Finding water in your basement is one of the most stressful experiences a homeowner faces. Whether it's a few inches from heavy rain, a burst water heater, or a total sump pump failure with two feet of standing water, what you do in the first 60 minutes determines whether you're facing a straightforward restoration or a months-long project. Here's the exact sequence the 911 Storm team recommends.
First 5 Minutes: Safety
- Don't walk into standing water if the power is on in the basement
- Turn off electricity to the basement at the main panel if you can reach it safely
- Check for gas smell — if detected, evacuate and call the gas company
- Don't touch electrical devices that are wet
- Keep children and pets away from the area
First 15 Minutes: Stop the Source
- Shut off water at the main valve if the source is a plumbing failure
- Stop appliance leaks — turn off supply valves to water heater, washing machine, dishwasher
- Cover roof holes with tarps if storm damage is the cause
- Close windows and doors if the source is exterior water intrusion
First 30 Minutes: Document Everything
Before ANY cleanup:
- Photograph every room and corner
- Video walk-through with commentary
- Close-ups of damaged items, water lines on walls, serial numbers on appliances
- Photos of the source (burst pipe, failed sump pump, etc.)
This documentation is critical for your insurance claim.
First 45 Minutes: Call for Help
- 1Call 911 Storm — our 60-minute dispatch applies to every flooded basement call from Greenwich to Yonkers
- 2Call your insurance carrier
- 3Call a plumber if source repair is outside our scope
- 4Call neighbors or family if you need help moving items
First 60 Minutes: Prevent Further Damage
- Move furniture and contents to dry upper floors if water is shallow
- Elevate items on blocks where feasible
- Remove saturated carpets and rugs if you have physical capacity and it's safe
- Open windows if outdoor humidity is lower than indoor
- Don't use a residential shop vac on large water volumes — dangerous and inefficient
What 911 Storm Does On Arrival
- Category assessment — IICRC Category 1, 2, or 3 water determination
- Extraction — Industrial truck-mounted pumps move 500+ gallons per hour
- Moisture mapping — Thermal imaging and penetrating meters find hidden water
- Structural drying setup — Air movers, dehumidifiers, positioned per psychrometric calculations
- Content pack-out when needed
- Antimicrobial treatment to prevent mold
- Full insurance direct-bill coordination
Category Matters
- Category 1 (clean water) — supply-line breaks, rainwater intrusion. Fastest recovery.
- Category 2 (gray water) — dishwasher/washer discharges, shower drains. Requires enhanced sanitization.
- Category 3 (black water) — sewage backup, flood water. Requires biohazard remediation and typically full demolition of porous materials.
The category drives cost, timeline, and scope — our first action on arrival is category determination.
Our dispatch runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year across both counties. If you're standing in water right now, call the number at the top of this page — we'll have a crew at your property within 60 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly does mold start growing?+
Mold begins colonizing wet organic material within 24-48 hours. If your basement is still wet at the 48-hour mark, you're almost certainly facing parallel mold remediation on top of water damage.
Can I just wait for the water to dry on its own?+
No. Natural drying is too slow — insulation, drywall, and subflooring saturate faster than they can dry, leading to mold and structural damage. Professional extraction + forced drying is essential.
What does professional water extraction cost?+
Emergency extraction typically runs $1,500-$5,000 for residential basement scope; larger scopes can run $10K+. The good news: if you have coverage, insurance pays. Your deductible is usually the only out-of-pocket cost.
Should I pump out my own basement?+
Small volumes (under a few inches) with known clean water can be managed with a wet vac. Larger volumes, any unknown contamination, or any electrical concern — call a professional. Safety risks are real.
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Raf Volkov
Raf has personally supervised more than 100 restoration projects across Fairfield County, CT and Westchester County, NY since 2003. He holds IICRC Water Damage Restoration (2016), IICRC Fire & Smoke Restoration (2016), Goldmorr AIM Mycotoxin Remediation, EZ Breathe Installer, and Stego Vapor Barrier / ASTM E1643 certifications — attending manufacturer trainings every year. Every protocol on this site is built on standards he's trained and re-trained in.