When a home is hit by water, fire, smoke, or storm damage, the first hours feel both slow and chaotic. Timelines blur. Small decisions carry weight. People often tell us later that they remember the smell of wet drywall more than the sound of the alarms. That’s normal. What matters is building a simple, workable path from shock to stability. This checklist comes from years of on-call work at flooded kitchens, charred roofs, and wind-torn living rooms across the Lowcountry. It’s designed to help you protect health and safety, document what matters for insurance, and move quickly toward a clean, dry, and structurally sound home.
Safety first: stabilize people, not things
Step back and take a breath. Before you touch a breaker panel or lift a soaked rug, check that every person and pet is accounted for and out of harm’s way. In fire losses, structural integrity can be compromised even if walls look straight. In water losses, the hazard might be invisible electricity traveling through damp materials. After hurricanes and tornadoes, gas leaks and torn roof lines change with every gust. Slow down, scan the scene, and make safe decisions in the right order.
If anyone is injured, call 911. If you smell gas, leave immediately and contact your utility provider from a safe distance. If the weather event is ongoing, do not reenter until authorities say it’s safe. Your home can be saved in stages. People cannot.
Establish control of utilities
Once you’re certain the environment is safe enough for a brief reentry, focus on utilities. Water and power, left unchecked, turn moderate damage into major claims.
For electrical risks, shut off the main breaker if any part of the home is wet, if breakers tripped during the event, or if you see sparks, scorch marks, or kinked aluminum service lines. Do not stand in water to reach a panel. A dry wooden broom handle is not a safe insulator. If you’re uncertain, wait for a licensed electrician or a restoration professional with lockout/tagout training.
For water intrusion, you want to stop the source and reduce pressure on the structure. If a pipe burst or a supply line blew out, use the main shutoff valve. Most homes place it near the perimeter, waist height, with a wheel or lever handle. In slab homes, it may be near an exterior spigot box. If the city meter box is your only access, you may need a meter key. Don’t muscle corroded valves; a snapped stem causes more damage than it prevents.
For gas, if you smell rotten eggs or hear hissing, do not flip switches or use phones inside. Leave the home and contact your utility company. Let certified personnel restore service when the structure is declared safe.
Call your insurer early, then document with intention
Insurers prefer early notice, even if you don’t know the full scope. A quick first report can preserve coverage windows and queue an adjuster. When we meet homeowners who called within the first few hours, their claim files tend to move smoother because documentation starts on time.
After you contact your carrier, build a record that tells a clear story. Photograph from wide to close: exterior elevations from all sides, rooflines, gutters, and grading; then interior rooms from doorways; then damaged items with serial numbers if possible. For water, take pictures of wicking lines on drywall and baseboards before any cleanup. For fire, capture soot patterns on ceilings and in HVAC returns. For wind, note displaced shingles, bent drip edges, and missing flashing. Do not throw away materials until your adjuster has seen them or you’ve received written guidance.
Keep receipts for immediate expenses. If you must stay in a hotel or buy clothing, label those receipts as Additional Living Expense and keep them separate from other purchases. Photograph temporary repairs before and after you make them.
Make only temporary repairs that prevent further damage
Insurers expect reasonable steps to prevent more damage. They do not expect DIY heroics. A well-taped poly sheeting over a broken window protects the interior without locking you into permanent choices. A blue tarp on a roof, fastened carefully into structural members and not just shingles, buys time. Shut off supply lines to appliances and toilets that might have caused the loss.
Avoid permanent fixes before adjuster review. Installing new cabinets or ripping out every wall in sight can create disputes and slow claim approval. Moisture readings, smoke infiltration tests, and asbestos/lead hazard screening inform the right scope. Let the science lead the work plan.
Engage a qualified restoration partner early
This is where experience shows. Water and smoke spread in patterns that aren’t obvious. A living room that looks dry can hide saturated sill plates and damp insulation that will grow mold within 48 to 72 hours. Soot can be acidic, etching glass and corroding electronics as it sits. Prioritizing the right tasks in the first 24 hours saves weeks later.
Boss Disaster Restoration Inc. offers rapid response throughout the Charleston area and the surrounding communities. We use industry-standard moisture mapping, negative air containment, and detailed content handling so your home gets the right treatment the first time. If you’re juggling phone calls with your carrier and trying to figure out whether your flooring can be salvaged, we can help you choose based on the actual materials, the loss category, and your coverage specifics.
Contact Us
Boss Disaster Restoration Inc.
Address: 1055 Chuck Dawley Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464, United States
Phone: (843) 884-4000
Website: https://boss247.com/
How to read your home after a water loss
I still remember a townhouse in Mount Pleasant after a second-floor toilet line let go overnight. The owners woke up to what looked like a light rain falling from Disaster Restoration by Boss the can lights in the kitchen below. They grabbed towels and buckets, which helped, but the bigger save came from three decisions: they shut off the main, they called their carrier, and they called us for extraction and drying before lunchtime. That timing meant we could lift the toe-kicks on the kitchen cabinets, remove saturated insulation from the ceiling cavities, and set directed airflow while keeping most of the finishes.
Here is the logic we apply when we walk into a wet home. First, identify the category of water. Clean supply line? Category 1. Long-standing leak that wicked through building materials? Often Category 2. Sewage or floodwater from outside? Category 3. Category 3 water requires more aggressive demolition and disinfection, and contents handling follows stricter protocols.
Second, trace the path and measure moisture in multiple materials: drywall, wood subfloor, engineered flooring, and baseplates. A pinless meter gives a quick map, then a pin meter verifies readings in suspect areas. Third, plan airflow and dehumidification for the volume, the materials, and the weather. A cool, dry day in January is not the same as a humid July week. We take into account the grain depression your dehumidifiers can achieve and whether a closed or open drying system makes sense.
Finally, set containment where needed. If a wall cavity shows high moisture, we might drill small holes behind the baseboard and push dry air through to avoid tearing out large sections. If the water is contaminated, we isolate with plastic and negative air machines to avoid cross-contamination into clean rooms.
Fire and smoke: more than what you see
With fire losses, the obvious damage tells only part of the story. Heat drives smoke into pores and microcracks. Protein fires from kitchens can leave a nearly invisible residue with a strong odor that clings to painted surfaces and fabrics. Electrical fires may leave corrosive soot. If an HVAC system ran during the event, ductwork and coils likely need specialized cleaning.
We start with safety. Are trusses charred? Are load paths compromised? A structural engineer may need to approve temporary shoring. Next, we secure the property. Board-ups keep weather and intruders out and also satisfy many insurance policies’ requirements for reasonable care. We inventory salvageable contents by room and condition, then triage textiles and soft goods for immediate ozone or hydroxyl treatment to arrest odor setting.
Cleaning smoke is chemistry. We match the residue to the right cleaner: dry sponges for powdery soot on flat paint, alkaline solutions for acidic residue on metals, and thermal fogging or vapor diffusion for odor molecules trapped beyond surface reach. Rushing into scrubbing with the wrong agent can push soot deeper or stain surfaces permanently. We’ve helped homeowners salvage cabinetry and trim that seemed finished, simply by sequencing the steps correctly.
Mold risk: timelines, thresholds, and judgment
Mold becomes a concern anytime materials stay damp for days in warm conditions. You don’t need visible fuzzy growth to have a problem. A musty smell, cupped hardwood boards, or staining at baseboards can all indicate elevated moisture. That said, not every small patch warrants full containment and demolition. We look for patterns and extent. Sporadic spotting on the backside of vinyl wallpaper after a roof leak is one case. Widespread humidity with duct sweating and condensation across multiple rooms is another.
When concentrations are significant or occupants have respiratory sensitivities, we build a containment with negative pressure, remove compromised porous materials, clean remaining surfaces with an antimicrobial that’s appropriate for the substrate, and dry to target moisture content. A post-remediation verification, whether by a third-party assessor or a clear paper trail of readings and photos, closes the loop. On smaller areas, targeted drying and surface cleaning may be enough. The key is not to mix shortcuts with wishful thinking. Test, measure, and decide.
Contents: what to save, what to let go
People underestimate how much time is spent caring for contents. A dresser looks like a dresser until you realize it contains a lifetime of photographs and papers. We encourage homeowners to walk room by room and tag items with emotional weight first. After that, weigh replacement cost against restoration cost and time. Particleboard furniture with swollen edges after Category 2 water rarely returns to form. Solid wood can often be cleaned and re-lacquered. Electronics exposed to smoke can be tested and cleaned, but contamination can void warranties if not handled by qualified technicians.
Textiles respond well to prompt attention. We’ve revived smoke-filled wedding dresses and wool rugs that sat under a burst pipe by running them through specialized wash systems within 24 to 48 hours. Cardboard boxes full of books fare poorly in long wet periods, but with quick freeze-drying, even paperwork can be saved. The threshold is timing.
Working with your adjuster: clarity wins
Adjusters are pressed for time and clarity helps. Present a room-by-room damage summary with photos, moisture readings where applicable, and a concise description of work needed: demolition scope, cleaning methods, drying equipment counts, and estimated days on site. When homeowners share a documented inventory of damaged contents with model numbers and purchase dates, claims move faster. Be honest about pre-existing conditions. If your roof already had past-due maintenance, the carrier may split coverage between sudden damage and wear and tear. It’s better to address that straight on than to argue later without records.
We recommend asking your adjuster three questions early. First, does your policy cover code upgrades required by current building codes? Second, what is your deductible and how will depreciation apply to older finishes? Third, are there preferred vendor requirements or can you choose your own contractor? Knowing the playing field keeps expectations aligned.
Temporary housing and life logistics
Leaving home disrupts routines beyond comfort and convenience. School districts, pets, home offices, and medications all require planning. Additional Living Expense coverage can reimburse reasonable costs for lodging and meals, but policies vary in how they define reasonable and necessary. Track receipts and note who stayed, when, and why. If you need kitchen access for dietary reasons or a pet-friendly hotel, document it. Your restoration team can often stabilize a portion of the home for safe partial occupancy, for example a bedroom wing with independent access and a sealed-off work zone. That arrangement can reduce stress and costs if it fits your life.
Mail forwarding, deliveries, and sensitive documents deserve quick attention. Secure passports, titles, and financial records. If you cannot enter safely, let us know. We regularly retrieve important items using proper protective equipment, with chain-of-custody logs so nothing gets lost.
Structural repairs: pace and sequencing
Once mitigation is complete — water removed, materials dried to target moisture, soot neutralized — repairs can begin. Resist the urge to start rebuild before the environment is truly ready. Installing new drywall over damp studs traps moisture and invites mold. Refinishing hardwoods on a subfloor that hasn’t stabilized leads to cupping or gapping.
We verify with moisture meters that wood content is within acceptable ranges, typically 10 to 14 percent for many species in the Lowcountry, depending on seasonal humidity. We check concrete slabs with calcium chloride or in-situ RH tests before placing resilient flooring. We confirm insulation and vapor barriers align with the home’s building assembly. This might feel like slow work, but it’s usually the fastest route to a lasting repair.
What you can do in the first 24 hours
Here is a short, practical sequence most homeowners can follow safely once the environment is clear of obvious hazards:
- Call your insurance company and open a claim; write down the claim number and adjuster contact. Photograph every affected room and exterior area before moving items. If safe, stop the source of water or secure openings against weather with temporary measures. Separate wet items from dry, elevate furniture on blocks or foil to protect legs and flooring. Contact Boss Disaster Restoration Inc. for emergency mitigation and guidance on next steps.
Common pitfalls that cost time and money
The most frequent mistake we see is partial drying. A living room looks dry because the carpet surface feels crisp, yet the pad and subfloor test wet, so odors return and tack strips mold. Another is overcleaning soot with water-based solutions on the wrong surfaces, which can set stains. DIY demolition without containment spreads contaminants throughout the home, especially with Category 3 water or heavy smoke. Finally, choosing materials too early often leads to change orders. Put design decisions on hold until the mitigation scope is complete and the budget is clear.
Health considerations: listen to your body
Not all reactions are dramatic. Mild headaches, irritated eyes, or a scratchy throat can signal poor indoor air quality after a loss. People with asthma, COPD, or compromised immunity are more sensitive. Babies and older adults deserve extra caution. Use N95 respirators when entering smoky or mold-impacted areas. Run HEPA air scrubbers in work zones and maintain negative pressure to keep clean areas clean. If a family member feels unwell inside the home and better outside, take that seriously and adjust the plan.
Permits and code: what changes, what stays
Repair work must meet current code, not the code under which your home was built. That can mean upgrading GFCI/AFCI protection, smoke alarms, or railing heights during rebuild. If a structural element was damaged and replaced, an inspector may require reinforcement details that didn’t exist before. Policies with ordinance or law coverage help with these costs. Save your permit receipts and inspection sign-offs; your carrier may ask for them, and they show that the repair was completed properly.
After the dust settles: preventing the next one
Every disaster teaches something about a home. If a supply line burst, consider braided stainless replacements and single-handled shutoffs. If a roof leak started at a poorly sealed penetration, schedule seasonal inspections. If a washing machine drained into an older standpipe that overflowed, upgrade the Boss Disaster Restoration Inc. plumbing to handle modern flow rates. Surge protection and properly rated extension cords reduce fire risks. A simple water alarm under sinks and near the water heater often pays for itself in one prevented catastrophe.
We also see the value of small maintenance habits. Clearing gutters before storm season keeps water moving away from fascia boards and foundations. Trimming back trees reduces wind leverage. Sealing exterior penetrations with the right elastomeric products stops wind-driven rain. Labeling your electrical panel accurately saves time during emergencies.
What it’s like to work with us
When we arrive, we introduce the team and walk the property with you. We ask about your priorities: the room you need operational first, heirlooms to secure, pets to protect. We set realistic timelines based on the scope and talk through the differences between drying in place and selective demolition. We monitor daily with moisture readings and adjust equipment for efficiency. We coordinate with your adjuster and share documentation so you don’t have to play middleman for every detail. When a decision involves trade-offs — like saving existing hardwoods versus replacing with new — we price both paths and explain the risks so you can choose confidently.
Our office is centrally located for quick deployment:
Contact Us
Boss Disaster Restoration Inc.
Address: 1055 Chuck Dawley Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464, United States
Phone: (843) 884-4000
Website: https://boss247.com/
A homeowner’s quick-reference essentials
Use this compact reminder to keep your process on track without getting overwhelmed:
- People and pets first; leave unsafe structures or suspected gas leaks immediately. Control utilities if safe to do so, then call your insurer and open a claim. Document everything before moving or discarding items; protect the property with temporary measures. Bring in professional help promptly to define scope with measurements and testing. Keep receipts, track conversations, and make permanent decisions only after mitigation is complete.
Final thoughts from the field
The most resilient outcomes come from steady, early action and clear decision-making. You don’t need to memorize technical details. You need a calm sequence, a record of what happened, and a team that understands both building science and the realities of daily life. Whether you’re staring at a soaked ceiling at 2 a.m. or smelling smoke residue days after a small kitchen fire, there’s a path back to normal. With the right steps in the right order, the home you love will feel like itself again — not just repaired, but healthy, dry, and ready for the routines that make it yours. And if you want a hand mapping that path, Boss Disaster Restoration Inc. is here to help.