Clean Up Safely After Flooding

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health offers the following safety tips for cleaning up after a flood.

Turn Off the Electricity 

• If there is electrical equipment in the water, it could be electrified, and you could get shocked. Be sure to turn off the electricity in all flooded rooms in your home or business as soon as possible.

Stay Out of the Water

• Do not drive or walk into floodwater! It can be deeper than you expect and you could get stuck.
• Floodwater moves quickly! It can sweep even good swimmers downstream.
• Floodwater is not clean! You can get cut or hurt by debris floating in the water. There also might be small amounts of chemicals or sewage that could make you

Stay Safe

• Wash your hands. You can get sick if you eat, drink or smoke after touching the water or things that have been spoiled by the flood.
• Protect yourself. Wear waterproof gloves, boots, and other protective clothing while cleaning. These clothes should be thrown away or washed after cleanup is completed each day.
• Call your health care provider if you get cut or hurt by something in the floodwater, ask about getting a tetanus shot.
• Call your health care provider if you or a family member has any of the following:
• Fever over 100 degrees
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Severe stomach cramps

Clean Up

• First turn off the electricity in all flooded rooms. Remove all water by mopping, pumping, wet vacuuming or clearing drains.
• Clean and dry thoroughly all wet light fixtures (Don’t turn the electricity back on until they are dry!)

Throw out: 

• All ceiling tiles, paper products, baseboards, and insulation that were damaged by water
• All drywall up to four feet above the floodwater line
• Furniture that has absorbed water (like mattresses, sofas, and upholstered chairs)
• Medicines and foods that touched floodwater
• All perishable foods that have not been refrigerated for more than six hours
• Any frozen foods that have thawed

Wet vacuum, shampoo and air-dry:

• Carpets

Wash with soap and water, wipe with a disinfectant, and dry: 

• Furniture that does not absorb water (like wooden chairs and cabinets)
• All contaminated floors, counters, and other surfaces
• All cooking and eating utensils that were touched or splashed by floodwater
• Foam rubber items

Wipe with a disinfectant or wash in a dishwasher in hot water:

• Children’s toys (Don’t let children play with toys until they have been cleaned and disinfected!)

Wipe twice with a disinfectant, then air dry:

• Wood and metal studs

Open windows and doors while cleaning and for at least 24 hours after cleaning. This will help surfaces to dry more quickly, and will help prevent mold. If you can, use fans or dehumidifiers to help dry things.

Make Your Own Disinfectant

Ingredients:

• 1/4 (one-quarter) cup of bleach
• 1 gallon of water

Instructions:

• Pour bleach into water.
• Mix thoroughly.
• Dip a rag into the disinfectant and wipe dirty items.