Emergency guides / Water

Water damage checklist

Water · 2026-10-08

A simple checklist to keep on your phone, covering the first hour, the first day, and what to tell your insurance company.

Save this page or screenshot it. In a real emergency it is hard to think clearly, and a checklist helps.

In the first hour

• Stay safe. Turn off power to the affected area only if you can reach the panel without standing in water.
• Shut off the water at the fixture valve or the main valve.
• Take photos and video of the damage and the source.
• Move small items and valuables out of the wet area.
• Call a restoration company. We answer 24 hours a day at 818-877-3306.

Within the first day

• Call your insurance company and report the loss. Ask what they need from you.
• Keep a list of damaged items, with approximate age and value.
• Keep receipts for anything you pay for, such as a plumber, emergency repairs, or a hotel.
• Do not throw out damaged items until your adjuster has seen them or you have photographed them.
• Open interior doors and cabinets under sinks so air can reach wet areas, if the air outside is dry.

Questions to ask any restoration company

• Do your technicians hold IICRC certifications?
• Will you measure moisture and keep records of the readings?
• How will I know when the structure is actually dry?
• Can your company also do the repairs, or will I need to hire someone else?

Before you paint or replace flooring

• Make sure the structure has been measured dry. Painting or covering wet materials traps moisture and leads to mold.
• Ask for the final moisture readings in writing.