What to do first in 60+ home emergencies

First step: Evacuate everyone from the affected area and call 911 from a safe location before cleanup or repair.

First step: Evacuate everyone from the affected area and call 911 from a safe location before cleanup or repair.

First step: Evacuate everyone from the affected area and call 911 from a safe location before cleanup or repair.

First step: Evacuate everyone from the affected area and call 911 from a safe location before cleanup or repair.

First step: Evacuate everyone from the affected area and call 911 from a safe location before cleanup or repair.

First step: Evacuate everyone from the affected area and call 911 from a safe location before cleanup or repair.

First step: Evacuate everyone from the affected area and call 911 from a safe location before cleanup or repair.

First step: Evacuate everyone from the affected area and call 911 from a safe location before cleanup or repair.

First step: Evacuate everyone from the affected area and call 911 from a safe location before cleanup or repair.

First step: Evacuate everyone from the affected area and call 911 from a safe location before cleanup or repair.

First step: Evacuate everyone from the affected area and call 911 from a safe location before cleanup or repair.

First step: Evacuate everyone from the affected area and call 911 from a safe location before cleanup or repair.

First step: Evacuate everyone from the affected area and call 911 from a safe location before cleanup or repair.

First step: Evacuate everyone from the affected area and call 911 from a safe location before cleanup or repair.

First step: Evacuate everyone from the affected area and call 911 from a safe location before cleanup or repair.

First step: Evacuate everyone from the affected area and call 911 from a safe location before cleanup or repair.

First step: Evacuate everyone from the affected area and call 911 from a safe location before cleanup or repair.

First step: Evacuate everyone from the affected area and call 911 from a safe location before cleanup or repair.

First step: Evacuate everyone from the affected area and call 911 from a safe location before cleanup or repair.

First step: Evacuate everyone from the affected area and call 911 from a safe location before cleanup or repair.

First step: Evacuate everyone from the affected area and call 911 from a safe location before cleanup or repair.

First step: Call the utility emergency line first before hiring private repair.

First step: Call the utility emergency line first before hiring private repair.

First step: Call the utility emergency line first before hiring private repair.

First step: Leave the home immediately without using light switches, appliance controls, phones, or garage-door openers inside.

First step: Move uphill or upwind away from the meter, regulator, buried line route, or bubbling wet soil.

First step: Call the utility emergency line first before hiring private repair.

First step: Call the utility emergency line first before hiring private repair.

First step: Call the utility emergency line first before hiring private repair.

First step: Put on shoes, keep clear of bulging ceilings, and trace the leak only from dry flooring.

First step: Stop every sink, toilet, shower, washer, dishwasher, and utility sink so no more wastewater enters the drain line.

First step: Turn the small valve behind or beside the toilet clockwise until tank refill stops.

First step: Open the affected faucet slightly so melting ice and pressure have a place to escape.

First step: Close the main water valve as soon as thawed water starts spraying, dripping hard, or staining a wall.

First step: Close the cold-water inlet valve on top of the heater or on the pipe feeding it.

First step: Keep people away from the heater and any discharge pipe releasing steam or very hot water.

First step: Stay out of rising basement water if cords, outlets, or the pump receptacle are wet.

First step: Leave the area if the odor is strong, causes dizziness, or could be confused with natural gas.

First step: Stop laundry, long showers, dishwasher cycles, and garbage disposal use to reduce flow to the septic tank.

First step: Switch off the well pump breaker if the pump is short-cycling, humming, or running with no pressure.

First step: Move infants, older adults, medically fragile occupants, and pets to the warmest safe room or another heated location.

First step: Move older adults, infants, medically vulnerable people, and pets to a cooling center, neighbor, hotel, or shaded lower level.

First step: Keep people away from steam, hot water, and hissing pipes; burns can happen before the leak looks large.

First step: Switch the thermostat to emergency or auxiliary heat if the system has that mode and indoor temperature is dropping.

First step: Unplug or switch off devices on the affected circuit, especially heaters, microwaves, hair dryers, pumps, and tools.

First step: Move people and valuables away from the wet ceiling, skylight, chimney, or exterior wall line.

First step: Keep children, pets, and vehicles clear of the door path while you inspect from inside the garage.

First step: Stop using the wall button or remote as soon as you hear a bang or see a separated spring.

First step: Call 911 if the break-in may still be active; otherwise call the police non-emergency line before disturbing evidence.

First step: Keep people away from the glass field and put on shoes, gloves, and eye protection before approaching.

First step: Check from inside whether the door slab is swollen, hinges are loose, weatherstrip is folded, or the strike is misaligned.

First step: Block the steps with cones, chairs, tape, or a closed gate so nobody uses the failed route.

First step: Photograph the crack with a ruler or coin, then mark both ends lightly with pencil and date it.

First step: Stop work immediately and leave the suspect material where it is.

First step: Stop demolition, sanding, scraping, and cleanup that can spread dust.

First step: Close interior doors to confine the bat to one room and keep people and pets out.

First step: Close doors to separate the animal from people and pets, and give it a quiet path away from occupied rooms if safe.

First step: Keep people away from the room, exterior wall, or siding gap where insects are entering.

First step: Keep doors closed while you check whether the outlet, GFCI, breaker, or plug has lost power.

First step: Cancel the dishwasher cycle and open the door only enough to stop spraying if water is still running.

First step: Turn the oven or range control to OFF and keep combustibles away from burners and the oven door.

First step: Catch interior drips in buckets and move electronics, rugs, documents, and furniture out of the leak path.

First step: Stay off ladders during rain, wind, lightning, or icy conditions.

First step: Stay inside until wind, lightning, and flying debris have passed.

First step: Keep pedestrians, children, and pets away from loose panels, nails, splinters, and leaning posts.

First step: Turn the irrigation controller to OFF and cancel any scheduled watering.

First step: Keep people out of the shed and away from the walls because the remaining roof can shift without warning.

First step: Stop the moisture source first, such as an active leak, wet crawlspace, failed condensate drain, or humidifier problem.