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Immediately (safety first)

• Water source shut off (main valve, appliance valve, or fixture)
• Electricity cut to affected rooms, only if the panel is dry and safe to reach
• Everyone kept clear of water that may have touched sewage or risen from outside
• HVAC switched off if vents or ducts may have taken water

Before any cleanup: document the loss

• Wide photos of every affected room, from the doorway and each corner
• Video walkthrough narrating what happened and when you found it
• Close-ups of the water source (burst pipe, tank, appliance, roof entry point)
• Photos of the waterline on walls and furniture
• Every damaged item photographed individually before it is moved
• Serial numbers and model numbers of damaged appliances and electronics captured
• Nothing thrown away before it is photographed and listed

When you call your insurer

• Claim number written down
• Deductible and water damage limits confirmed
• Asked whether anything specific must be documented before cleanup continues
• Asked whether sewer backup or flood endorsements apply (if relevant)
• Date, time and name of the person spoken to recorded

During mitigation and drying

• Receipts kept for everything spent preventing further damage
• Restoration company's scope of work saved to the claim file
• Initial moisture readings / moisture map copy requested
• Daily drying logs kept as equipment runs
• Photos of removed materials (flood cuts, flooring, pad) before disposal

For the adjuster visit

• All photos and videos organized in one folder, by room
• Inventory list of damaged items with approximate age and value
• Receipts, estimates and the scope of work printed or shareable
• Moisture documentation from the restoration company to hand
• Notes from every insurer call, with dates and names

Unfamiliar terms on this list, such as ACV, RCV and scope of work, are all defined in the water damage glossary, and the homepage FAQ covers what Georgia policies typically pay for. For what claims like yours typically cost and how often they happen, see the Georgia water damage statistics.

Last reviewed: October 2026.