Flooding after a storm or hurricane can cause serious damage to homes and property, but there are steps you can take to start cleaning up and rebuilding safely. Use this guide to assess your home, remove damaged items, dry out your space, and clean and disinfect after a flood.
Before you go back: Only return to an evacuated area after local authorities say it's safe. Don't step into standing water if there are downed power lines nearby, or if the electricity in your home may still be on. Wait for the power company to confirm it's safe.
Step 1: Put Safety First
- Check for gas leaks. If you smell gas or hear hissing, leave right away. Don't use light switches, phones, or anything that could spark inside. Call the gas company from a safe distance.
- Turn off the power safely. Shut off electricity at the main breaker only if you can reach it without standing in water. Otherwise, call an electrician or the power company.
- Inspect the outside first. Foundation cracks or other visible damage can mean it's unsafe to enter. If you see any, contact a structural engineer before going in.
- Don't force doors open. A swollen door may be helping support the structure.
- Wear protective gear. Floodwater can contain sewage, chemicals, and bacteria. Wear waterproof boots, rubber gloves, eye protection, long sleeves, and an N95 mask, especially around mold. Wash your hands often, and keep children and pets out of the area.
- Watch for wildlife. Snakes, insects, and other animals may have come in with the floodwater.
- Ventilate. Open windows and doors to get air moving.
- Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Use battery-operated lights. Never run a generator, pressure washer, or other gas-powered equipment indoors, in a garage, or near windows and doors.
- Get utilities checked. Have water, gas, electric, and sewer lines inspected by professionals before using them.
If you get cut or scraped during cleanup, clean the wound right away and check whether your tetanus shot is up to date.
Step 2: Document the Damage
- Contact your insurance company as soon as possible.
- Take photos and videos of all damage before you start removing anything.
- Hold on to damaged items until your insurance adjuster has seen them, if possible. Check with your agent first.
While homeowners insurance typically does not cover water damage after a flood, a policy with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) usually covers flood damage.
Step 3: Remove Damaged Items
Mold can begin to grow within 24 to 48 hours, so start removing wet items as soon as it's safe. Clearing out furniture and belongings, both salvageable and not, also makes room to clean thoroughly.
- Mattresses and upholstered furniture: Discard them.
- Carpet and rugs: Flooded carpet is likely contaminated and usually needs to be removed. Always replace carpet padding.
- Plastic, metal, and solid wood furniture: These may be salvageable. Take them outside, hose off the mud, then clean, disinfect, and let them dry slowly out of direct sunlight.
- Appliances: Have a professional check any flooded gas or electrical appliances before using them.
- Food: Throw out all food that came in contact with floodwater. Undamaged, commercially sealed cans can be saved: remove the labels, clean and sanitize the cans, then relabel them with the contents and expiration date.
- Photos and important papers: Seal them in plastic bags and place them in a frost-free freezer to prevent mold until you have time to thaw and clean them.
Step 4: Clean and Dry Floors
- Remove mud and silt with a shovel, then hose down surfaces. Start as soon as the water recedes to help prevent mold. Mud may keep appearing for weeks after the flood, so keep removing it as it shows up.
- Remove wet flooring like carpet and padding, and start drying the subfloor as quickly as possible.
- Check tile and subfloors. Tile may be salvageable, but the subfloor underneath must be checked for water damage and fully dried. Wooden subfloors that were underwater for a long time may swell and need to be replaced.
- Dry the space. Once power is safely restored, use fans and dehumidifiers to speed up drying, which can take several weeks.
Step 5: Clean the Basement
Basements are usually the first area to flood and the last to dry.
- Pump out water gradually, about one-third of the water per day. Pumping too fast can cause pressure from the saturated soil outside to crack or collapse basement walls.
- Run a dehumidifier to pull moisture from the air and from wood framing behind the walls.
- Clean and dry concrete walls. Concrete is porous, so interior foundation walls need to be cleaned and thoroughly dried.
Step 6: Open and Dry the Walls
- Open flooded walls to let them dry, which helps prevent odors, mold, and rotting studs.
- Remove baseboard trim and drywall up to at least one foot above the water line.
- Remove all wet insulation from inside the walls.
- Plaster and paneling may be salvageable, but only if air can circulate into the wall cavities so they dry completely.
- Clean wall studs by removing visible mud, then let them dry fully.
- Exterior walls: Pressure wash brick exteriors. Wood and Masonite siding will likely need to be replaced if water-damaged.
Step 7: Clean and Disinfect
Stagnant water and debris left behind by a flood can carry harmful bacteria and cause lingering odors. Once everything is dry, clean and disinfect all hard surfaces.
- Clean first. Remove dirt and grime before disinfecting so the disinfectant can do its job. Learn why in our guide to cleaning before disinfecting.
- Then disinfect hard, nonporous surfaces like countertops, floors, and salvaged furniture with an EPA-registered disinfectant such as Simple Green d PRO 3 PLUS. Follow the label directions carefully, including contact time.
- Remove porous materials that can't be disinfected, like drywall, insulation, and upholstery, if they were soaked.
Flood Damage Cleanup: Watch for Mold
In the weeks after a flood, check regularly for signs of mold or mildew, like musty odors or spots on walls and ceilings. Simple Green d PRO 3 PLUS inhibits the growth of mold and mildew when used regularly, so make it part of your routine as you clean during the weeks after a flood.
If a moldy area is larger than about 10 square feet, or if mold is growing inside walls or your HVAC system, contact a professional mold remediation company.
For more guidance, visit FEMA and the CDC's flood cleanup resources.
