The first hour after a basement floods is about safety, not salvage. This guide puts the steps in order, starting with electricity and contaminated water.
A flooded basement can hide three hazards at once: live electricity, contaminated water and structural stress. Do not wade into standing water if anything electrical is in it or near it. If the water level reaches outlets, the furnace, the water heater or the electrical panel, do not go in. Call the electric utility or a licensed electrician to shut off and inspect power.
If you can reach the main breaker without stepping through water and standing on a dry surface, shutting off power is reasonable. If you cannot do that safely, leave it and make the call. Health agency guidance also says to shut off gas before returning to a flooded building, to use battery-powered flashlights instead of candles and to avoid downed power lines, especially those in water. If you smell gas, leave right away and notify the gas company or fire department without turning anything on. In an emergency, call 911.
Clean water from a failed supply line is one situation. Water that came up through a floor drain, in from a sewer line or across the yard from a storm is another. Sewage and floodwater can carry bacteria and chemicals, and they change what you can safely keep and clean yourself. If you see or smell sewage, treat the water as contaminated and read our sewage backup cleanup safety guide.
Professionals sort water into categories from clean to grossly contaminated. Our categories and classes guide explains the system. For now, the working rule is simple: when in doubt about the source, assume the water is not clean.
Keep children, pets, pregnant people and anyone with breathing problems or a weakened immune system out of the area. If you have to be in the basement, wear waterproof boots and gloves, and use a fitted respirator if sewage or mold is involved. Never run a gasoline generator, pump or pressure washer inside the house or garage, because carbon monoxide can build up quickly.
Then make calls. Contact your insurance company early to ask what your policy covers, since flood coverage is often separate from standard homeowners coverage and rules vary by state and by policy. Ask before you pay for cleanup what the insurer will reimburse. If water came from a sewer backup, call the utility or a plumber about the line. If the loss is large, contaminated or structural, a licensed restoration company may be the right call.
Take photos and video of the water line, the damage and the belongings before cleanup starts, if it is safe to do so. Keep samples of flooring or materials you must throw out, and do not discard damaged items before your adjuster has seen them unless they are a health hazard or local law requires it. Our insurance documentation guide has a full checklist.
If the water came from rising groundwater after a storm, do not pump it all out at once. Soil outside can still be soaked, and rapid drainage can leave the walls with more pressure on the outside than the inside. FEMA guidance advises waiting until floodwater no longer covers the ground outside, pumping out about a foot, marking the level and waiting overnight. If the water rises back to the mark, wait longer. Once it holds, remove another few feet and repeat daily until the basement is empty.
The Red Cross describes the same idea as pumping gradually, about a third of the water per day. If you are not sure whether the groundwater outside has dropped, call your local emergency management office or a professional before pumping. A rental pump does the work, but the timing is yours to manage.
Once the water is out, wet materials need attention fast. Drywall and insulation that touched floodwater generally has to be removed. Carpet and padding soaked by contaminated water usually cannot be saved, and upholstered furniture that cannot be dried promptly may be lost. Hard surfaces can usually be cleaned and dried. EPA moisture guidance aims to dry wet materials within 24 to 48 hours to head off mold, so work quickly and read our guide on mold after water damage.
Drying a basement takes more than opening windows. Commercial dehumidifiers and air movers are the standard tools, and the process is explained in how to dry out a flooded room. Do not run fans in a space with sewage or floodwater contamination until the water is determined to be clean.
Do not put electrical equipment back in service until it has dried and been checked. Appliances that were underwater, including furnaces, water heaters and washers, should be inspected by a qualified professional before use. Replace drywall and carpet only after everything is fully dry, which health agencies note can take weeks or months in a severe case.
Most regrets after a basement flood come from rushing in the wrong order. People go downstairs before power is off, start cleanup before photographing the damage, run a fan through sewage-contaminated air or empty the basement faster than the ground outside can handle. Each of those mistakes is avoidable if you follow the sequence of safety, documentation, controlled water removal and drying.
Another frequent mistake is trusting the surface. Carpet that feels dry on top may still hold water in the padding, and a wall that looks fine can be soaked inside. If the flood was significant, do not close up walls, lay new flooring or move belongings back until moisture readings confirm the structure is dry.
Some basement floods are manageable for a prepared homeowner: a small amount of clean water, no electrical hazard, no structural concern. In those cases renting a pump, air movers and a dehumidifier can be reasonable. Larger floods, sewage or floodwater, possible electrical damage or any job where you are unsure what is wet are better handled by licensed professionals, and many insurers have guidance on who to call.
If you do rent, treat the equipment as part of a plan: remove water, remove what cannot be dried, move air, remove moisture and verify. Send a request through our pump rental page or the home page form and describe the job honestly. We will tell you what fits and what does not.
When the immediate crisis passes, write down what happened while it is fresh: when you noticed the water, where it came from, how deep it got and what you did in what order. That one page helps the insurer, the contractor and you.
Power should be off to any flooded area, but only if you can do so without standing in water. If you cannot reach the panel safely, call the utility or a licensed electrician. Never touch electrical equipment while standing in water.
EPA guidance aims for drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours because mold generally will not grow if you do. Contaminated water and materials that stay wet for longer need removal rather than drying.
Take photos and videos first and ask your insurer what to do. Protect property from further damage, keep receipts and avoid discarding damaged items until the adjuster has seen them, unless they are a health hazard.
Hire one when the water is sewage or floodwater, when electrical or structural damage is possible, when large areas are wet or when you are unsure. State licensing rules vary, so confirm credentials in your area.
Tell us what is wet and what you need, and we will reply with availability and terms.