After A Flood

Once flooding has occurred in your community there are several very important things to keep in mind.

Be aware of the risk of electrocution in your home. Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water. Turn off the electricity to prevent electric shock if it is safe to do so.

If the house has been closed up for several days, enter briefly to open doors and windows to let the house air out for a while (at least 30 minutes) before you stay for any length of time.
If your home has been flooded and has been closed up for several days, assume your home has mold.
If your home has been flooded, it also may be contaminated with sewage.
Upon entering the building, do not use matches, cigarette lighters or any other open flames, since gas or fuel fumes may be trapped inside. Instead, use a flashlight to light your way.

Do not eat any food or drink any water that has come into contact with flood water. When in doubt, throw it out!
Follow local guidance on whether your water is safe to drink.
During a water advisory, use only bottled, boiled, or treated water for drinking, cooking, etc.

Take photos of all damage before beginning any clean-up work. This can be important to document for insurance or government payments later.
Wear heavy work gloves, protective clothing and boots during clean up and use appropriate face coverings or masks if cleaning mold or other debris. If you are operating electrical equipment in wet areas, be sure to wear rubber boots.
Remove and throw out drywall and insulation that was contaminated with floodwater or sewage. Throw out items that cannot be washed and cleaned with a bleach solution: mattresses, pillows, carpeting, carpet padding, and stuffed toys. Follow local guidance for proper disposal of flood debris.
People with asthma and other lung conditions and/or immune suppression should not enter buildings with indoor water leaks or mold growth that can be seen or smelled. Children should not take part in disaster cleanup work.

Clean up and dry your home quickly after the storm or flood ends- within 24 to 48 hours if possible.
Air out your house by opening doors and windows. If available, use fans or dehumidifiers to dry wet areas. Position fans to blow air out doors or windows.
If you do not have electricity, or it is not safe to turn it on, you can use a portable generator to power equipment to remove standing water.
Throw away anything that you can’t clean or dry quickly (such as mattresses, carpeting, carpet padding, rugs, upholstered furniture, cosmetics, stuffed animals, baby toys, pillows, foam-rubber items, books, wall coverings, and paper products).
Remove and discard drywall and insulation that has been contaminated with sewage or flood waters.
Thoroughly clean all wet items and surfaces with hot water and laundry or dish detergent. For example, you’ll want to clean any flooring, concrete, molding, wood and metal furniture, countertops, appliances, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures.
Fix any leaks in roofs, walls, or plumbing as soon as you can. Ensure that crawl spaces in basements have proper drainage to limit water seepage. Ventilate to allow the area to dry out.

Never use bleach in a closed space. Open windows and doors first.
Put on personal protective equipment to protect your eyes, nose, mouth, and skin. Wear goggles, an N-95 respirator, and protective gloves.
To make your mold cleaning solution, mix 1 cup of household bleach with 1 gallon of water.
Clean everything with mold on it.

All electrical equipment and appliances must be completely dry before returning them to service.
Never use a generator, pressure washer, or any gasoline-powered engine inside your home, basement, or garage or less than 20 feet from any window, door, or vent as this can cause carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.