Here are some helpful hints on dealing with water damage.

1)  Make sure the electricity is off to the affected area.  DO NOT walk through a wet basement to get to the main panel.  If necessary, call a professional to help you verify that the power is off before proceeding.

2)  Remove or dry out ALL wet items within 24-48 hours if possible.  This includes carpet, padding, drywall and insulation.  Simply vacuming the water out of the carpet and drying the area with a fan may not keep mold from developing under the flooring and inside the walls.

3)  Buy a digital relative humidity sensor or a de-humidifier which displays the relative humidity.  Mold can grow at any level above 55%, while any level below 35% is considered safe.  Remember, if the walls were soaked, or there was standing water on the floor, moisture inside the walls can still support mold growth even if the room itself shows a low humidity level.  Sometimes it's best to remove a little extra drywall just to be sure.

4)  Kill the mold.  A solution of 10 parts water and 1 part chlorine bleach will kill all mold on non-porous surfaces, and keeping a relative humidity level at or below 35% will keep it from growing back.   Be sure to keep the area well ventilated, and use a spray bottle or mop and bucket.  There is no need to rinse the surface after it dries, unless it is in an area accessible to children or pets.

5)  Once you have dried the area, killed any mold, and achieved your goal of a lower relative humidity level, only two major tasks remain.  Find out if there is anything that can be done to prevent any future flooding, and repair the damage.