Your first priority is safety, not cleanup
When you find water indoors, take ten seconds to look before you move. Water can make ordinary decisions unsafe: stepping toward a breaker panel, picking up a plugged-in appliance, turning on a light, or walking under a sagging ceiling can create a much larger emergency. The CDC says not to turn electricity on or off or use electric tools while standing in water. If entering water is necessary to reach the main switch, do not do it; arrange for an electrician instead. CDC’s cleanup safety guidance also advises leaving a building immediately if you smell gas or suspect a leak, without using lights, matches, or anything that might spark.
Safety callout: If you smell gas, hear a hiss, see sparking or a downed line, find a ceiling that may collapse, or cannot leave without entering contaminated or electrically unsafe water, get out. Do not go back in for photos, documents, or belongings until it is safe.
Once people and pets are safe, the goal is simple: stop active water when safe, document the condition, and limit additional damage without taking unnecessary risks.
Use this decision table before you touch anything
| Condition | Do now | Do not do | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water near outlets, appliances, cords, or the panel | Stay out of the water; shut off power only from a dry location | Reach through water, use a wet vacuum, or flip switches while wet | Water and wet electrical equipment can create shock and fire hazards |
| Gas odor or hissing | Leave, avoid sparks, and seek emergency help from a safe place | Turn lights on or off, smoke, start equipment, or search for the leak | A spark can ignite leaked gas |
| A burst pipe or leaking supply line | Close the nearby fixture valve or main water shutoff if it is dry and safely accessible | Cut into walls or touch wet electrical equipment | Stopping the source limits spread |
| Sewage, a toilet overflow, or a floor-drain backup | Keep people and pets away; avoid contact | Run more fixtures, use fans that may spread contamination, or treat it like clean water | Sewage and dirty water can carry contaminants |
| Rain or outside water entering | Move to a safe, dry area; note where and when water enters | Assume an indoor plumbing shutoff will stop it | The source may be surface water, river conditions, drainage, or a backup |
| Ceiling bulging or wall visibly moving | Leave the area below it and keep others out | Puncture it while standing underneath or move heavy furniture beneath it | Wet building materials can fail unexpectedly |
Stop the water only when it is safe
If the source is a supply line, appliance hose, toilet supply, or fixture, a local shutoff may stop it. If not, the main home shutoff may be the next safe option. The exact location varies: it may be near a water meter, where the water service enters, or near a mechanical area. Do not search through standing water to find it. If you are not certain a valve is the right one, take a photo and pause rather than forcing it.
For a dishwasher, refrigerator line, washing machine, or water heater, stopping the appliance and closing its supply can help only if you can do it without electrical exposure. A roof leak, foundation seepage, stormwater, river water, or sewer backup requires a different response. Turning off the domestic water supply may reduce an indoor plumbing problem but will not stop outside water or a municipal system issue.
If water has entered near electrical circuits, CDC’s reentry guidance says the main power can be turned off only from a dry location; otherwise an electrician should handle it. It also cautions against operating gasoline-powered equipment in a home, basement, garage, or other enclosed space because of carbon monoxide danger.
Document before you clean
Documentation is not paperwork for later; it is a record of what you discovered before water is extracted or possessions are moved. Take wide photos and video of each affected room, then closer shots of the source, water line, wet materials, and damaged belongings. Capture the date and write down when you discovered the problem, what you first saw, when you shut off water, and any changes you notice.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners advises documenting losses before removing debris or belongings: take photos or video, make a list of damaged and lost items, and save damaged items where possible for insurer inspection. NAIC’s claims-process guide also says to report the loss promptly and keep receipts for temporary repairs. This does not mean you should leave people in danger or let active water continue. Safety and preventing additional damage come first.
A useful minimum record includes:
- the apparent source and its route through the building;
- each affected room and the materials that are wet;
- depth or height of visible water, if you can record it safely;
- photos of serial numbers or labels for damaged appliances and electronics;
- a list of moved or discarded items and why they were moved or discarded; and
- receipts for temporary protective work, supplies, lodging, or emergency repairs.
Move what you can without spreading the problem
Once the source is stopped or controlled and the area is safe, move dry belongings out of the wet zone. Start with medications, identification, important paper records, electronics that can be unplugged safely, and items with high personal value. Raise furniture only if it can be done without injury or contact with contaminated water. Use help for heavy objects; the CDC recommends teams for bulky lifting and cautions against lifting more than 50 pounds per person. CDC cleanup guidance
Separate dry items from wet items. Do not stack wet rugs, cardboard boxes, books, upholstered furniture, or clothing in another room where they will keep moisture contained. Do not move contaminated items through clean spaces if you can avoid it. For sewage or floodwater, use appropriate protective equipment and do not handle food, cosmetics, children’s toys, or porous belongings as if they were merely wet. The Minnesota Department of Health’s flood-cleanup guidance advises opening doors and windows, using fans and dehumidifiers, and drying from the inside out once it is safe to do so.
What not to do
Do not use household fans to blow air through sewage-contaminated areas. Do not use a regular vacuum on wet carpet. Do not use a generator indoors or near openings. Do not mix cleaning chemicals. Do not turn wet appliances back on just because the floor looks dry. Do not cut drywall, remove ceilings, or pull insulation if you do not know whether electrical wiring or contamination is present.
Also avoid a common mistake: treating surface dryness as proof the building is dry. Water can travel under flooring, behind baseboards, into insulation, and through ceiling cavities. The next step after removal is a drying plan, not immediate repainting or closing a wall.
When you should leave the building
Leave immediately for a gas odor, sparking, an unsafe electrical panel, a compromised ceiling or wall, fast-rising water, or an evacuation direction. The CDC says floodwater and standing water can carry infectious, chemical, and injury hazards; do not enter areas with downed power lines or drive through water where lines may be present. CDC floodwater safety guidance
If you are unsure, choose distance over investigation. A phone photo from a safe location can wait; an electrical or gas hazard cannot.
What to do next
After the immediate safety and documentation steps, read emergency water removal for the removal stage and water damage insurance claims in Minnesota for the coverage and documentation path. For a plumbing event, continue with water damage restoration in Carver.
Questions people ask
Should I turn off the power if water is on the floor?
Only if you can do it from a dry location without stepping into water or touching wet equipment. If the panel is inaccessible safely, do not improvise; arrange for qualified help.
Should I throw away wet belongings right away?
Remove items from danger when it is safe, but document them first. For an insurance claim, photographs, a room-by-room list, and preserving significant damaged items for inspection can matter.
When should I leave the building?
Leave for a gas smell, electrical hazard, ceiling or structural failure risk, contaminated water that blocks a safe exit, or an evacuation direction from authorities.
Sources and further reading
- CDC disaster cleanup safety guidance
- CDC flooded home reentry guidance
- CDC floodwater safety guidance
- NAIC claims process guide
- Minnesota Department of Health flood cleanup guidance
External guidance is summarized in plain language on this page. Where an agency updates its guidance, the agency page is the authority.