Why the order matters
Safety comes before saving anything. Water and electricity together are the real danger in the first minutes, and a gas smell means leaving, not investigating. Photos come before cleanup because they are the first page of any insurance claim. Then the clock that matters is drying. EPA says water damaged areas should be dried within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold, and CDC says that if you could not dry within that window, assume there is mold.
Where valley shutoff valves usually are
The Las Vegas Valley Water District says the shutoff is usually in the front yard near the sewer riser cap, in the garage, or at the home's manifold. Find yours before you need it. If you shut it and the meter's flow triangle still moves, the leak is likely underground between the shutoff and the meter.
What not to do
- Do not walk through standing water near outlets or cords.
- Do not run a shop vac on water touching electrical cords.
- Do not mix bleach and ammonia. CDC says no more than 1 cup of bleach per gallon of water.
- Do not run an AC system you think has mold in it.
- Do not paint over a wet stain to hide it.