Guides

My Basement Has Flooded! What To Do In The First 60 Minutes, 24 Hours & 7 Days

what to do after flooding

Finding water in your basement is scary, especially if it’s rising fast, smells bad, or you don’t know where it’s coming from. You might be worried about your home, your belongings, your health, and how much this is going to cost.

Take a breath.

You don’t have to figure everything out at once.

What matters most is what you do first, what can wait, and what should never be rushed. This guide walks you through exactly what to do in the first 60 minutes, the first 24 hours, and the first 7 days after a basement flood – in clear, manageable steps.

What Should I Do After My Home Has Flooded? (Quick Answer)

If you’re overwhelmed, start here:

First 60 minutes:

Make the area safe, stop the water if possible, and document what you’re seeing.

First 24 hours:

Prevent further damage, start drying properly, protect your insurance claim, and address health risks like sewage or mould.

First 7 days:

Complete inspections, inventory losses, coordinate insurance, and plan permanent repairs.

We’ll break each phase down in detail below.

Table Of Contents:
Clean Water vs. Sewage Backup: What’s the Difference?
What Should You Do In The First 60 Minutes
What Should You Do In The First 24 Hours
What Should You Do In The First 7 Days
You’re Not Alone

Before You Do Anything: Identify the Type of Water

Not all floods are the same – and this matters for your health, cleanup, and insurance.

Clean Water vs. Sewage Backup: What’s the Difference?

Category Clean Water Sewage Backup (Black Water)
Where it comes from Burst or frozen pipes
Appliance failures (washing machines, dishwashers, water heaters)
Supply line leaks		 Floor drains backing up
Toilets overflowing from below
City sewer lines are overwhelmed by heavy rain
What it looks like Clear or slightly cloudy water Dark, murky, brown, or black water
Smell Little to no odour at first Strong sewage or rotten smell
Health risk Lower risk initially, but still requires care High risk – contains bacteria, viruses, and parasites
Is it safe to touch? Safer at first, gloves are recommended No – direct contact can cause illness or infection
How quickly it becomes dangerous Can become contaminated within 24–48 hours if not dried properly Dangerous immediately
Common homeowner mistake Waiting too long to dry hidden areas Attempting DIY cleanup with household cleaners
Risk of mould growth Mould can begin growing within 24–48 hours Mould risk is faster and often more severe
Insurance considerations Often covered under standard water damage claims (policy dependent) Usually requires sewer backup coverage endorsement
Recommended response Early water removal, drying, and monitoring Immediate professional cleanup and full disinfection required

Why This Difference Matters

Many homeowners assume “water is water,” but insurance companies, health authorities, and restoration professionals do not.

  • Clean water can sometimes be handled with early action, but it still causes serious damage if moisture is trapped behind walls or under floors.
  • Sewage backup is a biohazard. Attempting to clean it yourself can expose you to serious health risks and may void insurance coverage if not handled correctly.

Important:
If you see water coming up through drains, smell sewage, or notice dark water, stop cleanup immediately and keep people and pets out of the area.

Professional disinfection, extraction, and drying are required to make the space safe again.

What Should You Do In The First 60 Minutes After a Flood?

This first hour is about safety, control, and evidence – not full cleanup.

1. Make Sure It’s Safe to Enter

  • If water is near outlets, appliances, or your electrical panel, do not step into standing water
  • If safe to do so from a dry area, turn off:
    • Electricity
    • Gas (if you smell gas)
    • Main water supply (if the source is internal)

If you can’t safely reach breakers or valves, leave the area and call for help.

2. Stop the Source of Water (If Possible)

  • Shut off the main water valve for burst pipes or appliance leaks
  • If rainwater is entering:
    • Temporarily block entry points if safe
    • Move valuables away from the flow

If water is rising from drains, do not attempt to stop it yourself – this is likely a sewer backup.

3. Document Everything Immediately (Insurance-Critical)

Before moving or removing anything, collect evidence.

Photos to take:

  • Wide shots of every affected room
  • Water lines on walls and furniture
  • Close-ups of damaged flooring, drywall, and baseboards
  • The water source (if visible)

Videos to record:

  • Slow walkthroughs of the basement
  • Narrate what you’re seeing (“Water near furnace,” “Sewage from floor drain”)
  • State the date and time

Tip: This documentation often determines how smoothly your insurance claim goes.

4. Call for Professional Help

Even if the water seems manageable, hidden moisture spreads fast – into walls, insulation, and subfloors.

At this stage, homeowners often contact a water damage restoration team to:

  • Stop further damage
  • Safely extract water
  • Begin professional drying
  • Handle sewage contamination correctly

(Especially important for sewage backups or finished basements.)

what to do first 60 mins after flood

What Should You Do In The First 24 Hours After a Flood?

This is the window where damage can either be contained or multiply.

1. Begin Safe Water Removal

  • Remove water in stages rather than all at once
  • If groundwater is still saturated, do not drain everything at once. If removed too quickly it can cause walls or floors to buckle
  • Use:
    • Pumps or buckets for large volumes
    • Wet/dry vacuums for remaining water

Do not use household vacuums or electrical tools on wet floors.
Do not rush water removal just to “get it over with” – this can create structural damage.

2. Start Drying the Right Way

  • Open windows and doors if the weather allows
  • Use fans to move air across wet areas, not directly into walls
  • Use dehumidifiers to pull moisture from the air

Do not aim heaters or fans directly at wet drywall
Do not assume surfaces are dry just because they “look” dry
Do not ignore hidden spaces like behind baseboards, under flooring, or inside walls

Drying is not just about surfaces – mould can begin developing within 24-48 hours, especially where moisture is trapped.

3. Remove At-Risk Items

Removing items that can be saved helps prevent further damage and makes drying more effective.

  • Move furniture, electronics, and valuables to dry areas
  • Lift furniture legs on blocks, wood, or aluminum foil if they can’t be moved
  • Roll up wet area rugs and remove them from the basement

Items exposed to sewage water are different:

  • Carpets, mattresses, upholstered furniture, and soft furnishings are usually not salvageable
  • Attempting to clean these yourself can pose serious health risks

Do not stack wet items together – this traps moisture
Do not store wet belongings in sealed containers
Do not throw items away yet if they may be needed for an insurance inspection

4. Protect Your Health

Floodwater can contain bacteria, chemicals, and sewage – even if it looks clean.

  • Avoid direct contact with floodwater
  • Wear gloves, boots, and eye protection if entry is necessary
  • Do not use tap water for drinking or food prep unless authorities confirm it’s safe
  • Discard:
    • Exposed food
    • Medications
    • Cosmetics and toiletries

Do not use bleach or household cleaners to treat sewage contamination
Do not mix cleaning chemicals

5. Notify Your Insurance Provider

  • Report the flood as soon as possible
  • Ask what documentation they require and whether an adjuster will inspect the property
  • Keep all receipts related to:
    • Emergency services
    • Temporary repairs
    • Hotel stays or living expenses

Do not make permanent repairs before approval (unless required for safety)
Do not discard damaged items before your insurer confirms
Do not assume all water damage is automatically covered – policies vary

what to do first 24 hours after flood

What Should You Do In The First 7 Days After a Flood?

This phase is about assessment, recovery, and long-term protection.

1. Create a Detailed Inventory for Insurance

Insurance claims don’t rely on memory – they rely on documentation.

List all damaged or lost items, including:

  • Item description
  • Approximate age
  • Estimated value
  • Room location
  • Supporting photos or receipts

Do not throw away damaged items until your adjuster confirms
Do not assume small items aren’t worth listing – they add up
Do not rush this step, errors can delay or reduce payouts

2. Inspect Utilities and Structure

Floodwater can damage systems in ways that aren’t visible right away. Before anything is turned back on, inspections are essential.

Have professionals inspect:

  • Electrical panels and outlets
  • Furnaces and HVAC systems
  • Water heaters and appliances

Do not restart flooded systems “just to see if they work”
Do not assume appliances are safe because they turn on
Do not ignore strange smells, noises, or breaker trips after power is restored

3. Clean, Disinfect, or Replace Materials

This stage determines whether your basement stays healthy or develops long-term issues.

  • Drywall, insulation, and flooring may need removal if saturated
  • Carpets soaked by sewage must be discarded
  • Hard surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected properly

This is where professional water damage repair often prevents future mould and structural issues.

Do not seal or repaint walls before they are fully dry
Do not trap moisture behind new drywall or flooring
Do not rely on surface drying alone – moisture meters are often required

4. Watch for Delayed Warning Signs

Even after visible water is gone, problems can still develop.

Over the following days, watch for:

  • Musty or sour smells
  • Peeling paint or bubbling drywall
  • Warped flooring
  • Persistent humidity

These signs usually mean moisture is still present behind walls, under floors, or in insulation.

5. Plan Permanent Repairs & Prevention

Once cleanup and drying are complete, it’s time to address why the flood happened.

Depending on the cause, long-term solutions may include:

Fixing the damage without fixing the cause leaves your home vulnerable to repeat flooding.

what to do first 7 days after flood

You’re Not Alone – And You Don’t Have to Do Everything at Once

Basement flooding is overwhelming – emotionally and practically. But taking the right steps in the right order protects your home, your health, and your financial recovery.

If water damage has affected your basement, our professional restoration team can help with:

  • Emergency water removal
  • Sewage cleanup and disinfection
  • Structural drying
  • Mould prevention
  • Insurance documentation support

The goal isn’t just to clean up – it’s to make sure the problem doesn’t come back.