House flooded? Who to call tonight in Orlando, in this order

Water spreading through your Orlando-area home? Shut off the main valve, then call or text CFDR at 321-420-7274: Ryan Solberg matches you with a restoration company that extracts the water and starts drying. Photograph everything before it moves and report the claim. Citizens policyholder? Call Citizens first (866-411-2742); with other insurers, ask about managed-repair rules before you sign a repair contract.

Updated Oct 2026

Active loss? Call. Don't fill in a form.

Who do I call first when my house floods?

1. Make it safe and stop the water. Shut off the main valve. Cut power at the breaker only if you can reach it without standing in water. Leave any room with a sagging ceiling. Move electronics, documents and medications to dry, higher ground if that is safe. Tell your insurer where to reach you (s. 627.7142).
2. Call CFDR. Ask the matched company for its arrival time before you agree to anything.
   Call 321-420-7274Text a photo
3. Photograph and video everything before you move it, and keep the failed part. Florida's Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights tells you to “take photographs or video of damage before and after any repairs” (s. 627.7142).
4. Report the claim today. Florida bars a claim that is not reported within 1 year (s. 627.70132).

   Citizens HO-3 or DP-3 policyholder with a plumbing or appliance leak? Call Citizens first at 866-411-2742 (24/7) and ask about Emergency Water Removal Services. If you hire an outside dry-out company instead. Citizens water damage rules →

   Storm, fire or sewage loss, or Citizens' vendor hasn't arrived? Call Ryan at 321-420-7274.

   Citizens' Managed Repair Program covers water damage “not caused by weather”.

5. Let the company extract and dry, but get the scope in writing first. On an insurance job, Florida bars contractors from giving you a repair authorization without a good-faith, itemized estimate (s. 489.147(2)(e)). Ask for proof of insurance (s. 627.7142). Read the work authorization before you sign: Florida's construction lien law lets unpaid contractors and suppliers claim a lien on your property (s. 713.015). How to protect yourself →
6. Call a licensed plumber to repair the source. A restoration company dries the building; it does not fix the pipe. Pipe burst: who to call first →

Can someone come tonight? How fast will a restoration company get here?

Ask the matched company for its arrival time before you agree to anything.

After a hurricane or tropical storm, crews are scarce. Can't find a crew after a storm? →

Should I call my insurance company or a restoration company first?

Do both tonight. Protecting the property from further damage is a duty in your policy: the Tower Hill HO-3 form that Citizens uses lists “protect the property from further damage” under Duties After Loss (policy form). The Citizens exception is in step 4. For the full claim timeline, see the Florida insurance claim guide → Flooded rooms with outlets or gas appliances: read the power, gas and carbon monoxide safety steps →

My insurance company's water-mitigation vendor hasn't shown up. What now?

• Call your insurer back and ask for a firm arrival time, in writing if you can. Note every call.
• Keep preventing further damage and keep the receipts (s. 627.7142).
• Citizens policyholders in its program: ask Citizens before hiring anyone else, because declining the program changes your limits (Citizens FAQ).
• Otherwise, CFDR can match you with a company.

Is it flood or water damage? It changes who pays

• Homeowners policies must warn that they do not cover flood “EVEN IF HURRICANE WINDS AND RAIN CAUSED THE FLOOD” (s. 627.7011(4)(b)).
• Flood claims go to your flood policy; the NFIP proof of loss is due within 60 days (FEMA).
• Your insurer decides coverage, not the contractor or CFDR.

What should I not do while I wait?

• Don't throw out damaged items before photographing them.
• Don't sign an assignment of benefits: it is void for policies issued on or after Jan 1, 2023 (s. 627.7152(13)).
• Don't run a household vacuum on standing water.
• Don't enter rooms where water touches outlets.

How long does it take to dry out a flooded house?

EPA advises drying water-damaged materials within 24–48 hours to prevent mold (EPA guide). How long the full dry-out takes depends on what got wet and the water category; see how long water damage takes to dry →

What does emergency water extraction cost in Orlando?

See what drives water damage restoration cost in Orlando →