Water damage in an Olympia-area home feels overwhelming in the first few hours, but the order of steps is simple once you know it: get safe, stop the water, document everything, call your insurer and get the drying started. This guide walks through each step for the kinds of homes common in Thurston County, from older houses over crawl spaces to newer homes on slabs. To be connected with an independent restoration company at any point, email info@olympiawaterdamagewa.com while our phone line is being set up.
Hour 0: Get safe
- Electricity. If water is near outlets, cords, appliances or the electrical panel, keep away. Switch off the breakers for wet areas only if you can reach a dry panel without standing in water. Otherwise call your electric utility.
- Gas. If you smell gas, leave the house and call 911 from outside.
- Ceilings. A sagging, water-filled ceiling can come down. Keep people and pets out from under it.
- Dirty water. Flood water and sewage can carry bacteria and chemicals. Wear boots and gloves and keep children away.
- Flooding outside. Follow Thurston County Emergency Management instructions, and never walk or drive through moving water.
Hour 0–1: Stop the water
For leaks inside the home, close the main water shutoff valve. In many Thurston County homes it is where the line enters the house: in the garage, a utility closet, the crawl space or near the water heater. There is usually also a valve at the meter box near the street. On a private well, switching off the well pump's breaker stops the flow.
For roof leaks, catch what you can with buckets and plastic and arrange a tarp. For groundwater or a river, there is no shutoff: focus on safety and moving belongings up.
Hour 1–2: Document everything
Before you move or throw anything away, record it. Your insurer will rely on what you capture now.
- Take wide photos of each room, then close-ups of damage.
- Video the water source, such as the split pipe, failed hose or ceiling leak.
- Photograph water lines on walls and furniture.
- Note brands, models and serial numbers of damaged appliances and electronics.
- Keep small samples of carpet, flooring or fabric if you can.
- Write down the time you found the water and what you did.
Keep the policy number and your agent's or insurer's claim line handy.
Hour 2–4: Call your insurer and a restoration company
Report the loss to your insurance company as soon as you can. Ask how they want you to proceed with emergency mitigation, whether they have any requirements for the restoration company, and whether your policy includes additional living expenses if you need to move out.
Then get extraction and drying started. Waiting for an adjuster to visit before removing water usually makes the damage worse, and most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. A restoration company will photograph and measure everything as it works, which supports the claim. Before you sign anything, check the company's contractor registration with Washington Labor & Industries.
While you wait: what you can safely do
- Move furniture off wet carpet and put foil or plastic under legs that cannot move.
- Lift curtains, skirts and rugs off wet floors.
- Move photos, papers, art and electronics to a dry room.
- Mop or blot clean water from hard floors.
- Open interior doors and closets in wet rooms so air can circulate.
- Do not use a household vacuum on wet floors, and do not run the HVAC if sewage or soot is involved.
The first visit: what the crew will do
- Confirm the source is stopped and the area is safe.
- Map wet areas with moisture meters and often a thermal camera, including under cabinets and in the crawl space.
- Extract standing water from floors, carpet and the crawl space.
- Remove materials that cannot be dried, such as carpet pad and soaked insulation.
- Set up air movers and dehumidifiers and record starting moisture readings.
A typical timeline
| When | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| Hours 0–4 | Safety, shutoff, photos, insurer notified, restoration company called |
| Day 1 | Extraction, removal of unsalvageable materials, drying equipment set up |
| Days 2–4 | Daily moisture checks, equipment moved to slow-drying areas |
| Days 3–7 | Most clean-water jobs reach dry readings; equipment removed |
| Week 2 onward | Adjuster visit, repair estimates, rebuild of drywall, flooring and trim |
Crawl spaces, hardwood floors, plaster walls, sewage and flood water all stretch that timeline.
Why speed matters in Olympia
The U.S. EPA recommends drying water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. In Olympia's long, damp winters, materials do not dry on their own anywhere near that fast, especially in crawl spaces. That is the main reason to start professional drying the same day rather than waiting to see if things dry out.
Keep a simple claim file
- Photos and videos from before, during and after cleanup.
- Receipts for emergency purchases, equipment and temporary housing.
- The restoration company's moisture logs and list of removed materials.
- Names, dates and notes from every call with your insurer.
- The plumber's or roofer's report showing the cause.
Our Washington water damage insurance guide explains the most common coverage questions, including flood exclusions and water damage sublimits, which the Washington Insurance Commissioner has warned some policies include.
Get help today
To be connected with an independent restoration company in Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater or south Thurston County, email info@olympiawaterdamagewa.com while our phone line is being set up.
Common questions
What is the very first thing to do after water damage?
Make sure everyone is safe. If water is near outlets, cords or the electrical panel, keep away and switch off the power only if you can reach the panel without standing in water. Then stop the source by closing the main water valve, and call 911 if there is any risk of fire, gas or injury.
Should I start throwing out wet things right away?
Not before you photograph them. Your insurer will want evidence of what was damaged. Take pictures and video of each item and room, note brands and model numbers, and set aside small samples of materials such as carpet. Food and medicine that touched dirty water can go after you document them.
How long will my house take to dry out?
A clean-water leak caught early often dries in three to five days with professional equipment. Crawl spaces, hardwood floors, plaster walls and water that sat for days take longer. A restoration crew measures moisture daily and decides when drying is done from the readings.
Can I stay in my home while it dries?
Often, yes, if the water was clean, the power is safe and the drying equipment is limited to a few rooms. If the water came from sewage or a flood, if the kitchen or only bathroom is out of use, or if anyone has health concerns, staying elsewhere may be better. Ask your insurer about living expenses.
Sources
Facts on this page come from these public sources. Rules and figures change, so check the source before you rely on them.