When water appears inside your home, the first goal is safety—not saving the carpet. Use this checklist to decide what to do before cleanup begins.
1. Check for immediate hazards
Stay out of standing water if electricity may be involved. Do not touch wet electrical equipment, and keep clear of sagging ceilings or unstable materials. If you cannot tell whether an area is safe, do not enter it.
2. Stop the source only if safe
If a fixture or supply line is leaking and the shutoff is safely accessible, stopping the flow may limit additional damage. Do not take risks to reach a valve or enter a flooded space.
3. Identify the water source
A supply-line leak, drain backup, and outside floodwater do not call for the same cleanup approach. Treat sewage and floodwater as contaminated and keep children and pets away.
4. Record what happened
Once safe, take photos of the affected rooms and belongings. Note when the water appeared, whether it is still spreading, and which materials became wet. Keep records for your insurer.
5. Arrange assessment and drying
Water can remain below flooring, behind baseboards, or inside wall cavities. The EPA recommends drying wet or damp areas within 24–48 hours when possible to reduce mold risk; that timeframe is guidance, not a guarantee.
What to do next
If water is still entering, tell the person you call. If the source is unknown, describe the timing and where moisture first appeared. In Lacey, ZIP codes 98503 and 98509 are the focus of this website, but provider coverage must be confirmed.
For service information focused on Lacey, WA, see water damage restoration, mold inspection, or emergency water extraction.
Call (360) 803-6547 to discuss the issue and confirm provider availability.