We had a water leak, I used a portable rug shampoo'er and I rented a wet/dry vac. Then I had the dehumidifier running, they sell for about $100.
Put on the fans. The problem is if you are away and come home with it moldy, Gee the only time I saw a huge problem on the Show where people are house hunting. A bank owned home had a sewer back up in the basement bathroom and the total cost to clean that up was under a Disney trip.
I think dh was upset and blew it out of proportion. As far as insurance. I could get for the carpets when the Ice dams leaked into the dry wall, and three walls of repair. Things attached.
I know the total damage was $2,700 for three rooms with the drywall, But really I did not rip them out, I painted with Kilz the water marks, and repainted, I did replace carpets as they were due. I bought a silver color when we moved in...no driveway paved, it was red rock so the carpets were a mess no matter what I did to prevent shoes in the house.
I remeber once when I rented leaving the tub on, the kitchen light started leaking water before I knew what was up. I turned to elec up. it was hard wood floors, so I mopped.
Another time, I had the type of furnace you had to put water in. I added water a cold night, went to bed, woke up to a downstairs of water. I did not tighten the knob and water was coming out of the radiators.
They were 11' X 14' so I lifted the edges. after using a wet/dry vac maintance lent me. Stayed at my parents that day as the window were open and fan on to dry things out. It was fine when dry.