Emergency? Here’s what to do right now.
Safety first. Do what you safely can from the list below, then call us. If we can’t pick up, leave your name, address and what happened, and we’ll call you back as soon as we can.
- 1
Shut off the water
If possible, shut off the source of the water.
- 2
Cut the electricity
Turn off circuit breakers in the affected areas.
- 3
Lift anything that stains
Remove items that could stain the floor: rugs, furniture feet, paper, boxes.
- 4
Save treasured items
Move breakables and high-value or sentimental items to a dry place.
- !
Sewage or visible mold? Don’t touch it.
Don’t remove items or disturb the area. Cross-contamination can occur.
Emergency questions
Where is my main water shutoff?
In most Rapid City homes it’s where the supply line enters the house, often on a basement wall near the front, or in a utility closet in a home built on a slab. Turn the handle clockwise until it stops, then open a faucet on the lowest floor to drain the pressure. A leaking water heater, washer or toilet usually has its own valve right at the fixture.
Is it safe to walk through the water?
If water has reached outlets, the furnace, the water heater or anywhere near the electrical panel, switch off the breakers for that area first. If the panel itself is wet, or you’d be standing in water to reach it, don’t touch it: call the utility or an electrician.
Should I take photos?
Yes, more than you think you need. Photograph the source, the standing water, the rooms and your belongings before anything gets moved: wide shots first, then close-ups. Keep any receipt for the failed part. We use those photos when we document the loss and bill your insurance.
Should I pull up wet carpet or drywall?
Lift boxes, rugs, wood furniture legs and anything with dye in it off wet flooring within the first hour, because stains can transfer permanently. Leave wet drywall, baseboards and insulation alone: tearing them out before they’re photographed can cause problems with your insurance claim.
What happens when your crew arrives?
We stop the water if it’s still running and start extraction. While that runs, we map how far the water traveled with moisture meters and thermal imaging, because it rarely stops where you can see it. Air movers and dehumidifiers go in that night, and we come back daily to take readings until everything is dry.
What happens on an after-hours call →How long will the drying take?
Most basement floods take three to five days of active drying, depending on how far the water traveled, the type of flooring and how wet the framing got. The equipment stays until the meter readings say it’s dry. Pulling it early is how people end up calling us back.
Water damage restoration →