All emergency steps

Sewage backup in the home

Gas smell, sparking, or anyone hurt: leave and call 911.

How to keep people safe and limit contact when sewage or black water backs up into your home.

Before you start

• Sewage carries germs that can make people sick. Do not try to clean it up yourself.
• If the water is near outlets, cords, appliances or the electrical panel, stay out of it. Leave and call your electric utility or 911.
• If you smell gas or anyone is hurt or feels faint, leave and call 911.

Steps

1. Keep children and pets out of the area. Close the door if you can.
2. Do not touch sewage or wet items with bare skin. Do not walk through it.
3. Stop running water in the home. Do not flush toilets, run sinks or use the washing machine.
4. Do not run the heating or cooling system if sewage may have reached the vents.
5. If sewage touched your skin, wash with soap and clean water right away. Call a doctor if anyone feels sick.
6. Call your sewer utility if you are on a public sewer. If you have a septic system, call a septic service or plumber; your local health department can also tell you what to do.
7. Call a professional who cleans up sewage damage.

After

• Take photos from outside the affected area, without touching anything.
• Do not eat or use food, medicine or other items that the sewage touched.
• Write down the time, then call your insurance carrier using its own number.

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Script version 8f3f29722f4a · approved 2026-10-22