A Flood is always an emergency. Immediately unplug the unit and seek professional help. Do not turn the unit on to check it out. Clean water is not much of a problem, particularly if the unit is "off" during the flood. Dirty water, salt water, and beverages are always a problem -- especially if the unit is "on" during the flood.

Have the unit serviced as soon as possible. Even if the unit appears to have dried out on its own, corrosion can continue. Beverages contain sugar and other chemicals that will attract water from the air and form acids. These acids will slowly consume your unit. If the unit is severely flooded, subjected to a major beverage spill, or submerged in dirty water, and it can't get any wetter, remove power from the unit following the safety warning above and immediately flush the unit with clean water. This will limit the extent of the damage.

If you can't get the unit to a professional within a few hours, dry the unit using fans, hair dryers or heat. Most home units will tolerate baking in a warm oven. Note that cooking ovens are very inaccurate, be careful to keep the temperature below 140°F (60°C). If the unit uses massive amounts of plastic in the cabinet, be safe and limit the temperature to 120°F (49°C). Again, don't turn the unit on to check it out. Some electrically conductive residues are relatively harmless until power is applied.

One unit we remember was doused with several ounces of vegetable oil. (An adventurous feline tipped over a floating candle at 3:00AM.) We had the unit in our shop the next morning (what a mess!), cleaned it up, and more than ten years later, the unit was still in daily use. A flood is not necessarily the end of the line.