Emergency Action Cards

If you've just discovered water damage, the first 60 minutes shape the entire claim. These five steps preserve evidence, limit secondary damage, and let the responding crew start mitigation faster.

1. 01

   Stop the water source

   Shut off the building's main water valve, or close the supply line nearest the leak. Even partial reduction limits secondary damage and slows the IICRC S500 contamination-category drift from Cat 1 to Cat 2 to Cat 3.

2. 02

   Move valuables off the wet floor

   Lift textiles, paper, electronics, and furniture out of standing water within the first hour. Anything submerged for 24-plus hours is far harder to salvage, especially in Category 2 or 3 events.

3. 03

   Document everything before cleanup

   Photograph each affected room from multiple angles with timestamps before any mitigation begins. Adjusters need a pre-mitigation record — this protects your claim regardless of which contractor responds.

4. 04

   Avoid standing water near electrical

   Do not enter rooms where outlets, appliances, or breaker panels are submerged. Cut power at the main breaker only if you can reach it without standing in water; otherwise wait for a qualified responder.

5. 05

   Call DRR with key details ready

   Tell us the source (clean supply, sewage backflow, storm intrusion), affected square footage, building occupancy, and how long water has been present. DRR dispatches a Phoenix-metro crew within 60 minutes, 24/7.

After a fire is extinguished, the next few hours determine how much can be restored versus replaced. These steps preserve evidence and prevent well-meaning cleanup from locking damage in permanently.

1. 01

   Wait for fire department clearance

   Do not re-enter the structure until the fire department formally releases it. Hot spots can re-ignite hours after the initial event, and structural elements may be compromised in ways not visible from outside.

2. 02

   Don't touch sooted surfaces

   Soot is acidic and the oils on skin set the stain. Wiping walls, contents, or finishes before professional cleaning frequently locks the damage in permanently and increases the restoration cost substantially.

3. 03

   Limit air movement until soot settles

   Do not run HVAC, ceiling fans, or open every window during the first hour. Moving air redistributes airborne particulate into unaffected rooms. Ventilate methodically once a professional crew is on site.

4. 04

   Photograph everything with timestamps

   Document each room, every contents loss, and the exterior structure before any cleanup, board-up, or pack-out. This is the record your adjuster will rely on for both scope and contents valuation.

5. 05

   Call DRR with the fire department report

   Have the fire department report number, suspected cause (kitchen, electrical, structural, wildfire), affected square footage, and current structural status ready. DRR mobilizes a Phoenix-metro response crew within 60 minutes.

If you've found visible mold, the most damaging mistake is to disturb it. These steps preserve containment until a certified remediation crew can establish negative-air conditions per IICRC S520.

1. 01

   Don't touch or disturb visible mold

   Brushing, wiping, or attempting to clean mold releases millions of spores into the air and across surrounding rooms. Containment must be set up under IICRC S520 protocol before any disturbance.

2. 02

   Turn off the HVAC system

   A running air handler will distribute mold spores to every connected room within minutes. Shut off central HVAC at the thermostat or breaker until containment and HEPA filtration are established.

3. 03

   Find and stop the moisture source

   Mold needs liquid water — leaking pipe, roof failure, condensation, or flood event. Identifying and stopping the source is required by IICRC S520 itself; remediation without source control will recur.

4. 04

   Don't use bleach or household cleaners

   Bleach does not penetrate porous materials where mold roots live. Treatment without proper containment, HEPA filtration, and source-of-moisture control is cosmetic only and frequently makes the loss worse.

5. 05

   Call DRR with the visible extent

   Tell us the affected square footage of visible growth, how long moisture has been present, and which materials are involved (drywall, carpet, wood framing, HVAC components). DRR is IICRC S520-certified across the Phoenix metro.

Biohazard scenes — trauma, unattended death, sewage backflow, regulated medical waste — are governed by OSHA 1910.1030 and ADEQ disposal rules. Improper cleanup creates legal and health liability. These steps protect both.

1. 01

   Contact law enforcement first if applicable

   Crime scenes, suicides, accidents, and unattended deaths require police clearance and coroner release before any cleanup. Do not enter or alter the scene until it is formally released to the property owner's custody.

2. 02

   Restrict access to the affected area

   Bloodborne pathogens, sewage, and chemical exposures are regulated under OSHA 1910.1030. Untrained occupants must not enter — both for their safety and for evidentiary integrity in any legal proceedings.

3. 03

   Do not attempt cleanup with household products

   Improper cleanup violates OSHA bloodborne-pathogens standards and ADEQ regulated-medical-waste rules. Disposable wipes and bleach do not neutralize biological hazards or satisfy disposal documentation requirements.

4. 04

   Document only from outside the perimeter

   Photograph and note the situation from outside the affected zone. Avoid contact with any surface or contents within the perimeter — these become regulated medical waste requiring chain-of-custody handling.

5. 05

   Call DRR with situation type and agency reports

   Tell us the event type (trauma, sewage backup, hoarding, chemical spill), any law enforcement or hazmat agency reports already filed, and building access requirements. DRR's team is HAZWOPER-40 certified.