If you’re in Sanger and you just watched a summer storm roll through with that particular kind of wind that makes your ears pop, and now there’s water where water shouldn’t be, take a breath. What you do in the next 24 hours matters more than almost anything else in this whole process. Not because you have to be perfect. Because a few simple, calm actions right now can be the difference between “we dried it out and moved on” and “we’re dealing with mold in six weeks.”
Here’s exactly what to do, in order.
1. Stop the water, if you safely can
If it’s a roof leak or a window that gave way in the wind, do what you can to slow the intrusion — a tarp, a bucket, towels against a doorframe. If it’s anything involving standing water near outlets or a breaker panel, don’t be a hero. Cut power to that area at the breaker if you can do it safely, and stay out of the water until it’s off.
Summer storms in North Texas love to bring straight-line winds and hail that finds the one weak spot in a roof or a window seal you didn’t know you had. It’s frustrating, and it’s common. You’re not the only one dealing with it this week.
2. Document before you touch anything
Before you move a single soaked rug or start hauling out ruined boxes, grab your phone and take photos and video. Wide shots of the room, close-ups of the damage, the source if you can see it. This is for your insurance claim, and it matters more than people realize.
Adjusters weren’t in your living room when the water came in. Your photos are the proof. Get them now, while everything is still exactly as the storm left it.
3. Get the water out and start air moving
Once it’s documented and safe, start removing standing water — wet/dry vac, towels, whatever you’ve got. Open windows if the outside humidity is lower than inside (it usually isn’t in a Texas summer, so use your judgment). Get fans on the wet areas if you have them.
This is what we call Day 1 stabilizing: get the water out, get air moving, keep the affected area from sitting wet and stagnant. It buys you time and keeps things from getting worse while you sort out the rest.
4. Call a professional — today, not next week
This is the step people underestimate. Water that looks dry on the surface within a few hours can still be soaked into your subfloor, your drywall, your insulation, days later. That hidden moisture is exactly where mold gets its start, and by the time you can smell it, it’s already had a head start on you.
A professional shows up with real equipment — a thermal camera to see moisture you can’t, a moisture meter to measure what’s actually happening inside your walls and floors, and commercial dehumidifiers and air movers that do a fundamentally different job than the box fan in your garage. That’s not a knock on your fan. It’s just not built for this.
What happens after the call
Here’s the honest version of what a good first day looks like: extraction, antimicrobial application to head off mold before it starts, drying equipment set and running, and the affected area stabilized. Then, within 24 to 48 hours, a full reassessment — because storm damage doesn’t always show its whole hand on day one. This rhythm isn’t about dragging things out. It’s about not making big decisions before anyone, including your insurance company, has caught up to what actually happened.
I won’t tell you the drying equipment isn’t loud, because it is. And I won’t tell you it’s okay to shut it off early to get some peace and quiet, because that’s exactly how a manageable job turns into a bigger one. What I can tell you is this: I can’t promise it won’t be disruptive, but I can promise to make it as least disruptive as possible, and to be straight with you about every step along the way.
You’re not on your own with this
Merlene Mitigation is based right here in Pilot Point, and we know Sanger and the surrounding towns well. When Josh answers your call, he’s the one who shows up, scopes the damage, and stays personally accountable for getting it right — no call center, no stranger subbed in. That keeps things honest, and it keeps prices fair.
If you’re dealing with storm damage right now, don’t wait on it. Call (940) 703-4341 or reach out through the website, and we’ll help you sort out what’s next.
And if today isn’t an emergency for you — if you’re just the kind of person who likes to be ready before the storm hits instead of after — grab our free guide, The First 24 Hours After Water Damage. It walks through everything above in more detail, so it’s already in your hands the day you need it, not the day after.
-Ally
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