Taking the right steps after a flood can protect your health and help your
insurance claim.
Safety First:
•Watch your step: Check for structural damage, sagging ceilings, or cracks in the foundation before
going inside a structure.
•Avoid water: Do not wade through floodwaters or touch electrical equipment if you are standing in
water or if it is wet.
•Utilities: Disconnect electrical breakers and shut off outside gas meters if safe. Do not use open
flames or matches.
Documentation & Insurance
•Take photos: Photograph all damage to the structure, as well as ruined furniture and belongings,
before moving or throwing anything away.
•Call your insurer: Reach out to your insurance agent immediately to report the damage and ask
about the claims process.
•Start a log. Keep a detailed, written record of cleanup activities and interactions with your insurance
company.
Cleaning Up
•Throw it out: Discard porous items soaked in sewage or muddy floodwater (e.g., mattresses, carpets,
upholstered furniture, stuffed toys).
•Tear it out: Remove water-damaged drywall and insulation, generally up to about a foot above the
high-water line.
•Disinfect: Wash hard, non-porous surfaces with warm, soapy water, then disinfect using a solution of
no more than 1 cup of unscented household bleach to 1 gallon of water.
•Protect yourself: Always wear rubber boots, waterproof gloves, an N-95 mask, and goggles while
cleaning.
Drying Out Your Home
•Air it out: Open doors and windows to cross-ventilate the property if the weather permits.
•Use heavy-duty equipment: Rent or use fans and dehumidifiers to pull moisture out of the air and
dry the structure quickly.
•Act fast: Mold begins to grow in as little as 24 to 48 hours, so getting the property’s relative humidity
down is critical.
