Water Extraction Guides · Extraction Process & What to Expect

Water Extraction After a Flood: The First Steps

After a flood, the first steps matter more than any other part of the job, because they are the steps that keep people safe. Flood water is not clean water: it may carry soil, debris, and contaminants, and it can hide hazards under the surface that are impossible to see. The safety-first rule is simple and absolute: never enter a flooded building, never wade through flood water, and never handle electrics in standing water.

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This guide covers the first steps after flooding, and the professional extraction step that follows, for homes in New Orleans and Baton Rouge alike. For the removal of flood water itself, the flood water extraction page gives a general outline of the service.

Step one: stay out of the water

The first step after a flood is to stay out of the water. Do not enter a flooded building to check the damage, do not wade through flood water to reach a shut-off or a belonging, and do not touch switches, outlets, or appliances while standing in water. Flood water can hide sharp debris, open drains, and live electrics under a surface that looks calm, and the risks are not visible from the doorway.

Get children and pets out of the affected area, and keep them clear until a professional has looked at the home. If anyone in the household has been in contact with flood water, wash with clean water and soap as soon as it is practical to do so, and keep flood water away from cuts and open skin. Safety comes before property, every time.

After a flood, the home itself may not be safe to enter, and that judgement is not one to make from the doorway. Water can weaken floors, hide damage to the structure, and reach the electrical system in ways that are not visible from outside. A professional assessment is the safe way to learn whether the home can be entered, and the homeowner's part is to wait for that assessment rather than going in to look.

Step two: call from a dry place

Once you are safe, call a professional from a dry place. The number is (877) 624-0105, and availability is confirmed on the call. Describe what happened, where the water is, how deep it is, and how far it has spread. Mention whether the water has reached electrics, and whether the home is safe to approach at all. The call is also the time to ask whether you should stay or leave, and what to do while you wait.

Do not try to start the extraction yourself. Flood water needs professional-only handling, because it carries contaminants and hides hazards, and the equipment used for it is operated by someone who knows how to use it safely. Your job is to stay safe, give clear information, and keep the affected area clear.

The water in a flooded home is not the only concern. Belongings that sat in flood water, especially soft items such as rugs, cushions, and stored papers, may have absorbed contaminants along with the water, and they need professional-only handling. Hard items can often be wiped down and left to dry, but the decisions about what to keep and what to let go stay with the homeowner, and they are best made with clear information about the water involved.

Water Extraction After a Flood: The First Steps — Louisiana water guide

What the professional does first

When the technician arrives, the first job is a careful look at the home from a safe position. The depth and spread of the water are judged, the rooms affected are mapped, and the source of the water is noted, whether it came from heavy rain, a rising waterway, or a storm. Safety is checked first: if water has reached the electrical system, the area is treated with care, and nobody is asked to wade through it.

The assessment also covers the materials the water is touching, and the belongings in the affected rooms. Flood water soaks into carpet, padding, wood, and drywall, and it carries soil and debris with it. The technician notes what was found, and explains what stages the job will cover, in plain terms, before the work starts.

One practical step after a flood is to take photographs, safely, from a dry place. Photographs taken when the water is first seen show the original extent of the problem, and photographs taken over the following days show how the job is progressing. A record over days is useful for the homeowner, and it is far easier to take now than to reconstruct later.

Removing the flood water

With the area assessed, the flood water is removed. Pumps take out the standing water, and extractors pull the water held in carpet and flooring. The work moves through the affected rooms in turn, starting with the worst affected, and the water is carried out of the home through hoses. Flood water is handled with extra care throughout, because it is not clean water.

The pace of this stage depends on the volume of water and the size of the affected area. A single flooded room is a shorter job than water across a whole ground floor, and no fixed time is promised for any individual job. What matters is that the visible water comes out, and that the dampness left behind is checked before drying begins.

The drying stage after a flood runs longer than after a clean-water leak, because the water has soaked into more materials and the home has been wet for longer. Air movers and dehumidifiers run for days, moisture readings are taken at intervals, and the readings decide when the job is finished. Patience during this stage is what makes the job last.

After the water is out

After extraction, drying begins, and moisture readings are taken through the drying stage to decide when the job is finished. The homeowner is told what was removed, what is still damp, and what happens next. Repairs to the home, and to the source of the water where it can be addressed, are separate jobs, arranged separately, and they should wait until the area is properly dry.

In the weeks after the job, watch the affected area for new damp spots or a musty smell, and call if anything appears. If you are facing flood water now, call (877) 624-0105 from a dry place. Never enter a flooded building, and never handle electrics in standing water.

Preparing for the next flood is worth doing once the home is dry. The entry points found during the visit show where water can get in again, and they are the places to watch in the next heavy rain. Gutters, drainage, and the ground around the home are worth a look once things are dry, and those habits are covered in their own guides elsewhere on this site.

Key Takeaways

The first step after a flood is to stay out of the water.
Once you are safe, call a professional from a dry place.
When the technician arrives, the first job is a careful look at the home from a safe position.
With the area assessed, the flood water is removed.
After extraction, drying begins, and moisture readings are taken through the drying stage to decide when the job is finished.

Questions About Water Extraction After a Flood: The First Steps

What is the first thing to do after a flood?

Stay out of the water. Never enter a flooded building, never wade through flood water, and never handle electrics in standing water. Get children and pets clear, then call a professional from a dry place.

Can I start removing flood water myself?

No. Flood water carries soil, debris, and contaminants, and it hides hazards under the surface. It needs professional-only handling, and the equipment used for it is operated by someone who knows how to use it safely.

What will the technician check first?

The depth and spread of the water, the rooms affected, the materials the water is touching, and the source of the water, with safety checked first. You will be told what was found and what stages the job will cover.

How long before my home is usable again?

That depends on the volume of water, the area affected, and the drying stage that follows extraction. Moisture readings through drying decide when the job is finished. Ask the technician on the day for the plan for your home.

Your Next Step

If this guide matches what you found at home, the next step is a visit — not a guess. Call and describe what you found, and the visit is arranged from what you describe. The Flood Water Extraction page explains what that service covers, and the water removal page explains what that service covers when water has spread to more than one room.

Do not enter flooded rooms while you wait, and if water is leaking, turn off the shut-off valve for that fixture where you can reach it safely from dry ground.

Keep the guides on this site bookmarked: the first guide, the signs guide, and the preparation guide cover the checks worth repeating — after moving in, and after bringing used fixtures home.

Water extraction help is available across Louisiana. See water extraction in Woodvale, Lafayette, LA for one local example, or find your town on the service areas page.