The first hour in a wet house: a checklist for Auburn, Carl and Mulberry

Check where the water is before checking what it ruined. When it touches outlets, cords or the panel, the CDC's guidance comes down to three points. Cut the main power only from a dry spot. Bring in an electrician when that is out of reach. Never wade through standing water toward the switch. The same guidance rules out flipping power on or off from a wet floor, or running an electric tool or appliance there.

A gas smell ends the checklist. Per the CDC, the order is main gas valve off, windows open, everyone out at once, then word to the gas company, police or fire department, with no sparks created along the way. Atlanta Gas Light's leak line is 877.427.4321, and its page says to call from away from the leak. If unsure, step outside and phone 911.

A supply line or hose that is still running gets shut at its valve, or at the main. The University of Georgia field report urges readers to locate the main water cutoff ahead of time, which is easier on a dry day. If the meter is the question, the EPA's WaterSense program suggests noting the reading, running no water in the house for two hours, then reading it again.

Water coming from the street, a main or the meter side is the utility's problem. Auburn lists (470) 606-3047 for emergency water issues only, Barrow County lists 770-307-6610 after hours, and Gwinnett's dispatch line is 678.376.7000.

FEMA's list of what an insurer needs starts with photos and video, inside and outside the house. It also asks for the date, time and cause, a description of the damage, an inventory of what was damaged, and receipts for anything bought to limit the damage. Keep the policy number close, along with a way to reach the insurer.

The Red Cross makes the same point in fewer words: photograph the damage, save the receipts and cover holes as a temporary repair. Nothing on this page promises that a claim will be paid. That decision belongs to the insurer.

The CDC says to start drying as soon as possible with fans and dehumidifiers and to point the fans outward. The EPA's guideline for wet materials and belongings is 24 to 48 hours, and it is a guideline for the general case, not a deadline written for any one house. The CDC adds that a house is ventilated for at least 30 minutes before anyone stays long.

Sewage changes the list. The Hurricane Sandy advisory says not to use fans in a sewage-contaminated house, and that bleach can corrode and does less on dirty surfaces. A flooded heating and cooling system waits for an experienced mold professional to clean it before it runs, says the CDC.

The Red Cross says absorbent items that cannot be cleaned, such as mattresses and carpeting, are thrown out. The CDC's rule for food that touched floodwater is when in doubt, throw it out, and suspect water is not used for dishes, teeth or food.

The Sandy advisory is blunt about materials soaked by contaminated floodwater: wet carpet and padding come out with the tack strips, soaked drywall is cut out, and fibrous insulation is removed. A clean-water leak caught early is a gentler case, and a contractor with a moisture meter can say which one a house has. The advisory treats wood framing as dry at 15 percent or less on a meter.

A ceiling that bulges is covered on ceiling and wall leaks, and water rising from the ground on flooded basement and crawl space. Whichever it is, the next step is a conversation.

Call us and describe the room, the water and what you have already done.