Water Damage Direct
Water from a plumbing leak spreading across a kitchen floor

Water damage guidance

Take the right first steps after water damage

Check immediate hazards, identify the source, and create a practical plan for what to do next.

Build an action planView emergency checklist

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Safety first

Stop and check for danger first

  • Leave and contact emergency services for an immediate threat to life.
  • Stay out of standing water near electrical equipment.
  • Do not enter an unstable structure or handle sewage or contaminated floodwater.

Start here

Choose what you need right now

Each path begins with the same safety boundaries and helps you move from uncertainty to a concrete next step.

Build your action plan

Answer a few questions and get prioritized next steps for the situation in front of you.

Start the action plan

Identify the water source

Compare guidance for burst pipes, sewage, roof leaks, flooding, appliances, and more.

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Use the quick checklist

Open a practical, printable checklist for the first decisions after discovering water.

Read the checklist

Prepare for local risks

Explore state preparedness information for floods, precipitation, coastal hazards, and seasonal conditions.

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A calmer way forward

Safety first. Then document, dry, and recover.

  1. 1
    Check for danger

    Electrical, structural, contamination, and weather hazards come before property protection.

  2. 2
    Control what is safe

    Stop the source only when it is clearly accessible and safe to reach.

  3. 3
    Plan the next move

    Document damage and contact the right qualified help for your situation.