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If a pipe has burst, a sump pump has failed, or storm water is rising in your Sonoma or Marin County home right now, here is exactly what to do before help arrives.
In the first 60 minutes after a flood, shut off the water and power, move people and pets to a dry area, and start documenting the damage with photos before you touch anything. Call a flood damage restoration company right away, not after you’ve mopped up. Bravo Restoration answers 24/7 across Sonoma and Marin Counties and can typically get a certified crew on-site in about two hours, which matters because water damage restoration gets harder and more expensive every hour standing water is left untreated.
Skim the plan below, then jump to any step for the full walkthrough. The clock starts the moment water hits the floor.
Minute 0–5 after the flood starts.
Minute 5–15 after the flood starts.
Minute 15–25 after the flood starts.
Minute 25–40 after the flood starts.
Minute 40–55 after the flood starts.
Minute 55–60 after the flood starts.
See how coverage works and what to document for your claim.
Find the shutoff valve for the fixture or line that failed and close it. If you can’t isolate the leak, shut off the main water supply at the meter or where the line enters the house.
Next, check whether water is anywhere near outlets, switches, or your electrical panel. If it is, do not walk through it. Shut off power at the breaker box only if the panel itself is dry and reachable. If it isn’t, leave it alone and call your utility or an electrician instead of guessing.
Move everyone to a dry, elevated area of the home. Standing water can hide electrical hazards, contamination from sewage or groundwater, and structural weak spots, especially in older Sonoma and Marin County homes with crawl space foundations.
Grab irreplaceable items, like documents, photos, and medications, if they’re within easy reach and doing so doesn’t put anyone at risk. Don’t go back into a rising flood for anything else.
Insurance adjusters and restoration companies both need a clear “before” picture. Walk the affected area and take photos and short videos of standing water levels, wet flooring and drywall, and any damaged belongings.
Note the time the flooding started, if you know it, and what caused it, whether that’s a burst pipe, appliance failure, storm surge, or sewage backup. This detail speeds up both your claim and the restoration estimate.
It’s tempting to call your insurance company first and wait for a referral. Don’t. Water damage restoration is a race against time. Mold can begin growing in as little as 24 to 48 hours, and untreated standing water in a crawl space or subfloor causes damage that isn’t visible yet.
Call a certified restoration crew immediately so water extraction can start the moment they arrive. You can loop in your insurance company in parallel, most restoration companies, including Bravo, will work directly with your adjuster and document everything your claim needs.
While you wait for the crew, there are a few low-risk things that help without making the situation worse:
Make sure the crew can reach the affected area easily, clear driveways, hallways, and doorways of anything that would slow them down. Keep pets contained in a dry room away from the work area.
When Bravo Restoration arrives, our IICRC-certified technicians assess the source, extract standing water, and start drying and dehumidifying immediately. You’ll get a written scope of work before anything beyond emergency mitigation begins, no surprise charges.
Bravo Restoration works directly with your adjuster and can help flag early on whether you may need to file with a separate flood policy.
Most homeowners insurance policies cover sudden water damage from burst pipes, appliance failures, and similar internal sources, but they typically exclude flooding caused by external sources like storm surge or rising groundwater unless you carry a separate flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private carrier. This is exactly why documenting the cause and timeline in the first 60 minutes matters so much, your restoration company can help you build a claim that reflects what actually happened, and flag early on if you may need to file with a separate flood policy.
If the water may contain sewage, chemicals, or other contaminants, avoid contact with it and keep children and pets away from the affected area. Do not attempt to clean contaminated water yourself. A professional restoration team can identify the category of water, remove contaminated materials safely, and properly disinfect and dry the affected area.
You don’t necessarily need to wait for your insurance company before beginning emergency mitigation. The priority is to stop the source of the water, protect people and property, document the damage, and begin drying as soon as possible. A restoration company can document the damage and coordinate with your insurance adjuster while the claim is being handled.
Water damage can worsen quickly, especially when drywall, flooring, insulation, or other porous materials remain wet. Mold growth can begin within roughly 24–48 hours under favorable conditions. Prompt extraction and professional drying can help limit secondary damage and reduce the risk of more extensive repairs.
Not necessarily. Whether carpet can be saved depends on the type of water, how long it has been wet, and the condition of the carpet and padding. Avoid pulling up or throwing away materials before they have been documented for your insurance claim. A restoration professional can determine what can be cleaned and dried and what needs to be removed.
Bravo Restoration & Construction is a woman-owned, locally-rooted full-service property restoration company and licensed general contractor serving Sonoma and Marin Counties. IICRC certified, CSLB licensed, and answering the phone right now — whatever time you’re reading this.
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