After a flood, do not enter your home until local authorities or qualified professionals say it is safe. Once you have the all-clear, document the damage and contact your insurer before cleanup, protect people from hazards, dry the building promptly, and get professional help for contaminated, extensive, or unsafe work.
1. Wait for the all-clear before returning
Follow evacuation orders and local instructions. Return only when authorities or qualified professionals have said the area and home are safe to enter. Floodwater can contain sewage and debris, and damaged power lines can make it electrically dangerous.
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- From outside, look for a shifting or damaged foundation, sagging floors or roofs, and other signs of structural instability. Do not enter if the building looks unsafe.
- Do not wade through floodwater or touch wet electrical equipment. If water, gas, electrical, or sewer lines may be damaged, contact the relevant utility or emergency authority rather than trying to inspect or repair them yourself.
- Do not use electricity or gas until the systems and appliances have been checked as required by local authorities or qualified utility professionals.
- Ask local officials or your health department about tap-water safety, waste disposal, and any restrictions on cleanup or reoccupation.
FEMA’s flood guidance and the CDC’s flood safety guidance emphasize following local instructions and avoiding flood hazards.
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Before moving or discarding damaged property, contact your insurance company and ask what documentation and claim steps your policy requires. Coverage and deadlines depend on your policy; do not assume a standard homeowners policy covers flood damage. Ready.gov notes that standard homeowners insurance does not cover flooding and directs readers to the National Flood Insurance Program. Your insurer can explain which coverage applies to your circumstances.
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- Photograph or video each affected room, building materials, and belongings before cleanup changes the scene, as long as you can do so safely.
- Make an itemized list of damaged or lost possessions, noting what each item is and, if known, its age and approximate value.
- Before discarding an item, photograph it and keep receipts or other records where feasible. Ask your insurer how to document items that must be removed quickly for safety.
- Keep records of cleanup and repair costs, and follow your insurer’s claim instructions.
Ready.gov provides flood recovery guidance; the National Flood Insurance Program provides information about its flood insurance program. Neither source can determine what an individual policy will pay.
3. Protect people before starting cleanup
Flood cleanup can expose people to mold, contaminated water, dust, and cleaning chemicals. PPE does not make an unsafe building safe to enter. Keep children out of cleanup work. People with asthma or other lung conditions, allergies, or weakened immune systems should avoid mold cleanup and moldy areas; seek medical advice if exposure is a concern.
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Wear appropriate protection
For cleanup work that is safe to do, EPA and CDC guidance recommends an N95 respirator, goggles without vent holes, gloves, clothing that covers exposed skin, and suitable boots or work shoes. CDC’s mold cleanup guidance also lists cleaning supplies such as dish detergent, a bucket, and a stiff-bristle brush.
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Prevent generator and chemical hazards
- Run a fuel-powered portable generator outdoors, at least 20 feet from buildings and openings such as doors, windows, and vents, and away from wet areas. Never operate one in a home, garage, or other enclosed or partly enclosed space. Follow the generator manufacturer’s safety instructions.
- Do not mix cleaning products or add bleach to other chemicals. Follow product labels and local public health guidance on whether disinfection is appropriate.
See EPA’s flood cleanup and indoor air guidance and CDC’s generator carbon monoxide safety guidance.
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4. Remove water-damaged materials and dry the home promptly
Once entry is safe, remove standing water and wet contents as soon as conditions allow. Dry the home and salvageable belongings completely and quickly. EPA warns that wet materials left for more than 24 hours can develop mold; CDC’s 2024 guidance uses 24–48 hours as a practical drying target where possible. That window signals urgency, not a guarantee that a material is safe if it dries within that time.
- Separate items that can be cleaned and dried completely from those that cannot. Remove materials that cannot be safely cleaned and dried.
- Do not assume absorbent items such as carpet or ceiling tile can be restored. Mold can penetrate porous materials, and disposal may be needed.
- Photograph belongings before discarding them when feasible, while following any time-sensitive instructions from your insurer or local officials.
- Use a wet/dry vacuum only when appropriate for the equipment and water involved; do not use it to remove contaminated standing water.
EPA’s flooded-home cleanup guide and CDC’s mold cleanup advice describe the need for prompt, thorough drying.
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5. Clean surfaces and decide whether to hire a professional
When cleanup may be manageable
If authorities have cleared the home, the water was not contaminated, the affected area is limited, and you can safely dry materials completely, EPA advises cleaning suitable surfaces with water and detergent and drying them promptly. Follow local health department instructions for disinfection and for items affected by floodwater. Do not assume porous or heavily damaged materials can be salvaged.
When to stop and call qualified help
Leave the work to experienced water-damage restoration or mold-remediation professionals when it is hazardous, contaminated, extensive, or beyond your ability to clean and dry safely. EPA advises professional experience for sewage or other contaminated-water damage. It also directs people to more extensive remediation guidance when water damage is extensive or mold covers more than about 10 square feet.
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- Sewage, chemicals, or other contaminated water entered the home.
- Water damage is extensive, or mold covers more than about 10 square feet.
- Structural, electrical, gas, or other hazards remain, or the cleanup is too difficult to do safely.
- You cannot dry affected materials completely or protect household members who may be especially vulnerable.
Ask prospective providers about relevant training, experience, and references. EPA does not certify flood cleanup contractors or maintain an official contractor list. Its mold cleanup guidance explains when more extensive remediation may be needed.
6. Confirm the home is safe to occupy
Do not treat completed cleanup as permission to move back in. Local authorities’ instructions and qualified professionals’ safety advice take precedence. EPA describes a home as likely ready for safe reoccupation when materials that cannot be cleaned and dried have been removed, essential equipment has been replaced, the home and contents are dry, and remaining surfaces are clean.
Before reoccupying, check for visible contamination, dust, musty odors, and heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) problems. Ask local officials or your health department about water safety and any remaining local restrictions, and use qualified professionals to assess unresolved utility or building concerns. EPA says mold sampling is not usually recommended as a substitute for careful inspection.
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