generally can't be dried adequately and should be removed. See structural drying.

Step 8: Fix the cause before you rebuild

Replacing drywall and carpet without fixing the cause invites a repeat. Depending on what happened, that may mean a plumber, a new sump pump with a battery backup, downspout extensions, regrading the yard or a backwater valve on the sewer line. Cobb County says property owners are responsible for drainage that isn't formally dedicated to the county, and it takes stormwater problem reports at 770-419-6435.

A quick checklist

1. Power off from a dry spot

   Or call an electrician. Leave if you smell gas.

2. Stop the source

   Water valve, sump pump, or stop using drains.

3. Photograph and list

   Water line, flooring, contents and receipts.

4. Call insurer and contractor

   Same day, with details ready.

5. Dry within 48 hours

   Extraction, tear-out where needed, dehumidifiers.