Score the trouble from 1 to 10, then pick the next step

8 to 10: out of the room, then the right number

Water near outlets, cords or the electrical panel, or anything that sparks, buzzes or smells burnt: leave and phone 911 or Georgia Power. A downed line goes to Georgia Power, 1-888-891-0938.

Smelling gas means going outside, touching no switches and phoning 911 or the gas company; the emergency number for Atlanta Gas Light is 877.427.4321.

Ceiling bulging or dripping: stay off the floor below it, and phone 911 if it falls. Dark or foul water: keep children and pets away and phone the sewer line, (770) 431-2850 in Smyrna and 770-419-6201 for Cobb County Water System.

4 to 7: the water stopped, the house is still wet

Floors are soaked, a ceiling stain is growing or a wall feels cold and damp, but nothing is spraying and the hazards above are absent. EPA notes that after 24 hours wet, mold can start on wood, drywall, carpet and furniture, so waiting has a cost.

Gather the address, the wet rooms and the time you first saw water. Then call (678) 679-5538 and read them off.

1 to 3: a spill no bigger than a bath mat

A small puddle on a hard floor gets wiped up and watched. EPA's mold guide puts the drying deadline for water-damaged things at 24 to 48 hours, and it suggests keeping indoor humidity under 60 percent, ideally between 30 and 50. A humidity meter from a hardware store reads it.

If the spot stays damp, the smell lingers or the stain returns, move up to the 4 to 7 band.

Which office answers in which town

Smyrna: (770) 431-2850 for leaks, main breaks and sewer backups, and (770) 434-6666 at night, on weekends and on holidays.

Marietta: Marietta Power & Water, 770-794-5230 for a water emergency and 770-794-5160 for a power emergency.

Mableton: Cobb County Water System answers customer service at 770-419-6200 and takes sewage backing up inside a home or in the street, or a gushing line, at 770-419-6201. For police, fire and EMS matters that are not emergencies, Mableton lists 770-499-4182.