Los Angeles County · After the storm
After the Storm: 48-Hour Mold Prevention Checklist
After storm water gets into your home, the first 48 hours matter most. Make it safe, stop the water, photograph everything, remove standing water and soaked materials, and start drying with fans and dehumidifiers. The EPA advises drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours to keep mold from growing.
- Emergency24/7 response
- CoverageAll of Los Angeles County
- PricingQuote before any work starts
- StandardANSI/IICRC S520
- Call(213) 659-0672
First hours
What should I do first when storm water gets in?
Safety comes before drying. Then stop more water from coming in and record the damage before you move anything. These first steps protect you and your insurance claim.
- Stay safe. Do not walk through standing water near outlets or appliances. If water has reached electrical items, shut off power at the breaker only if you can do it from a dry spot.
- Treat floodwater as dirty. Water that came in from outside at ground level, or backed up from a drain, can carry sewage. Wear boots and gloves and keep kids and pets away.
- Stop the source. Put a bucket under a drip, tarp a damaged roof only if it is safe, and shut off the main water if a pipe broke.
- Photograph before cleanup. Wide shots of each room, then close-ups of the water line, ceilings and damaged items.
- Report it. Call your insurer, or tell your landlord in writing if you rent.
The checklist
What is the 48-hour timeline after water damage?
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 0 to 6 hours | Make it safe, stop the water, take photos, call your insurer or landlord |
| 6 to 24 hours | Remove standing water, pull up wet rugs and carpet pad, move furniture off wet floors, start fans and dehumidifiers |
| 24 to 48 hours | Check walls and ceilings for hidden moisture, remove soaked drywall and insulation, keep drying around the clock |
| After 48 hours | If materials are still wet, call for professional drying. Watch for musty smells over the next two to six weeks |
Drying
How do I dry out my house after a storm?
Move water out, then move air. Surfaces that feel dry can still hold water inside, especially drywall, wood floors, subfloors and the bottom plate of a wall. A moisture meter is the only reliable way to know when something is truly dry.
- Remove standing water with a wet vacuum, mop and towels.
- Pull up carpet pad. Wet pad rarely dries in time. Carpet can sometimes be saved if it is dried quickly and the water was clean.
- Take off baseboards in wet rooms so air can reach the wall bottom.
- Cut out soaked drywall and insulation, usually a foot or two above the water line. In homes built before 1978, have it tested for asbestos and lead before cutting.
- Run dehumidifiers and fans nonstop, and empty the dehumidifier tanks often.
- Open windows only when it is drier outside. During a rainy week, keep them closed and let the dehumidifier work.
- Check the crawl space or attic if water came through the roof or under the house.
- Throw out what cannot be saved: soaked mattresses, cardboard, paper and upholstered items touched by floodwater. Photograph them first.
Insurance
What photos and records do I need for insurance?
Most homeowners policies cover mold only when it follows a sudden and accidental water event, often with a low mold sublimit. Showing that you acted fast helps, because long-term seepage and neglect are usually excluded.
- Dated photos and video of every affected room, before and during cleanup.
- The cause: photos of the roof damage, broken pipe or water entry point.
- Damaged items photographed before you throw them out, with a simple list of what they were.
- Receipts for fans, dehumidifiers, tarps, emergency repairs and hotel stays.
- A call log: date, time and name for every call with your insurer, adjuster or landlord.
Our guide on mold and homeowners insurance in California explains sublimits, exclusions and additional living expense.
Getting help
When should I call for 24/7 help?
A small wet spot on a hard floor is a job for towels and a fan. Call for help when the water is bigger than you can dry in 48 hours or has gone where you cannot reach it.
- Water is inside walls or ceilings, or a ceiling is sagging.
- More than one room is wet, or water came in at ground level.
- The water may contain sewage or floodwater from outside.
- The crawl space has standing water.
- Materials are still wet after 48 hours of drying.
- You notice a musty smell or visible mold in the weeks after the storm.
We answer 24/7 at (213) 659-0672 anywhere in Los Angeles County. We find where the water went with moisture mapping, dry the structure, and give you a written quote before any work. If mold has already started, see water damage mold remediation, or book a mold inspection to find hidden growth.
Renters
What if I rent and the storm damaged my unit?
Tell your landlord in writing the same day, with photos, and keep a copy. Roof and plumbing leaks are generally the landlord’s job to fix. If repairs stall, the city or county can inspect for free. Find the right agency for mold complaints in your city. This isn’t legal advice; contact Bet Tzedek or a tenant lawyer.
Before the next storm, work through the El Niño prep checklist for LA homes, and read why Los Angeles homes get mold to see where your home is most at risk.
FAQ
After-storm questions
My house has water damage from the storm. What should I do now?
Make it safe, stop the water, and photograph everything before cleanup. Then remove standing water, pull up wet carpet pad, and run fans and dehumidifiers. Call your insurer, or your landlord if you rent. If materials are still wet after 48 hours, call for professional drying.
How fast does mold grow after water damage?
The EPA advises drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold. Growth can begin in that window on damp drywall, wood and carpet pad, and visible mold usually appears within two to six weeks if materials stay wet.
Can wet drywall be saved?
Sometimes, if it was wet with clean water and dries fully within a day or two. Drywall soaked by floodwater, or still wet after 48 hours, should usually be cut out a foot or two above the water line. In pre-1978 homes, test for asbestos and lead first.
Should I use bleach after a storm leak?
No. Bleach does not dry wet materials and does not reach mold inside drywall or wood. Focus on removing water, drying quickly, and throwing out soaked porous items. Clean hard surfaces with soap and water.
Will insurance pay for storm water damage and mold?
Often for sudden and accidental water damage, but mold coverage is usually limited by a sublimit, and long-term seepage is typically excluded. Dated photos, receipts and quick action make a claim stronger. Check your policy and call your insurer right away.
Do I need a mold test after a storm?
Not always. If you dried everything within 48 hours and nothing smells musty, you may not need one. Testing helps when water got inside walls or a crawl space, when a musty smell appears weeks later, or when you need documentation for insurance.
More local guides are in our Los Angeles mold seasons hub.
Sources
- EPA, mold and moisture guidance, including drying within 24 to 48 hours: epa.gov/mold
- CDC, mold cleanup after floods and storms: cdc.gov/mold
- ANSI/IICRC S500 (water damage) and S520 (mold remediation) standards
- LA Housing Department: housing.lacity.gov
Last updated October 2026.
Water in the walls, ceiling or crawl space?
Call (213) 659-0672, 24/7 across Los Angeles County. We find the water, dry it, and give you a written quote before any work starts.