First time I may need to file a claim with my renter’s insurance. Toilet overflowed leading to flooding of my apartment down to the unit two floors below mine.

Quick back story: woke up Thursday morning to the water level in my toilet being low and a hissing sound coming from the back. Tried to flush and it was weak. Tried plunging and an auger without success. Closed the lid and haven’t touched it since. Notified management that day through our portal with no response within a business day so I submitted a duplicate work order Friday and left a voicemail on the maintenance line. Still no response.

Throughout this time, this toilet wasn’t used. Since the water level never changed and nothing was happening except the hissing noise, I didn’t think to shut the water off to the toilet. Unfortunately, something must’ve happened overnight because my neighbors were waking me up at 6:30 because water was coming from their ceiling. I Immediately shut off my toilet’s water and the level went down to normal. We all called the emergency line and an emergency plumber was requested, but unsure when they will be here. I rushed to Lowe’s to get a wet/dry vac and have been cleaning up all morning.

My question: since my apartment is the source, should I notify my renter’s insurance now before any losses, causes, or liabilities have been identified?