Practice good hygiene while cleaning up after a flood.
- Wash hands thoroughly after contact with floodwaters.
- Do not allow children to play in floodwaters or areas that have been covered by flood waters.
- Wash children’s hands frequently, especially before eating anything.
- Do not allow children to play with toys that have been contaminated with flood waters until they have been disinfected.
- Do not eat any food that has been in contact with floodwaters.
- Puncture wounds or cuts should be cleaned and cared for promptly. Make sure tetanus shots are current (less than 10 years).
When homes are safe to enter after a flood –
- Work during the day until the electricity is safe to use.
- Carefully use battery powered flashlights or lanterns until the safety of gas lines is determined.
- Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirt, water-proof boots or shoes, and waterproof work gloves. Eye protection, masks, and hard hats may also be necessary.
- Remove standing water.
- Shovel out mud and silt or spray with a water hose.
- Remove drywall and insulation that has been in contact with flood waters to a minimum of 4 feet and 12 to 18 inches above the flood line.
- Remove flooring if water is trapped beneath it.
- Remove all items that cannot be washed and disinfected. This includes mattresses, pillows, most upholstered furniture, wood veneer furniture, rugs, soft toys, stuffed animals, baby toys, soft plastic food containers, foam rubber items, most paper, cosmetics, fresh food, and cans with pull-top lids. (For a more complete list, see “What Not to Save After a Flood”)
- Dry everything out as quickly as possible.
- Wash all hard surfaces (remaining walls, hard surfaced floors, concrete, countertops, wood and metal furniture, appliances, sinks, plumbing fixtures) with hot water and laundry or dish detergent to remove dirt. Then sanitize with a solution of 1 cup household liquid bleach in 5 gallons of clean water. Allow the solution to dry on the surface. Be careful to thoroughly disinfect countertops, pantry shelves, refrigerators, and other any surfaces food will come in contact with. Carefully clean children’s play areas, also.
- Speed drying by opening windows and using fans and dehumidifiers.
Fresh bleach solutions should be made each day. Do not save solutions to be used the next day. Always use bleach that is at least 5% sodium hypochlorite.
Other resources: