A storm rolls through. The rain stops. You walk back inside and feel it — that squish underfoot, the smell of wet drywall, the sight of water creeping across your floor.
What you do in the next few hours will determine whether this is a manageable cleanup or a months-long rebuild. Here is exactly what to do.
Step 1: Make Sure It Is Safe to Enter
Before you do anything else, confirm the structure is safe.
- Turn off electricity to any affected areas at the breaker box — water and live wires are a deadly combination
- Do not enter if you smell gas or see structural damage like sagging ceilings or cracked walls
- Watch for sewage contamination — floodwater often carries bacteria and pathogens from backed-up sewer lines
- Wear rubber boots and gloves before walking through standing water
If there is any doubt about safety, wait for a professional. No possession is worth your life.
Step 2: Stop the Source (If You Can)
If the water is still coming in, stop it before cleanup begins.
- Burst pipe? Shut off the main water supply immediately
- Storm surge or roof damage? Use tarps or towels to slow the flow while you call for help
- Sewer backup? Do not use any drains or toilets — this can make the contamination worse
The faster you stop the source, the less total damage you will face.
Step 3: Document Everything Before You Touch It
Your insurance claim depends on documentation.
- Take photos and video of every affected room before moving anything
- Capture water levels on walls, furniture, and flooring
- Photograph damaged belongings — appliances, furniture, electronics
- Note the date and time of the storm and when you discovered the damage
Do not throw anything away yet. Your adjuster will need to see the damage firsthand or in photos.
Step 4: Remove Standing Water as Fast as Possible
This is the most time-sensitive step. Standing water causes:
- Structural damage to subfloors, joists, and wall framing within hours
- Mold growth beginning in as little as 24–48 hours
- Permanent staining on flooring, drywall, and furniture
If you have a wet/dry shop vac, use it. Mops and towels can help on smaller areas. For anything more than a few inches of water, you need professional extraction equipment — consumer tools simply cannot move water fast enough to prevent secondary damage.
Step 5: Start Drying Immediately
Once standing water is removed, drying begins. Open windows and doors if the outside air is dry. Run fans and any dehumidifiers you have access to.
However, understand the limits of consumer equipment:
- Box fans and household dehumidifiers can help surface moisture but cannot dry inside walls, under flooring, or in subfloor cavities
- Hidden moisture is the leading cause of mold after a flood — what looks dry on the surface may be saturated underneath
- Thermal imaging and moisture meters are the only reliable way to confirm complete drying
Professional restoration equipment moves dramatically more air volume and removes far more moisture per hour than anything available at a hardware store.
Step 6: Protect Salvageable Belongings
Move undamaged items out of the affected area to prevent secondary damage.
- Lift furniture off wet flooring — place aluminum foil or wood blocks under legs
- Remove wet rugs — they hold moisture and accelerate mold growth on hardwood and concrete
- Move electronics and valuables to a dry area
- Do not run wet appliances until they have been inspected
Some items — like upholstered furniture, mattresses, and particleboard — are often not salvageable once fully saturated. A restoration professional can help you make those calls.
Step 7: Call Your Insurance Company
Most homeowner policies cover sudden and accidental water damage from storms. Call your insurer as soon as possible to:
- Open a claim and get a claim number
- Ask about emergency services coverage — many policies cover professional extraction and drying
- Request an adjuster visit before major repairs begin
- Understand your deductible and coverage limits
Keep a record of every conversation — who you spoke with, when, and what was discussed.
Step 8: Call a Professional Restoration Company
This is not optional — it is the step that determines whether your home fully recovers.
A certified water damage restoration company will:
- Extract remaining water with industrial-grade equipment
- Set up commercial drying systems that dry structural materials, not just surfaces
- Monitor moisture levels daily until the structure reaches safe dryness
- Document everything for your insurance claim
- Identify and address mold risk before it becomes a health hazard
The difference between a homeowner who calls a professional within the first few hours and one who waits a week is often the difference between a $5,000 cleanup and a $50,000 rebuild.
What NOT to Do After Storm Flooding
Avoid these common mistakes that make damage worse:
- Do not use a regular vacuum on standing water — it will destroy the motor and spread contamination
- Do not run HVAC systems through flooded areas — this spreads mold spores throughout the house
- Do not use bleach as a mold treatment — it does not penetrate porous materials and does not address the moisture source
- Do not wait to see if it dries on its own — it will not, and the damage compounds every hour
The Bottom Line
Storm water damage is a race against time. The faster you act — stopping the source, documenting, extracting water, and calling professionals — the better your outcome.
SwiftDri is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergency water extraction, structural drying, and full restoration across Northwest Louisiana and East Texas. If storm water has entered your home, do not wait.
Call SwiftDri now for immediate storm damage help — our team deploys fast so you can get back to normal sooner.