The short version

Standing water touching outlets, cords or the panel
Do not enter. Call the electric utility or 911.
Smell of gas
Leave the house, then call the gas utility or 911 from outside. Do not operate switches on the way out.
Panel and floor in front of it are dry
You may switch off breakers for wet areas, standing on a dry surface and using one hand.
Appliances that were submerged
Leave them off until a qualified technician checks them, even if they seem to work.

If it is safe to act

  1. Stop the water from a safe spot

    If the main shutoff is in the same flooded room as the panel, don't wade to it. Some homes can be shut off at the curb stop; your water provider can help with that.

  2. Kill power to wet circuits

    From a dry location, switch off the breakers that feed the affected rooms. If you are unsure which ones, and the panel is safely reachable, the main breaker turns off everything.

  3. Shut down fuel-burning appliances

    If water reached the furnace or a gas water heater, turn their gas valves off if you can reach them without standing in water.

  4. Unplug nothing that is wet

    Do not pull plugs out of wet outlets or move cords lying in water while power may be on.

  5. Call the right people

    An electrician for wet wiring or panels, an HVAC technician for the furnace, a plumber for the water heater, and a restorer for the structure.

Equipment to have checked after a basement water loss

  • Electrical panel, breakers and any outlets or switches below the water line
  • Furnace burners, controls, blower motor and the ductwork in the floor or near the slab
  • Gas or electric water heater, including the burner area and controls
  • Water softener, sump pump and any radon mitigation fan wiring
  • Washer and dryer if they sat in water
  • Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors that may have been affected

Common questions

Can a restoration crew turn the power back on for me?

Restorers can work around wet circuits with their own equipment, but deciding whether wet wiring is safe to re-energize is an electrician's call. Ask who will make that determination before power is restored.

Why is my furnace flagged after a few inches of water?

Many furnaces have burners, igniters and control boards close to the floor. Even brief contact with water can damage them or cause corrosion that shows up later.

General information for Parker, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.