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What To Do In A Water Emergency
What To Do In A Water Emergency
4.9 RATING

What To Do In A Water Emergency

Before the water and chaos even have time to settle, you must act quickly and professionally.

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June 03, 2026
What To Do In A Water Emergency

Before the water and chaos even have time to settle, you must act quickly and professionally. Remember that this is still a chaotic situation, so you should always communicate with your partner or manager at every step of the way, as well as stay alert to the condition of your home and your family's needs. As soon as you realize that flooding is becoming a problem, turn off the main water valve for your building and call the insurance company. Make sure to get an inspector in as soon as possible to determine what repairs must be done before turning on the water again. You should get help drying your property immediately because mold can set in within 24 hours. Tidal Wave Response specializes in water damage restoration so we can preserve as much as possible and quickly.

Turn Off the Water

If the water is still on, turn it off. Do not touch electrical equipment or appliances that may have been submerged in water. If the water level is above your head, leave the building immediately. Do not use elevators during a flood; they may fail to work properly or stop working altogether. If you cannot safely exit the building, move to an upper floor where you are less likely to encounter electrical hazards.

If there is no obvious water source (such as a flood or broken pipe), turn off all faucets and other water sources such as sprinkler systems or washing machines. Check basements first because they are most likely to flood due to poor drainage systems in older homes; if there is no sign of flooding in your basement after checking all outside faucets, check upstairs bathrooms and kitchens next.

Reviews

Cassandra Abdus-Salaam

Alpharetta, GA

Hi. I don’t know where to start. John and Tidal wave his company were and still are a blessing from my Lord. One morning in January of this year I went down stairs and stepped in a puddle of water it was flooded. I also passed out. This was the second one in less than a year. I stood there for a minute and just cried. All I could think of was my insurance company may not take care of it a second time even if it was for a different leak. The last claim they paid out $23,000 for…

John Ayer

Atlanta, GA

John Mayer, Principal of Tidal Wave Response, and his project management team, lead by Colin Galubinski, has completed the restoration of my home in record time. The work included, but was not limited to the following: 1) Professional water leak detection 2) Professional plumbing that removed the concrete slab and backfill material, found and repaired the PEX cold water pipe 3) Backfilled and placed concrete to finish grade 4) Packed the furniture to storage. Restored the furniture without incident nor damage. 5) Dehumidified and removed the damaged carpet and hardwoods. 6) Cleaned the concrete surface and installed the new hardwoods.…

Spenser Hewett

Brookhaven, GA

I have worked in sales and also have experience in launching my own business. It is rare that you find a company that genuinely has your best interest in mind. Not only was John helpful outside of his business’ expertise, but he sent Chris to do a *free* evaluation of our water damage. John and Chris were both genuine and personable. They cared about what our situation was and they weren’t looking to get any sort of “fee” for their time. These are the kind of people you trust to handle big, catastrophic water damage to. I have previously had…

James B

Chamblee, GA

While others might categorize John as a fast talker, but on the other hand. I saw a man that's passionate about his business and willing to help others elevate their present situation. In early December 2022, our laundry room floor and wall got water damaged due to leakage from the hotline pipe, and other rooms got impacted due to water spreading. So, I reached out to John and he assured me they'll do everything within their power to get our house done before Christmas day. Boy was he right! John and the tidalwave response team were professional, helpful and got…

Anne Berman

Cumming, GA

We did not plan to renovate our terrace level but when the hot water heater leaked and flooded the entire area, Tidal Wave was recommended to us by the plumber who installed the new hot water heater. John, the owner was at our house the same evening and mitigation started early the next morning. The crew professionally removed wet drywall, flooring, and baseboard. Fans and dehumidifiers ran for several days and then the fun began. With Colin's help we were able to choose updated flooring, repaint a color of our choice, and new trim was installed. Everything was completed professionally.…

Hunter smith

Decatur, GA

Wow incredible company! I had a water damage that destroyed my entire main level. John and his team are very quick and efficient. When I was looking on google, tidal wave response was the only water restoration company with a 5 star review. Highly recommended using tidal wave response!!

Meme Dupree

Doraville, GA

I had a flood in my downstairs living room. It was devastating. John with Tidal wave was very professional. He had his team show up immediately to get the job done. Great work Tidal Wave. I'm definitely going to refer you to others.

pam kunc

Duluth, GA

Thank Goodness !!! Johnny on the spot! We had a pipe ruptured in the ceiling and we were looking for a 5 Star Rated Water Restoration company . Johnny came out with a Thermal Camera and found the pipe spraying behind the wall. I wish I would have called him sooner . My wood floors were so damaged by the water, they all will need to be replaced. We highly recommended Johnny with Tidal Wave. Very knowledgeable and even helped us start a claim with our insurance ..

Randy Fann

Dunwoody, GA

Had a shaky start with this particular project but I must say the owner took charge and corrected all the remaining issues. I will say that this particular job was the absolute worst I have taken on in 45 yrs. My hat is off to Mike and his crew and Allan was superb in making sure everything was done correctly. Thank you for your follow-up on this project guys. And Allan thank you especially for your thoroughness in making sure it was completed correctly.

Kadeja Edwards

Johns Creek, GA

Unfortunately, my water heater was old, cracked, and leaking water onto the supported area in my garage. I needed to replace the water heater with a new one, but the plumber told me that in order to meet the city code, I would have to handle the water damage first. I called out tidal wave (who I’ve worked with before), and they came out the very next day to cut out the affected area and treat for mold. This is my second issue with water in my house and tidal wave has taken care of both issues. They are fast,…

Call Your Insurance

If you have homeowner's insurance, call your insurance agent or company and report the damage as soon as possible. They will want photographs of the damage along with an estimate of how much it will cost to repair or replace items that were damaged by floodwaters. The sooner you report damage, the sooner they can begin working on your claim and assist with covering costs related to repairs or replacement items for your home or business.

Call Tidal Wave Response

In the aftermath of a flood or other water emergency, you may worry about mold growth and how long it will take before your home is livable again. Mold is one of the most common concerns in homes with water damage. It takes just 24 hours for mold to begin growing if there's moisture present, so it's extremely important to dry out wet areas as quickly as possible.

Begin Drying Immediately

Once the flooding has subsided, remove wet items from your house as soon as possible. You can use fans if necessary to help speed up the drying process and ensure mold does not grow on your belongings. Keeping track of what items have been drying for at least 24 hours before placing them back into your home is important. For example, clothing should be dried completely before being worn again so that any remaining moisture does not cause health issues or trigger allergies in those who later wear it.

Stop Further Damage

Contain any further damage by placing a tarp over wet carpeting and flooring to prevent mold from growing. Use a wet vacuum to remove excess water from floors or carpets; never use a regular vacuum that could spread bacteria and other contaminants throughout the house. Stop all sources of electricity before attempting any work on electrical components or wiring. Do not touch any electrical component if you have wet hands or feet; turn off power at the main circuit breaker panel first.

Reasons to Choose Tidal Wave

We Bill Your Insurance Directly

We Bill Your Insurance Directly

We Accept All Insurance Claims

We Accept All Insurance Claims

Licensed & Certified Technicians

Licensed & Certified Technicians

30 Minutes Response Time

30 Minutes Response Time

Locally & Family Owned

Locally & Family Owned

24/7 Emergency Service

24/7 Emergency Service

Never an Overtime Charge

Never an Overtime Charge

Move What You Can

If possible, move furniture away from walls and floors to allow water to drain freely away from them. If an item is too heavy to move or could be damaged by water removal methods (such as using fans), cover it with plastic wrap before moving it so that it doesn't become damaged by wetness or dust mites in the air.

Restoration Begins

The next step is to begin the cleanup process. This may seem like an overwhelming task, but don't panic. Tidal Wave Response works quickly and efficiently. You'll need to get your property back in order as quickly as possible so that you can resume normal activities.

Tidal Wave Response

To sum up, Tidal Wave Response believes that in a serious water emergency, you can lose your home and all its contents within one to two days of the flood. We recommend calling us as soon as the water enters your property. One of our licensed contractors will get to you quickly and assess the damage. The quicker we get the call, the quicker we can begin any water damage restoration and water damage repair.

Our Services

From emergency water extraction to full property recovery, Tidal Wave Response provides the fast, expert care you need. Browse our complete suite of 24/7 restoration services below to see how we can help today.

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