What to do first when your home floods (Buffalo, NY)

The single biggest factor in how bad water damage gets is how fast the water comes out and the drying starts. Work through these steps in order — but never put yourself at risk to save property.

1. Stop the water

If the water is still coming, cut it off at the source.

• Whole-house supply: Find and turn off your home's main water shutoff valve. In many Buffalo-area homes it's on the wall where the water line enters the basement, often near the front of the house or by the water meter. Turn it fully clockwise (right).
• A single appliance or fixture: For a leaking toilet, sink, water heater, dishwasher, or washing machine, use its own local shutoff valve — usually right behind or beneath the fixture — instead of the whole house.
• Can't find or turn the valve? Call your water utility; they can shut service at the street.

2. Document everything for insurance

Before you clean up or throw anything out, build your record. This is what protects your claim.

• Take photos and video of every affected area and item before you move, clean, or discard anything.
• Make a written list of damaged items — furniture, flooring, electronics, belongings — with rough age and value if you know it.
• Keep receipts for anything you buy in the emergency (a pump, tarps, a hotel stay), since those costs may be reimbursable.
• Don't dispose of damaged property until your insurance adjuster has okayed it. Set ruined items aside rather than hauling them away.

3. Limit the damage — only if it's safe

Once power and hazards are handled, small actions now can save materials and slow the spread. Skip anything that puts you near live electricity or contaminated water.

• Move valuables, electronics, and furniture up and out of the water.
• Blot or mop up what you can and get air moving — open windows if it's dry outside, run fans you can plug in safely.
• Lift and remove wet rugs and small area carpets so they don't stain or soak the floor beneath.
• Put foil or wood blocks under furniture legs sitting on wet carpet to prevent staining.

4. Call your insurer early

Report the loss to your homeowners insurance company as soon as you reasonably can. Sudden and accidental damage — such as a burst pipe or a failed supply line — is commonly covered, while gradual leaks blamed on deferred maintenance and flooding from outside (which usually needs separate flood insurance) often are not. This is general information, not a guarantee of coverage — your policy is what governs. Calling early gets a claim number started and tells you what your insurer needs documented.

5. When to call a pro

A small, clean spill you catch right away, you can often handle yourself. Bring in a professional when any of these apply:

• There's standing water, or water more than a small contained spill.
• Water has spread into walls, subfloor, or under flooring where you can't dry it yourself.
• The water is contaminated — from a sewage or drain backup, or it sat long enough to turn foul.
• You're not sure it's fully dry. Trapped moisture is what turns into mold and rot.

Speed is the whole game here. A pro has commercial extraction and drying equipment and can confirm materials actually reach dry — the difference between a two-day dry-out and a full rebuild. Learn more about how water damage restoration works, or, if the water was contaminated, about sewage cleanup.