Whether the water came from a burst pipe, a failed sump pump, a backed-up drain or a storm tide pushing in from the bay, the first day matters most. Here is what we tell homeowners in Freeport, Merrick, Baldwin and across the South Shore when they call us.
Do not walk into standing water if it may be touching outlets, extension cords or appliances. If you can reach your electrical panel without stepping in water, shut off power to the flooded area. If you cannot, call your electric utility: Freeport Electric inside the Village of Freeport, or PSEG Long Island for most of the rest of Nassau County. If you smell gas, leave the house and call National Grid or 911 from outside.
Treat water from a storm surge, flooded street or sewer backup as contaminated. Wear boots and gloves, and keep children and pets away from it.
For a burst or leaking pipe, close the main water shutoff, usually where the water line enters the house near the meter. For a roof or window leak, move belongings out of the way and catch what you can. If water is still coming in from outside during a storm, wait until it is safe.
Take photos and video of the water line on the walls, damaged floors, furniture, appliances and the source of the leak. Insurers want to see the damage as it was. Keep damaged items until your adjuster has seen them or tells you otherwise, and save receipts for anything you buy to protect the home.
Report the loss as soon as you can and write down your claim number. Most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, so drying the home quickly protects your claim. If the water came from outside the house, the coverage rules are different, so read our guide to flood vs. water damage insurance before you assume anything.
The EPA advises drying water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. Household fans rarely do it alone. Wet carpet pad, drywall and insulation hold water long after the surface feels dry, and moisture can wick up walls and into the framing.
Professional mitigation means extracting standing water, removing materials that cannot be saved, setting commercial dehumidifiers and air movers, and checking moisture with meters until the structure is actually dry.
After a flood or a long leak, these materials usually cannot be saved: carpet pad soaked by flood or sewage water; drywall and insulation that wicked up water, which gets cut out above the water line; particleboard furniture and cabinet boxes that swelled; and anything porous that touched contaminated water. Solid wood, tile, concrete and many hard surfaces can often be cleaned, dried and kept.
Once the house is dry, the rebuild begins: new insulation, drywall, flooring and sometimes electrical or plumbing work. Rebuild work often needs a permit from your village, town or city, and which one depends on where you live. Our guide to local building permits explains who issues them.
Gotham Builders of New York is a family-owned contractor, in business since 1995, with our office at 108 W Merrick Rd in Freeport. We answer 24/7 at (516) 377-0400 and work with your insurance company from water extraction through the final rebuild.
Flood vs. water damage: what insurance covers
Who issues building permits in Freeport, Hempstead and Long Beach