After the Storm: The First 72 Hours
How a restoration company should work right after a hurricane or flood: safely, honestly, and without burning out.
1. Safety first
Don’t enter until authorities say it’s safe. Watch for downed power lines, electrical hazards in wet buildings, gas leaks and structural damage. Floodwater is contaminated, so wear protective gear. Never run a generator indoors or in a garage.
2. Triage the calls
Your phone will ring nonstop. Log every call, start with existing customers and referral partners, and be honest about when you can get there. A clear “we can be there Thursday” beats a broken promise.
3. Don’t take more than you can handle
Taking 40 jobs you can’t staff hurts customers and your reputation. Take what you can do well, and refer the rest to companies you trust.
4. Document everything
Photos before you touch anything, the cause of loss, moisture readings and drying logs. After big storms, insurance claims get extra scrutiny, and clean documentation protects both you and the homeowner. Remember that flood and wind damage are often covered differently.
5. Move fast on drying
Mold can start within 24 to 48 hours on wet materials, and in humid hurricane country it moves quickly. Extraction and removal of soaked materials come first.
6. Stay honest
No pressure tactics, no inflated scopes, no signing people up for things they don’t understand. People remember who treated them right after a disaster, and they tell everyone.
See also: hurricane season prep · flood restoration for new pros · all hurricane country guides. Build the everyday system with the 6-Figure Launchpad.
