After a Flood

Do not return to disaster areas until you are authorized to do so. Just because the water is gone doesn't mean the danger is, too.

Returning Home:

• Don't drink municipal water until the local health department declares it safe. Boil water until it is declared safe.
• Don't operate any electrical appliances until a professional electrician has inspected them.
• Throw away any food that came into contact with flood waters.
• Discard or disinfect other items that came into contact with flood waters. Floods can carry raw sewage, dangerous chemicals and germs.
• Contact your insurance agent. Document the damage to your home with pictures or video.
• Seek medical care if you are injured. Floods create conditions where infections can spread easily.
• Ask for help when you need it. The local chapter of the American Red Cross and the Office of Emergency Management can help.
• Stay out of buildings that are surrounded by water. The water can trigger a collapse at any time.
• Watch out for animals that have been displaced by the flood.
• If your basement has water in it, empty it slowly (about 1/3 per day) to avoid collapse.
• Stay away from fallen power lines, and report them by calling 911.
• Review the Environmental Protection Agency's Flood Cleanup Fact Sheet.

Benefits of Floods

Last Updated on Thursday, 07 March 2013 11:20