Emergency Water Damage Repair: Steps to Take in 60 Minutes

Water is pouring into your home. Your heart races as you watch it spread across floors and seep into walls. Every second feels like an hour. You know this damage is getting worse but you're not sure where to start. Should you try to stop it yourself? Call someone? Move furniture? The questions pile up while the water keeps flowing.

The first 60 minutes after water damage starts determine how much of your home you can save. Quick action stops small problems from becoming major disasters. The good news is you don't need special training to take the right first steps. You just need to know what to do and in what order.

This guide walks you through exactly what to do in the critical first hour after discovering water damage. You'll learn how to stay safe, stop the water source, protect your belongings, and get professional help on the way. Each step is designed to minimize damage and speed up recovery. Let's get started.

What to know before you act

Not all water damage is the same. The water pouring into your home falls into three categories that determine how you should respond. Clean water from broken supply lines or rain is the safest to handle. Gray water from washing machines, dishwashers, or toilet tanks contains some contaminants. Black water from sewage backups or flooding carries dangerous bacteria and requires professional handling immediately. Knowing which type you're dealing with helps you decide what you can safely touch and what areas to avoid.

Why the first hour counts

Water spreads fast and penetrates deeper every minute. Your drywall starts absorbing water within minutes and can become structurally weak within an hour. Wood floors begin to warp in as little as 30 minutes when saturated. Electronics and appliances suffer permanent damage if they stay wet too long. Mold spores can start growing within 24 to 48 hours, but the conditions for growth develop much faster.

The difference between minor repairs and major reconstruction often comes down to how quickly you act in the first 60 minutes.

Every minute you delay gives water more time to seep behind walls, under flooring, and into hidden spaces. Emergency water damage repair becomes more complex and expensive when water reaches structural elements. Your quick response now saves thousands of dollars later and protects your family's health from mold exposure.

What you'll need nearby

Gather these items before you start: a flashlight with fresh batteries, rubber boots or waterproof shoes, heavy-duty gloves, and your phone. Keep your insurance policy information and contractor contact numbers accessible. You'll also want buckets, towels, and a mop ready. Having these items within reach lets you move quickly through each step without wasting precious minutes searching for supplies.

Step 1. Stay safe and shut off the water

Your safety comes first. Water and electricity create deadly conditions, and rushing into a flooded area without thinking puts you at serious risk. Before you touch anything or step into standing water, you need to assess the situation and eliminate immediate dangers. This step takes only a few minutes but prevents injuries and saves lives.

Check for electrical hazards first

Look at where the water is flowing and what it's touching. If water reaches electrical outlets, appliances, or your circuit breaker box, you need to cut power to that area immediately. Go to your main electrical panel and flip the breaker for the affected rooms. If you can't safely reach the panel without walking through water, call 911 and wait outside until help arrives.

Never touch electrical equipment, outlets, or switches while standing in water. The current travels through water and into your body instantly. Rubber-soled boots provide some protection but don't make you invincible. If you see sparks, smell burning, or hear buzzing sounds, evacuate immediately and call emergency services.

Locate and turn off the water source

Find where the water is coming from and stop it at the source. For a burst pipe or broken supply line, turn the shut-off valve clockwise until it stops. These valves sit under sinks, behind toilets, and near water heaters. If you can't find the local valve or it won't turn, head to your main water shut-off valve where the water line enters your home. This valve controls all water flowing into your property.

Turning off your water source within the first five minutes can prevent thousands of gallons from entering your home.

Most main shut-off valves need a full 90-degree turn to close completely. You might need a wrench if the valve is stiff from lack of use. After you close the valve, open a faucet on a lower floor to release pressure from the pipes. This prevents additional bursts and confirms the water is truly off.

What to do if you can't stop the flow

Sometimes the water source sits in an inaccessible location or the valve won't budge. Call your water utility company immediately if you can't control the main valve. Their emergency line operates 24/7 and they can shut off water from the street. While you wait, use buckets, towels, and plastic sheeting to contain the water and direct it away from valuable items.

If rainwater or flooding causes the problem, you can't shut off the source. Focus instead on moving to higher ground, protecting what you can carry, and calling for emergency water damage repair assistance right away. Professional crews have industrial pumps and extraction equipment that remove water much faster than household methods.

Step 2. Call emergency water damage pros

Professional help needs to arrive quickly, and the sooner you call, the sooner they can dispatch a crew. Water spreads through your home while you wait, so making this call in the first 15 minutes makes a real difference. Professional emergency water damage repair teams bring industrial equipment, experience with insurance claims, and the ability to prevent mold growth. They also spot hidden damage that you might miss until it becomes a bigger problem.

What to tell the emergency dispatcher

Call a 24/7 water damage restoration company as soon as you've secured your safety and stopped the water source. Have your address ready and explain the situation clearly. Tell them the type of water (clean, gray, or black), where it's coming from, and how many rooms it affects. Mention if you've turned off electricity or water, and describe any safety concerns like structural damage or strong odors.

Here's what to say:

• "I have water damage at [address]"

• "The water is coming from [broken pipe/storm damage/flooding]"

• "It's affecting [number] rooms on the [floor level]"

• "I've turned off [water/electricity] to the area"

• "I need someone here as soon as possible"

Questions to ask before they arrive

Confirm the company provides emergency response and ask their estimated arrival time. Find out if they work directly with insurance companies and whether they offer free damage assessments. You need to know if they're licensed and certified for water damage restoration in your area. Ask about their experience with your specific type of damage and whether they handle the entire restoration process or just the initial extraction.

Professional restoration companies typically arrive within 60 to 90 minutes of your call and start work immediately.

Request they bring all necessary equipment for water extraction, drying, and moisture detection. This preparation prevents delays and ensures they can start protecting your home the moment they walk through the door.

Step 3. Protect your home and belongings

While professionals are on their way, you can save thousands of dollars in belongings by moving quickly and smartly. The water continues spreading, but you have control over what it reaches. Your goal is to remove valuable items from harm's way and slow down the water's advance. This step requires you to work fast but stay organized. Focus on high-value items first, then move to everyday belongings as time allows.

Move valuables to higher ground

Start with items that suffer permanent damage from water exposure. Grab electronics like computers, TVs, and gaming consoles first. Unplug them carefully if you can do so safely, then carry them to an upper floor or dry room. Next, move furniture with fabric upholstery away from wet areas. Water stains fabric quickly and promotes mold growth in cushions.

Stack smaller items on top of tables, counters, or beds in dry rooms. Place rugs and carpets over furniture or hang them where air can circulate. Photos, artwork, and collectibles need immediate attention because water ruins them within minutes. Box these items if you have time, or simply relocate them to closets or rooms far from the affected area.

Moving your most valuable possessions in the first 20 minutes can save items worth thousands of dollars that insurance might not fully cover.

Block water from spreading

Water flows toward the lowest point and seeks every crack and gap. Use towels, blankets, and plastic sheeting to create barriers that direct water away from unaffected rooms. Roll towels tightly and press them against doorways to stop water from flowing under doors. If you have sandbags or heavy objects, place them along the barriers to hold everything in position.

Open windows in affected areas to increase airflow and start the drying process. Turn on ceiling fans and portable fans if you've confirmed the electricity is safe. The moving air helps water evaporate faster and reduces the chance of mold taking hold. Push standing water toward drains or outside doors using a squeegee or broom if the amount is manageable.

Protect what you can't move

Large furniture and appliances can't always be relocated quickly. Place aluminum foil or plastic sheets under furniture legs to prevent water stains on wood. Lift couch and chair cushions off frames and prop them vertically against walls in dry areas. Remove drawers from dressers and desks to prevent wood swelling and allow air circulation inside the furniture.

Clear everything from lower cabinets in kitchens and bathrooms. Water often seeps through floorboards and damages stored items from below. Stack these items on countertops or move them to upper cabinets temporarily. This preparation also makes it easier for emergency water damage repair crews to access all affected areas when they arrive.

Step 4. Document damage and start drying

Professional help arrives soon, but you need to create a record of the damage before conditions change. Insurance companies require detailed documentation to process your claim, and photos taken right after the incident carry the most weight. At the same time, you can start removing water and drying the space to prevent further damage. This dual approach protects both your financial recovery and your physical property. The evidence you gather now determines how much your insurance pays for repairs.

Take photos and videos of everything

Walk through every affected area with your phone and capture the damage from multiple angles. Take wide shots that show entire rooms and close-ups that reveal specific problems like water lines on walls, saturated carpets, or damaged furniture. Photograph water sources, broken pipes, and entry points where water came into your home. These images prove the cause and extent of damage when you file your insurance claim.

Record video while describing what you see out loud. Say things like "This is the living room at 3 PM, water covers the entire floor" or "The water came from this burst pipe under the sink." Your narration creates a timestamped record that insurance adjusters find valuable. Capture footage of serial numbers on damaged appliances and electronics, as this information speeds up replacement claims.

Document these specific items in photos:

• Standing water depth (place a ruler or measuring tape in the frame)

• Damaged walls, floors, and ceilings

• Affected furniture and belongings

• Broken or leaking fixtures

• Water stains and discoloration

• Mold or existing damage unrelated to this incident

Taking 50 to 100 photos might seem excessive, but having too much documentation never hurt a claim while having too little can reduce your settlement by thousands.

Start the drying process immediately

Remove standing water using buckets, wet vacuums, or a mop and wringer. Work systematically from one corner of the room toward drains or exit points. Every gallon you remove now reduces the amount of water that soaks into structural elements. Wet vacuums work faster than mops and pull water from carpet padding and cracks between floorboards.

Position fans throughout the affected areas and aim them at wet surfaces. Open windows and doors to create cross-ventilation that pushes moisture outside. Use towels to absorb water from hard surfaces, wring them out, and repeat until surfaces feel merely damp rather than soaking wet. Lift area rugs and hang them where air circulates on both sides.

Pull back carpet edges from tack strips if possible and prop them up with blocks or cans. This exposes the padding underneath and allows both the carpet backing and floor to dry. Remove wet insulation from crawl spaces or attics if you can access these areas safely. The faster you dry these materials, the less likely emergency water damage repair crews will need to remove and replace them entirely.

Turn on dehumidifiers if you have them and empty their collection tanks frequently. Keep interior doors open to spread drying air throughout your home. Point fans at drywall and baseboards to prevent swelling. Professional crews bring industrial equipment, but your early efforts make their job easier and reduce total drying time by several days.

Protect your home now

Water damage grows worse every minute you wait. The steps you took in the first 60 minutes protected your property and prevented thousands in additional losses. You stopped the water source, called professionals, moved valuables to safety, and documented everything for your insurance claim. These actions put you ahead of most homeowners who freeze in the moment and watch damage compound.

Professional emergency water damage repair crews arrive with industrial equipment that extracts water faster and dries structures more thoroughly than household methods allow. They spot hidden moisture behind walls and under floors that leads to mold growth weeks later. Your early documentation and quick response make their job more effective and your insurance claim stronger.

Don't wait for the next emergency to find reliable help. Contact Water Damage Repair Tech now to learn about our 24/7 emergency response throughout Austin and surrounding areas. We respond within 30 minutes and bring IICRC certified professionals who handle everything from initial extraction to complete restoration.