The first hour after water, fire or flood damage

Chosen when: Is any of this true right now: I smell gas

Do not stop to photograph or turn anything off. Leave the house and call 911, then your gas utility from outside: DTE at (800) 947-5000, Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050. Do not try to shut off a gas valve yourself. Do not go back in until a Consumers Energy employee, DTE or the fire department says it is safe. Consumers Energy names floods as a cause of gas leaks, so a wet house with a gas smell is one problem, not two. Request a company on the form from somewhere safe afterward.

Chosen when: What happened: Fire or smoke

Get out, stay out and call 911. Do not go back in until the fire department says it is safe. Then call your insurer: MiReady says to ask for detailed instructions on protecting your property, taking inventory and contacting fire damage restoration companies. Contact your local Red Cross if you need help, or 800-733-2767. Photograph what you can, list what was lost and keep receipts. Request a company on the form once the building is released.

Fire and smoke · After a house fire in Michigan: the first steps, the claim clocks and the cleanup

Chosen when: Is any of this true right now: Water is near outlets, the panel or an appliance

1. Do not touch electrical equipment that is wet, and do not stand in water to reach it. MiReady and the Red Cross both say so. 2. If the panel is dry and you can reach it without wading, turn off the power to the wet area; MiReady says to turn off electricity to prevent shock if it is safe to do so. 3. If you cannot reach it dry, stay out and say so when you call. 4. Underground or downed power lines can electrically charge floodwater, per MiReady. 5. Run a generator only outdoors, away from windows. 6. Then request a company on the form and your insurer, and photograph from where you can stand safely.

Emergency water removal

Chosen when: What happened: Sewage came up a drain or toilet

1. Stay out of the standing water: MDHHS says floodwater can contain bacteria and raw sewage. 2. Stop using water in the house, because every flush and load of laundry sends more down the same pipe. 3. Photograph from where you stand and do not carry belongings out. 4. Request a company on the form and call your insurer, and tell the insurer you have water damage, not only flood. 5. Write down the date you found it: a claim against a city or county needs written notice within 45 days. 6. Keep children and anyone with asthma or weak immunity out.

Sewage cleanup · Sewer backup in Michigan: coverage, the endorsement and the 45-day notice

Chosen when: What happened: Storm or floodwater came in from outside

1. Do not go into water you cannot see the bottom of, and keep clear of downed lines; DTE says at least 25 feet. 2. Do not touch wet electrical equipment. 3. Treat the water as contaminated: MDHHS says floodwater can contain raw sewage. 4. Photograph the water line before anything is pumped. 5. Call your insurer and say you have water damage; DIFS says a standard homeowners policy typically excludes flood. 6. Request a company on the form. If you have a private well, MDHHS says to test it after a flood: 844-934-1315.

Flooded basement · Flood insurance versus a homeowners policy in Michigan, and the 30-day wait

Chosen when: What happened: Water is still coming in

1. Shut the main water valve. If it will not close, say so on the call. 2. Keep clear of wet electrical equipment and do not wade to the panel. 3. Move valuables and electronics out of the wet area if it is dry underfoot. 4. Photograph and film the damage before you clean. 5. Call your insurer and say you have water damage; write down the date, name and claim number. 6. Request a company on the form, and call a plumber for the pipe. Keep every receipt.

Burst pipe cleanup · A burst pipe in Michigan: the first hour, step by step

Chosen when: What happened: Mold or a musty smell

1. Find and stop the moisture first. 2. If you have asthma, a lung condition or a weak immune system, stay out of rooms with visible or smelled mold; MiReady says so. 3. Photograph it and note when any water event happened. 4. EPA says that under about 10 square feet most people can handle it, and that sampling is unnecessary if mold is visible; MDHHS does not recommend testing, hotline 800-648-6942. 5. Request a company on the form if it is larger, followed sewage or flood, or the moisture is not found.

Mold remediation · Does Michigan license mold remediators? What the State says

Chosen when: Any other answers

1. Photograph and film every wet room before you move anything, and list damaged belongings. 2. Keep damaged items until your insurer says otherwise. 3. Call your insurer, say you have water damage and ask what coverage is available. 4. Start drying now: EPA says to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. 5. Request a company on the form, and keep every receipt for emergency supplies. DIFS says they may be reimbursable. 6. Do not start permanent repairs until the insurer has inspected or says to proceed.

Water damage · How long does water damage take to dry? The 24 to 48 hour window and the drying log