Free flood tool

Just flooded? Stop mold before the 48-hour clock runs out.

Work the 15 steps in order. Check each one off on your phone. Export a branded PDF to hand your insurance adjuster or remediator. Free, no signup.

15 ordered steps Branded PDF for insurance 100 percent private

Your post-flood action checklist

Go in order. Safety first (electricity + water source), then documentation, then extraction, then drying. The 48-hour window starts the moment material got wet.

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Heads up: Rough guide based on the CDC, EPA, and IICRC S500 24 to 48 hour mold-growth standard. If the flood was sewage, more than 100 sq ft, reached electrical outlets, or the home was underwater overnight, stop DIY and call a licensed water-damage remediator plus your insurance adjuster today.

Why order matters after a flood+

Safety first. Electricity before anything else. Standing water plus a live outlet is how flood deaths happen. Cut power at the main breaker before you touch anything wet.

Document before you demo. Insurance needs before-photos. Remediators charge less when the scope is photo-documented. Two minutes of photos and video can save thousands.

Extract before you dry. Running fans on standing water just spreads it. Get the water out first with a wet-vac, then bring in air movers and a dehumidifier.

48 hours is the clock. Below 48 hours, most porous material (drywall, carpet pad, insulation) can be dried and saved. Past 48, assume it is a demo-and-replace job.

FAQ

How long after a flood before mold grows?

Mold can begin colonizing wet porous material within 24 hours and is visible to the eye at 48 to 72 hours. Warmer, more humid rooms speed it up. The clock starts the moment the material got wet, not when you noticed it.

Can I DIY after a basement flood?

Clean water under 100 sq ft caught in the first 24 hours, yes. Sewage water, ever, no. Water that reached outlets, overnight flooding, anyone immunocompromised in the home, or visible mold already, no. In those cases call a licensed remediator and your insurance adjuster first.

Do I need to rip out my drywall?

Below the waterline, usually yes. Drywall acts like a sponge. Once the wall cavity behind it is wet, the paper face and the cavity insulation both grow mold within 48 to 72 hours. Cut the drywall 2 feet above the waterline and remove wet insulation.

What should I save for insurance?

Photos and video of every room before you touch anything. A written log of every action, every contractor call, every piece of furniture you discard. Receipts for rentals (fans, dehumidifier, wet-vac). The final remediation scope document. Keep everything in one folder.

How long should the dehumidifier run?

Until the indoor RH stabilizes under 50 percent for 48 hours straight in every affected room, AND a moisture meter reads the wood framing under 16 percent moisture content. That usually takes 3 to 7 days with commercial equipment. Do not skip this step. Mold grows inside dry-looking material.