What to Do After a Flood

What to Do After a Flood

News Release: September 18, 2004
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing (610) 865-4400, ext. 262

• Avoid disaster areas. Your presence might hamper rescue and other emergency operations, and put you at further risk from the residual effects of floods, such as contaminated waters, crumbled roads, landslides, mudflows, and other hazards.

• Continue to listen to a NOAA Weather Radio or local radio or television stations and return home only when authorities indicate it is safe to do so. Flood dangers do not end when the water begins to recede; there may be flood-related hazards within your community, which you could hear about from local broadcasts.

• Stay out of any building if flood waters remain around the building. Flood waters often undermine foundations, causing sinking, floors can crack or break and buildings can collapse.

• Avoid entering ANY building (home, business, or other) before local officials have said it is safe to do so. Buildings may have hidden damage that makes them unsafe. Gas leaks or electric or waterline damage can create additional problems.

• Report broken utility lines to the appropriate authorities. Reporting potential hazards will get the utilities turned off as quickly as possible, preventing further hazard and injury. Check with your utility company now about where broken lines should be reported.

• Avoid smoking inside buildings. Smoking in confined areas can cause fires.

• When entering buildings, use extreme caution. Building damage may have occurred where you least expect it. Watch carefully every step you take.

• Wear sturdy shoes. The most common injury following a disaster is cut feet.

• Use battery-powered lanterns or flashlights when examining buildings. Battery-powered lighting is the safest and easiest, preventing fire hazard for the user, occupants, and building.

• Inspect foundations for cracks or other damage. Cracks and damage to a foundation can render a building uninhabitable.

• Look for fire hazards. There may be broken or leaking gas lines, flooded electrical circuits, or submerged furnaces or electrical appliances. Flammable or explosive materials may travel from upstream. Fire is the most frequent hazard following floods.

• Check for gas leaks. If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and quickly leave the building. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you can and call the gas company from a neighbor's home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional.

• Look for electrical system damage. If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell burning insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker, call an electrician first for advice. Electrical equipment should be checked and dried before being returned to service.

• Check for sewage and waterline damage. If you suspect sewage lines are damaged, avoid using the toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the water company and avoid using water from the tap. You can obtain safe water from undamaged water heaters or by melting ice cubes.

• Watch for loose plaster, drywall, and ceilings that could fall.

• Take pictures of the damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance claims.

After returning home:

• Throw away food that has come in contact with flood waters. Some canned foods may be salvageable. If the cans are dented or damaged, throw them away. Food contaminated by flood waters can cause severe infections.

• If water is of questionable purity, boil or add bleach, and distill drinking water before using. Wells inundated by flood waters should be pumped out and the water tested for purity before drinking. If in doubt, call your local public health authority. Ill health effects often occur when people drink water contaminated with bacteria and germs.

• Pump out flooded basements gradually (about one-third of the water per day) to avoid structural damage. If the water is pumped completely in a short period of time, pressure from water-saturated soil on the outside could cause basement walls to collapse.

• Service damaged septic tanks, cesspools, pits, and leaching systems as soon as possible. Damaged sewage systems are health hazards.

• Hose down the inside of the home to remove health hazards from flood water mud. Shovel out as much mud as possible. Quickly remove the water you use during this cleaning.

• If the water didn't get behind the walls, you can reduce the chances of mold and mildew by wiping down all surfaces that had gotten wet with a solution of one cup of liquid household bleach to a gallon of water. Test painted, textured or wallpapered surfaces to ensure that the bleach solution will not discolor these surfaces. To conduct this test, wipe a small area of the surface with the bleach solution, and allow it to dry at least 24 hours.

Ask a professional to —

• Check outlets before you use them.

• Relocate the fuse or circuit panel box above the level of anticipated flooding.

• Raise electrical outlets and switches, if located below the potential flood line.

• Elevate the washer, dryer, furnace and water heater above the level of anticipated flooding.

• Install a backflow valve in your sewer system to prevent backflows.

• Prevent mold and mildew by ensuring your contractor installs waterproofing materials on exterior walls, and water-/mold-resistant products, such as green board drywall materials, if used in areas that have been flooded or may be damp or wet, such as basements and bathrooms. Consult with your building professional on additional products and applications available to help you reduce the growth of mold and mildew.

• Replace drywall and insulation that has been soaked by flood waters. Water-damaged drywall and insulation must be replaced. It cannot be dried out and maintain structural integrity, or resistance to mold and mildew.