Repairing Your Flooded Home PDF - American Red Cross

RepairingYourFloodedHome

Repairing Your Flooded HomeContentsStep 1. Take Care of Yourself First . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Protect yourself and your family from stress, fatigue, andhealth hazards that follow a flood.Step 2. Give Your Home First Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Once it is safe to go back in, protect your home and contentsfrom further damage.Step 3. Get Organized . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Some things are not worth repairing and some things may be toocomplicated or expensive for you to do by yourself. A recovery plancan take these things into account and help you make the most of yourtime and money.Step 4. Dry Out Your Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Floodwaters damage materials, leave mud, silt and unknowncontaminants, and promote the growth of mildew. You need todry your home to reduce these hazards and the damage they cause.Step 5. Restore the Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20The rest of your work will be much easier if you have heat,electricity, clean water, and sewage disposal.Step 6. Clean Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24The walls, floors, closets, shelves, contents and any other floodedparts of your home should be thoroughly washed and disinfected.Step 7. Check on Financial Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Voluntary agencies, businesses, insurance, and governmentdisaster programs can help you through recovery.Step 8. Rebuild and Floodproof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Take your time to rebuild correctly and make improvementsthat will protect your building from damage by the next flood.Step 9. Prepare for the Next Flood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40Protect yourself from the next flood with flood insurance,a flood response plan, and community flood protection programs.This step also includes sources to go to for additional assistance.Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49Important Phone Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back CoverSafety Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover2

Repairing Your Flooded HomeAbout This BookThis information is published by the Federal Emergency ManagementAgency (FEMA) and the American Red Cross to help flooded propertyowners. It is designed to be easily copied. Permission to reproduce all orany section of this material is hereby granted and encouraged.Copies of this book are available from your local Red Cross chapter orby writing:FEMAP. O. Box 2012Jessup, MD 20794-20123

Repairing Your Flooded HomeFollowing A FloodThis book gives step-by-stepadvice you can use to clean up,rebuild, and get help after a flood.Before you start, read the safetyprecautions at the top of this documentand review the nine stepsthat are summarized on the contentspages.Your home and its contentsmay look beyond hope, but manyof your belongings can berestored. If you do things right,your flooded home can be cleanedup, dried out, rebuilt, and reoccupiedsooner than you think.While you are doing the jobahead, you should remember thesethree important points:1. Play it safe. The dangers arenot over when the water goesdown. Read the safety precautionsat the top of this document.Your home’s foundationmay have been weakened, theelectrical system may haveshorted out, and floodwatersmay have left behind thingsthat could make you sick.Many flooded items, such aswallboard and mattresses, willhold mud and contaminationforever. When in doubt, throwit out. Don’t risk injury orinfection.2. Ask for help. Many peoplecan do a lot of the clean up andrepairs discussed in this book.But if you have technical questionsor do not feel comfortabledoing something, get professionalhelp. If there is a federaldisaster declaration, a telephone“hotline” will often be publicizedto provide informationabout public, private, and voluntaryagency programs to helpyou recover from the flood.Government disaster programsare there to help you, the taxpayer.You’re paying for them;check them out.3. Floodproof. It is very likelythat your home will be floodedagain someday. Floodproofingmeans using materials and practicesthat will prevent or minimizeflood damage in thefuture. Many floodproofingtechniques are inexpensive orcan be easily incorporated intoyour rebuilding program. Youcan save a lot of money byfloodproofing as you repair andrebuild. See Step 8. You shouldalso prepare for the next floodby buying flood insurance andwriting a flood response plan.4

Repairing Your Flooded HomeAcknowledgementsThis book was prepared for theFederal Emergency ManagementAgency under Contract NumberEMW-89-C-3024 and EMW-91-K-3738.FEMA and the American RedCross gratefully acknowledge thethoughtful assistance provided bythe many individuals whoreviewed this book. Reviewersincluded repair and reconstructioncontractors, mental health professionals,sociologists, researchers,disaster assistance specialists,insurance experts, underwriters,structural engineers, public healthagents, floodplain managers,emergency managers, educationspecialists, editorial experts, andgraphic designers.5

1S T E PTake Care of Yourself First1S T E PTake Care of Yourself FirstYou and your family have beenthrough a disaster. Your lifehas been turned upside down, andit will take time for things toreturn to normal. Take a fewminutes to review the safety andhealth precautions listed at the topof this document. Also, you shouldwatch out for symptoms of anxiety,stress, and fatigue.With all the cleanup and repairjobs awaiting you, it may seemodd to spend the first chapter of aflood recovery book talking aboutemotional issues. But a disastercan do damage beyond the obviousdestruction and debris you seeeverywhere. You should recognizethat the flood can take its toll onyou as well as your property. Thisfirst section is designed to remindyou that you need to look afteryourself and your family as youfocus on the obvious tasks ofcleanup and recovery. Your hiddenenemy is stress. Watch for it.Care for YourselfYour body reacts to stress in manyways. You may expect to experienceone or more of the warningsigns as you deal with the floodingand recovery. Your body is justreminding you that times aredifficult. Reactions to stress arecommon and usually temporary.Need some relief? Here are somesteps you can take to relieve yourtensions.Keep the family togetherEven in bad times, togethernessprovides mutual support for allmembers.Discuss your problems. Talkto family and friends. Share youranxieties. Let others talk to you tohelp release tension. Crying is anatural response to a disaster. It’salso a great way to release pent-upemotions.Rest often and eat well. Youare more likely to suffer fromstress and health problems whenyou are weak. Being active helps,but don’t overdo it. Your bodymust have proper rest and nourishmentfor you to keep going.Set a manageable schedule.You have a million things to do,but you can’t do everything atonce. Make a list and do jobs oneat a time. Establish a schedule toclean up and rebuild. Followingthe steps in this booklet will helpyou. Try to return to your prefloodroutines as quickly as possible.Routines give you somethingpredictable to depend upon.Watch for signs of stress. Youhave just been through a disasterand the recovery period can belong, hard, and chaotic. Don’t besurprised if you experience tensionor see signs of stress in familymembers. Often other people willnotice problems more readily thanyou do. Listen to them.Seek help. If you cannot shakefeelings of despair or other telltalesigns of stress, get professionalhelp. Special outreach programsand crisis counseling are often setup following a disaster because somany people need help to copewith their situation. Contact theRed Cross for programs availablein your area.Warning Signs of Stress• Short tempers, frequentarguments• Greater consumption of alcohol• Smoking more than usual• Getting upset over minorirritations• Difficulty sleeping, bad dreams• Aches, pains, stomach problems• Apathy, loss of concentration• Depression6

1S T E PTake Care of Yourself FirstHelping Children• Keep the family together• Listen to them• Explain what happened• Reassure them• Be understanding• Take care of yourselfFloodproof as you rebuild.People who are prepared ahead oftime are better able to deal withdisasters. Getting ready for thenext flood can give you a sense ofcontrol over the future. Besides,floodproofing will be a definiteimprovement to your property.Care for your children.Watch your children closely. Youcan expect to see them display fearor symptoms of stress.Fear is a normal reaction to anydanger that threatens a person’swell-being. Because their dailyroutine has been interrupted, childrenmay experience considerableanxiety and fear. Those feelingsare real and natural. You can helpyour children deal with thedisaster by keeping in mind thefollowing points.Try to keep the familytogether. Make an effort toestablish normal family routines.Include children in cleanupactivities. Children need andwant to be important parts of thefamily.Listen to what children say.Encourage them to talk orotherwise express their feelings.Teenagers may need to talk withother teenagers.Explain the disaster factually.Children have vivid imaginationsand what they don’t understandcan make them fearful. Knowingthe facts can help children dealbetter with the disaster.Reassure children. Show themthrough words and actions thatlife will return to normal .Touching and holding are important.Hugs help. Try to find orreplace pets or favorite toys.Be understanding. Avoidscolding children for things thatmight be flood-related, such asbed wetting, thumb sucking, orclinging to you. Remember,they are also going through arough time.Take care of yourself. Yourchildren reflect your fears andworries. If you take care of yourself,you will be better able to helpyour children cope.Stay healthyInfants, pregnant women, andpeople with health problemsshould avoid the flooded areauntil cleanup is complete. Smallchildren tend to put things intheir mouths. Pregnant womenneed to be cautious to avoidinjury and exposure to disease.People with health problems aremore likely to get sick or beinjured.The Red Cross can help youreplace medicine or lost prescriptionsafter a disaster.Your body is used to beingclean. When you work in an areathat has been flooded, you will beexposed to dangerous chemicalsand germs that you are not usedto and can make you very sick.Wash your hands with soapand water, thoroughly andoften. This is especially importantbefore handling food, eating,or smoking. If possible, use anantibacterial soap on your hands.Avoid biting your nails.Confirm that the water isclean and safe. Don’t drink it orwash dishes until you’re sure.(See Step 5).7

1S T E PTake Care of Yourself FirstDisinfect dishes and all itemsthat floodwaters touched.Instructions for cleaning anddisinfecting appliances and householditems are covered in Step 6.Don’t hurt yourself. Items aremuch heavier when wet. Don’ttry to move large objects byyourself. Unfortunately, injuries,especially back injuries, are acommon side effect of cleaningup after a flood.Watch out for fatigue. Whenyour body is tired, you are moreprone to accidents. Set a realisticschedule for the work you will doeach day.Be Safe Around Poisons.Many of the products you will useto clean, disinfect, and repair yourhome are poisons. Read andfollow label instructions. Andkeep all chemical products out ofthe reach of children. Have thenumber for your local PoisonControl Center posted by yourtelephone and call right away ifanyone is poisoned.Report health hazards. Tellthe Health Department aboutanimal carcasses, rats, dangerouschemicals, and similar hazards onyour property.Be patient. Above all, try to bepatient with your family, yourneighbors, the local, state, andfederal authorities, and volunteeragency personnel. Rememberthat many others are in the samesituation you are in, and it maytake time for everyone to getservice. You may have to waityour turn.Staying Healthy• Wash up frequently• Make sure the water is safe• Disinfect everything• Don’t overdo it• Report health hazards8

2S T E PGive Your Home First Aid2S T E PGive Your Home First AidA Note About PortableGeneratorsPortable generators can be a bighelp if you are without power.But remember:• Connect appliances one at a timeto the generator. Never hook agenerator directly to your householdwiring yourself. Only aqualified electrician can do this.• Use generators outdoors only.They give off carbon monoxidefumes.• Avoid using extension cords withgenerators. If you must usethem, check them often to makesure they have not become hot.It is dangerous to go back intoyour home because the flood mayhave caused structural, electrical,and other hazards. After you havemade things safe, take steps to protectyour home and contents fromfurther damage.Most of the information in thissection assumes that the persondoing the work has experience inconstruction and electrical repair.If you do not have experience inconstruction and electrical repair,do not try to do this work yourself.Hire a qualified contractor or anelectrician. It is still a good idea toread the information in this bookso you will have a better understandingof the jobs ahead, nomatter who does them.Even if you have some experiencewith construction and electricalwork, do not attempt any job ifyou feel uncertain about the rightthing to do or you wonder if the jobis beyond your skill or physicalstrength. Read the instructions inthis book all the way throughbefore you start. Gather yourtools and supplies, and make sureyou have enough help.There is plenty of work to goaround after a flood. Do onlythose jobs you can do well andwithout injuring yourself. If youcannot afford to get professionalhelp, check with your Red Crosschapter, your local emergencymanagement agency, or yourbuilding department to see if thereare any volunteer programs availableto you.This section is designed forthose who have experience inconstruction and electrical repair.If you are uncertain about thesesteps, contact a professional suchas a licensed home repair contractoror an electrician.Make Sure It Is Safe toGo BackSome floods have more than onecrest or peak. Even though thewater looks like it’s going down, itmay rise again and trap you.Stay tuned to your radio or TV tofind out if and when you can goback home. If you are not surewhether you can return, contactyour local emergency manager.Read the safety precautions atthe top of this document. Eachyear about 150 people die becauseof floods. Many of those fatalitiesare due to electrocution or otheraccidents that occur after thefloodwaters have gone down.Have someone with you ask youcheck your home and do repairs.Dress for the task—wear sturdyshoes and gloves.Things You will Need When It IsSafe to Return Home❑✔Flashlight❑ First aid kit❑ Battery-operated radio❑ Waterproof boots or waders❑ Safety clothing, such as a hardhat and gloves❑ Boots or shoes with hard soles❑ Dust mask9

2S T E PGive Your Home First Aid❑ Camera or video camera torecord damage❑ Tools: crowbar, hammer, saw,pliers, crescent wrench, screwdrivers, etc.❑ Drinking water❑ Trash bags❑ A wooden stick for turningthings over, scaring away snakesand small animals, and movingelectrical wires❑ Cleaning suppliesNote: do not use candles before,during, or after a flood. Candlescan easily tip over or invite childfire-play.Check Your Home BeforeYou Go InIf there is standing water next tothe outside walls of your home,don’t go in. You won’t be able totell if the building is safe or structurallysound. Before you go in,walk carefully around the outsideof your home and check for loosepower lines and gas leaks. Youwill know there is leaking gas bythe putrid, distinct odor that isadded to gas to let people knowgas is leaking. If you find downedlines or leaks, call your utilitycompany.Check the foundation forcracks or other damage. Examineporch roofs and overhangs to besure they still have all their supports.Look for gaps between thesteps and the home. If you seeobvious damage, have a buildinginspector check the home beforeyou go in. Some communitiesrequire official inspections for allbuildings after a flood.If any supports or portions ofthe foundation wall are missing orthe ground has washed away, thefloor is not safe. If you have anydoubts about safety, contact a contractorbefore going in. Proceedvery carefully.Turn off the electricityElectricity and water don’t mix.Turn the power off at your home!Even if the power company hasturned off electricity to the area,you must still make certain yourhome’s power supply is disconnected.You don’t want the powercompany to turn it on withoutwarning while you’re workingon it.The electricity must be turnedoff at the main breaker box or fusebox. Your utility company mayhave removed your electric meter.This does not always turn off thepower.If you have to step in water toget to your electric box, call anelectrician. Simply removing theelectric meter does not always turnoff the power. If you can get toyour electric box without goingthrough or standing in water, youcan turn off the power yourself.(See box).Remember that if the electricalor gas controls are inside thehome, do not turn them off untilyou can safely enter your home.Turn off the gasGas appliances and pipes mayhave moved or broken during theflood, creating a gas leak. If yoususpect a leak or smell gas, leaveyour home immediately and callthe gas company from a neighbor’shome. Leave the door open and,if the gas meter is outside, turn offthe gas.How to Turn Off the Powermain fusecircuit fuseFuse Boxes1. Stand on a dry spot.2. If your box has a handle on theside, use a dry wooden stick orpole to pull the handle to OFF.3. Use the stick to open the door.4. Carefully pull out the mainfuses. Use a dry wooden stick.5. Unscrew and remove eachcircuit fusemain breakercircuit breakerBreaker Boxes1. Stand on a dry spot.2. Use a dry wooden stick or poleto open the door.3. Use the stick to push the mainbreaker switch to OFF.4. Use the stick to turn each circuitbreaker to OFF10

2S T E PGive Your Home First AidSafety Checklist• Wait for the water to go down• Report downed power lines• Report gas leaks• Check for structural damage• Turn off electricity• Turn off gas or fuelIf your have gas appliances thatwere flooded, you will need toclean the mud out of the pilot andthe burners. But first, you mustturn off the gas.There is a valve next to the gasmeter. If the valve handle is parallelto the pipe, the gas is on. Youmay need a pair of pliers or awrench to turn the valve. Turn it90 degrees (a quarter turn) so thehandle is perpendicular to the pipeto shut the gas off.OFFSome gas meter valves will havea hole in the handle. this holelines up with a hole in the valvebody when the gas is shut off.(The gas company uses the hole isused by the gas company to lockor seal the valve closed when thebuilding is vacant.) When theholes are lined up, you know thatthe gas supply has been shut off.To be sure the gas is off, writedown the numbers on all the dialsin the meter. Check the dials atleast five minutes later. If thenumbers have changed, the valveis not closed. Gas is still flowing.Telephone your utility companyfor help and keep clear of the areauntil the gas has stopped flowing.If you have a fuel oil or propanetank, it may have floated andbroken the connecting pipes.Even an underground tank canfloat. Turn off the fuel valve at thetank and follow the instructions inStep 5 before you turn the fuelback on.Go Inside carefullyIf the door sticks and has to beforced open, it is probablyswollen. If it only sticks at thebottom, it can be forced open.If it sticks at the top, your ceilingmay be ready to fall. You canforce the door open but waitoutside the doorway for a minutewhere you will be protected ifsomething falls.If the door won’t open easily, itmay be easier for you to enteryour home through a window.Look carefully at the ceiling beforeyou go in to be sure it is not readyto fall.Do not smoke or use candles,gas lanterns, or other open flamesin your home. Air out your homecompletely—there may be explosivegas.Check the ceiling for signs ofsagging. If there was a lot ofwind and rain or if the flood wasvery deep, your ceiling may beholding water. Wet plaster orwallboard is very heavy anddangerous if it falls. If the ceilingis sagging, do the following beforeyou go in:1. Make a poker by attaching anail or other pointed object tothe end of a long stick. (Youmight hammer a finish nail intothe end of a broomstick.)11

2S T E PGive Your Home First Aid2. Stand away from, not under,the sag. (Under a doorway issafest.) Poke a hole in theceiling at the edge of the sag soany trapped water can begin todrain. Do not start at thecenter of the sag because theceiling may collapse suddenly.3. After the water drains, pokeanother hole, lower down thesag. Keep poking holes as youmove to the lowest point.4. Tear down the sagging ceilingusing extreme caution—it’s veryheavy. You’ll have to replace itanyway.5. Repeat this procedure for anyroom that has sagging ceilings.Step carefully. Water and mudmake a floor very slippery. Alsowatch for snakes, other animals,loose flooring, holes, and nails.Check for cabinets and othertall pieces of furniture that mightbe ready to fall over. Removemirrors and heavy pictures fromwalls. They will not stay up if thewallboard is wet.Rescue the MostValuable ItemsFind and protect the “irreplaceable”valuables such as money,jewelry, insurance papers, photographs,and family heirlooms.Wash the mud off before the itemscan dry. Put articles in a safe placesuch as a dry second story or aplastic bag, or take them to afriend’s home.Photographs, books, and otherarticles that are easily damagedwhen wet can be frozen andcleaned later when you have moretime. Wash the mud off. Store thearticles in plastic bags and takethem to a friend who has electricity.Put them in a frost-free freezerto protect them from mildew andfurther damage until you havetime to thaw and clean them.A photographer or camera shopcan professionally clean wetphotographs.Resist the urge to stop and cleaneverything you pick up. You needto get to work on protecting yourhome, assessing all the damages,and planning your recovery so youcan save and restore as much aspossible. You can clean up yourbelongings after you have done themore important things listed here.Protect Your Home FromFurther DamageYou need to make sure that therewill be no more damage fromrain, wind, or animals. Your floodinsurance policy may cover someof the cost of protecting yourhome from further damage ormoving the contents to a safeplace. (Read your policy and askyour agent what expenses are coveredby your policy.)12

2S T E PGive Your Home First AidGet fresh air moving throughyour home. Open windows anddoors if weather permits. Thiswill reduce the moisture and getrid of any gas in the home. Donot try to force open a swollenwindow. Instead of breaking glass,remove the molding and take thewindow sash out of its frame.Patch holes. Cover holes inthe roof, walls, or windows withboards, tarps, or plastic sheeting.Plastic sheets or trash bags shouldbe nailed down with wood stripsor taped with duct tape to keepthem from ripping loose. It maynot look pretty, but you need todo this so rain won’t cause anymore water damage.Repair sagging floors or roofsections. Use 4 x 4’s or otherheavy lumber to brace weak areas.If you’re uncertain how to shoreup floor or ceiling joists, call acontractor.Remove debris. Tree limbs orother trash that may have landedon or floated into the homeshould be cleared away.Check for broken or leakingwater pipes. If you find any, cutoff the water supply by turning offthe valve at your water meter. Ifyou can’t find it, call the watercompany for help. Also checkfloor drains—they may be cloggedwith debris.If the water pipes are not leaking,you can use your tap waterfor hosing and cleaning. But donot drink or cook with tap wateruntil it has been declared safe. (Ifyou are not on a municipal watersystem, the local health departmentwill usually inspect your welland test your water. See Step 5.)Drain Your BasementCarefullyIf your basement is flooded, don’tbe in too big a hurry to pump itout. Here’s why.Water in the ground outsideyour home is pushing hard againstthe outside of your basementwalls. But the water inside yourbasement is pushing right back.13

2S T E PGive Your Home First Aid5. When the water stops goingback up, pump down anothertwo to three feet and waitovernight. Repeat steps 4 and 5until all water is pumped out ofthe basement.Health Precautions• Assume that anything touched byfloodwaters is contaminated.• Wash hands frequently.• Disinfect everything floodwatershave touchedIf you drain your basement tooquickly, the pressure outside thewalls will be greater than the pressureinside the walls—and thatmay make the walls and floorcrack and collapse, causing seriousdamage.To avoid this situation, followthese steps when you pump thewater out of your basement:1. Never go into a basement withstanding water in it unless youare sure the electricity is off.2. After floodwaters are no longeron top of the ground, you canstart pumping the water out ofthe basement. Do not usegasoline-powered pumps orgenerators indoors becausegasoline engines create deadlycarbon monoxide exhaustfumes.3. Pump the water level down twoto three feet. Mark the leveland wait overnight.4. Check the water level the nextday. If the water went back up,it’s still too early to try to drainthe basement. Wait overnight.Then pump the water downtwo to three feet again. Checkthe level the next day.Hose the House and ItsContentsThe mud left behind by floodwaterscontains most of the healthhazards you will face. It is veryimportant to get rid of the mudas soon as possible. This is a loteasier if it is done before the muddries out. Follow these steps:1. Shovel out as much mud aspossible.2. Make sure the electricity isturned off. Unplug all appliancesand lamps, remove alllight bulbs, and remove thecover plates to wall switchesand outlets that got wet. Checkwith your local building departmentto see if your code allowsyou to disconnect the wiringfrom the switches and outlets.If the code does not allowyou to disconnect them, leavethe wires connected and pullthem out of their boxes asshown in the drawing. Theycan be replaced during Step 5by an electrician.14

2S T E PTake Care of Yourself FirstIf the code permits, it isprobably best to throw awayswitches and outlets that wereflooded and replace them withnew ones. (See Step 5).3. Check your water system forleaks from pipes that may havemoved. (See Step 5). Even ifyour water supply is not safe todrink, it can be used for cleaningthe home. If you havewater, hose the home down,inside and out. If you have anattachment that sprays soap,wash and then rinse the wallsand floors. Hose the furniture,too, and other major items thatgot muddy.4. Heating and air conditioningducts that got flooded will havemud left in them. If you don’tclean them out, your systemwill be blowing foul, dusty airthat contains the same healthhazards you are trying to get ridof. To clean the ducts, removethe vents or registers. If possible,remove some sections ofthe ducts in the basement orcrawl space to give you access toall areas. Then thoroughly hoseout all the ducts.5. While you hose the walls, thoroughlyhose out the electricaloutlet, switch boxes, and lightsockets that you opened up.Follow the steps (found later inthis document) before turningthe electricity back on.6. After you hose out the duckwork to remove the mud, washit with a disinfectant or sanitizer,such as the quaternary, phenolic,or pine oil based ones.(Check labels for the contentsand instructions). If your ductsare in a slab or are otherwiseinaccessible, have them cleanedby a professional.7. Don’t let the water sit on thefloor for long, especially if yourfloor has particle board or otherwood product that tends to fallapart when wet. Use a mop,“wet vac,” or squeegee.15

3S T E PGet Organized3S T E PGet OrganizedBefore you try to clean up andrepair everything, you need toassess your damage and develop arecovery plan. An organizedapproach will make the best useof your time and money. If yourstructure is substantially damaged,you need to ask yourself if youshould rebuild at all—it may besmarter, safer, and cheaper torelocate. If you do rebuild, yourrecovery plan should include thefloodproofing measures that can beincorporated with repairs and cansave you thousands of dollars in thefuture (see Step 8).Call Your Insurance AgentYou need to tell your agent aboutthe damage to your home andcontents so that your agent canfile a claim. The sooner you cantalk to your agent, the sooner yourclaim will be filed and an adjusterwill be assigned to review yourdamage. How much of your lossis covered will depend on yourpolicy. But even if you don’t havefull coverage, your agent may beable to give you advice aboutwhere to get help with cleanupand repairs.Your property insurance will fallinto one of three categories:1. Homeowner’s insuranceusually covers losses caused bywind, storm, or broken waterpipes, but not surface flooding.Some homeowner’s policies maycover basement flooding causedby sewer backup or sump pumpfailure.2. Flood insurance covers mostlosses caused by surface floodwater.3. Wind and hail insurancecovers losses in coastal areasfrom the winds of a hurricane.In coastal areas, homeowner’sinsurance often does not coverdamage from wind.Read your insurance policies sothat you will know what is coveredand what is not. If your insurancecovers the damages, your agentwill tell you when you can expectan adjuster to contact you. Theadjuster will determine the coststo repair the damage to yourhome and your belongings. Theadjuster will then submit thosecosts to the insurance company forfinal approval. Your agent willalso tell you what to throw away,and what to set aside for theadjuster to review. Find out ifyour insurance covers livingexpenses while your home is beingrepaired. (Flood insurance doesnot cover that cost.)Start listing the damageList the damage and take picturesor videotapes as you clean up soyou will have a complete andthorough record. Good recordsare needed for insurance claims,applications for disaster assistance,and income tax deductions.Some items that are healthhazards, such as rotting food anddebris, should be thrown away.Records to Keep• Damage to the building• Damage to the contents (see sampleinventory form, next page)• Receipts for cleanup and restorationexpenses, such as material,labor, and equipment rental, andreceipts for flood-related expenses,such as motel bills. (Keepthese in one place, like in andenvelope in your car.)16

3S T E PGet OrganizedTell your agent or adjuster thatyou need to get rid of this trashbefore you throw it out. Theyshould tell you what to do so thatall of your losses can be recordedproperly by the adjuster. (Seeother pages in this document onsorting items to discard.) Youmay be told to keep a sample ofitems such as a piece of carpet orupholstery to show the value ofwhat you have thrown away.Ask someone to sign yourrecord as a witness. If you haveflood insurance, you will need tofile a Proof of Loss form within60 days of the flood. (See Step 7).Completing your own inventoryform will make this form easier tocomplete and will also help theadjuster determine the costs torepair the damage to your homeand belongings.Check for StructuralDamageYou need to find out whetherthere is any structural damage toyour home. (You will probablyneed professional help in makingthis decision.)Is there evidence of broken orcracked basement or foundationwalls? Are there broken pilings,shifted stairs, or slanted floors orwalls? Any of these things couldmean that the foundation, floors,or walls will have to be totallyrebuilt. Repair safety hazardssuch as broken pilings or anundermined foundation beforeyou proceed any further. Getprofessional help for any task youcannot confidently do yourself.You will need a building permitto repair structural damage. Talkto your building departmentbefore you start reconstruction orsign any repair contracts. If thedamage to your home’s structureexceeds 50% of the market valueof your home, most local buildingcodes will require you to elevate itabove flood levels. Some may notallow you to rebuild at all. (Formore information on buildingpermits, See Step 8.)Ask the Big QuestionOdds are that the area where youlive will flood again. Before youspend a great deal of money andeffort repairing and rebuilding, askyourself this question:Do I really want to beflooded again?If you think that you would bebetter off in a different location,talk to your local government ordisaster assistance officials abouthelp rebuilding where floods canno longer damage your home.There are programs that willbuy some properties with housesthat have been destroyed orsubstantially damaged. Otherprograms give financial help tomove or elevate houses so they areabove flood levels. See Step 7for more information on floodproofingassistance programs.17

3S T E PGet OrganizedIf you decide to stay, you canstill make your home less susceptibleto damage from the nextflood. Before you start repairingand replacing things just like theywere before, look at the floodproofingmeasures in Step 8.Floodproofing as you repair andrebuild can save a great deal ofmoney over time. Protecting yourhome from future floods will alsoadd value to your property.Plan Your RecoveryGet organized with a recoveryplan. A recovery plan is simply alist of jobs that need to be done.Planning can help you save timeand money. Doing things in theright order will also make everyonefeel better—you’ll know youare making progress withoutwasting effort.To develop a recovery plan,follow these steps:❑✔Make sure it is safe to work inyour home. You’ll want to goback to your home as quickly aspossible. But you must makesure the building is safe andsound. (See Step 2).❑ Review the rest of therecovery steps in this book.Start making lists. Begin withthe projects such as “replacefurnace” and “dry out walls.”Write down items you will needsuch as cleaning supplies or filmand paper for record keeping. Ifnecessary, make plans for a placeto stay while you clean up.❑ Decide what you can andcan’t do. You can save moneyby doing much of the workdescribed in this book as youcan. But be realistic. Jobs suchas propping up broken foundationsand replacing electricalservice boxes are best left to theprofessionals. Many other jobsmay be too involved or tooheavy for you.❑ Decide if you need financialassistance. If you need toreplace items or hire a professionaland you don’t have insurance,there may be some voluntaryorganizations that can helpyou. (See Step 7.) Check thelocal newspaper, radio and TVstations for notices about RedCross, church, and governmentdisaster programs.❑ Check with your mortgageholder. If your mortgage holderis listed on your insurancepolicy, you cannot cash yourinsurance claim check withouttheir approval. Before youdecide on repairing and floodproofing,make sure that yourloan will not be affected. Themortgage holder may be able toprovide financial help, such asdeferring interest payments fora month or two.❑ Think before you use creditcards. Credit cards may be thefastest way to handle repair andrebuilding expenses, but theyare also very costly. Their interestrates can be up to two percentper month (24 percent peryear). A second mortgage orlow interest government loan isa much less expensive way toborrow money for home repairs.❑ Keep talking openly with yourfamily. Some of the biggestproblems that come with adisaster are the mental strain ofthe loss and worries about thefuture. Work together and leteveryone know what you will bedoing in the days ahead.Cleanup and Repair—Who does what?Jobs an owner can usually handleby following the steps in this book• Sorting contents to be repaired ordiscarded• Drying the ceiling, walls, andfloors• Drying and cleaning electricalcircuits and boxes (if code allows)• Removing minor debris such asbranches and trash• Checking the gas or oil system• Fixing leaky pipes• Checking sewage disposal system• Building and contents cleaning• Checking sources of financialassistance• Minor floodproofing projectssuch as building an earthen wallor raising appliancesJobs that usually requireservices of a professional• Structural repairs• Restoring electrical service• Wallboard taping and finishing• Checking the water system toensure that it is safe to drink.(That service is often free fromthe local health department.)• Major debris removal such as treecutting• Electrical and gas appliance andmotor cleaning and repair• Cleaning leather, furs, upholsteredfurniture, and expensivecarpeting• Major floodproofing projectssuch as moving or elevating ahome18

4S T E PDry Out Your Home4S T E PDry Out Your HomeFloodwaters affect a home threeways:1. The water damages materials.Wallboard will disintegrate if itremains wet too long; wood canswell, warp, or rot; electrical partscan short out, malfunction, andcause fires or shock.2. Mud, silt, and unknown contaminantsin the water not onlyget everything dirty; they alsocreate a health hazard.3. Dampness promotes the growth ofmildew, a mold or fungus thatcan grow on everything.The following steps work on allthree of these problems. It is veryimportant that they be followed inorder.Lower the HumidityEverything will dry more quicklyand clean more easily if you canreduce the humidity in the home.There are five ways to lower thehumidity and stop the rot andmildew. But you’ll have to delayusing some methods if you haveno electricity. (Read Step 5before you attempt to restore theutilities.)❑✔Open up the house. If thehumidity outside is lower thanindoors, and if the weather permits,open all the doors andwindows to exchange the moistindoor air for drier outdoor air.Your body will tell if thehumidity is lower outdoors. Ifthe sun is out, it should be drieroutside. If you have athermometer with a humiditygauge, you can monitor theindoor and outdoor humidity.On the other hand, whentemperatures drop at night, anopen home is warmer and willdraw moisture indoors. Atnight and other times when thehumidity is higher outdoors,close up the house.❑ Open closet and cabinetdoors. Remove drawers toallow air circulation. Drawersmay stick because of swelling.Don’t try to force them. Speeddrying by opening up the backof the cabinet to let the aircirculate. You will probably beable to remove the drawers asthe cabinet dries out.❑ Use fans. Fans help move theair and dry out your home. Donot use central air conditioningor the furnace blower if theducts were under water. Theywill blow out dirty air, thatmight contain contaminantsfrom the sediment left in theduct work. Clean or hose outthe ducts first. (See Step 2.)❑ Run dehumidifiers.Dehumidifiers and window airconditioners will reduce themoisture, especially in closed upareas.❑ Use desiccants. Desiccants(materials that absorb moisture)are very useful in drying closetsor other enclosed areas whereair cannot move through.19

4S T E PDry Out Your HomeDesiccants like those listedbelow are usually available athardware, grocery, or drugstores.• Chemical dehumidifier packsused for drying boats anddamp closets.• Cat litter made of clay.• Calcium chloride pellets usedfor melting ice in the winter.Hang pellets in a pillow case,nylon stocking, or otherporous bag. Put a bucketunderneath to catch drippingwater. Close the closet orarea being dried. Be careful.Calcium chloride can burnyour skin. It will also makethe air salty, so do not usethis product near computersor other delicate equipment.❑ Call a contractor. There arecontractors who specialize indrying out flooded buildings.They have large fans and dehumidifiersthat can dry out ahouse in a few days. Look inthe yellow pages under Fire andWater Damage Restoration orunder Dehumidifying. Becareful about contractors whoinflate prices after a disaster andabout out-of-town contractorswho inflate prices after adisaster and about out-of-towncontractors who request paymentin advance.Be patient. Drying your homecould take several weeks. Untilyour home is reasonably dry, damagecaused by mildew and decaywill continue. The musty odorwill remain forever if the home isnot thoroughly dried out well.Sort Contents and DiscardDebrisYou have three types of contentsthat should go to three differentplaces:• items you want to save• items to be discarded• garbageThings you want to saveMove these to a safe, dry place,such as the second story or outside.The longer they sit in water,the more damaged they become.In some cases, you may only beable to move them to one roomwhile you clean the other rooms.Don’t leave wood furniture in thesun or it will warp when it dries.To save an area rug, lay a sheet orsome other material on top so thecolors will not bleed. Clean itpromptly.Things you don’t want to savePut things you don’t want to saveoutside to dry until the adjustercomes to confirm your losses.Take pictures or videotapes andlist each item for the record. Ifyou are not sure whether to throwsomething out, decide whether itis worth salvaging by checking theinformation in Step 6.GarbageGet rid of food and anything elsethat could spoil or go bad immediately.Don’t let garbage buildup. Garbage piles will cause yetanother health hazard by attractinganimals and insects. If yourinsurance adjuster has not come,tell your agent or adjuster that youneed to get rid of potential healthhazards. That person will tell youItems Soaked by FloodwaterShould I Throw them Out?UsuallyMattresses, pillows, foam rubber,large carpets, carpet padding,upholstered couches and chairs,books, paper productsAlwaysFood, cosmetics, medical supplies,stuffed animals, baby toysQuestions about the Safetyof Your Food?Call the USDA Food SafetyHotline: 1-800-535-4555Professional home economists willanswer your questions from 10 a.m.to 4 p.m. eastern time, Mondaythrough Friday.Questions About the Safetyof Your Food?Call the USDA Food Safety Hotline:1-800-535-4555Professional home economists willanswer your questions from 10 a.m.to 4 p.m. eastern time, Mondaythrough Friday.20

4S T E PDry Out Your Home21Water and WeedWood always has some water in it,but a flood can bring its moisturecontent up to 30 percent. Thiscauses swelling. However, ifallowed to dry naturally, woodwill usually go back to its originalshape. Unlike wallboard, wetstuds and sills that are touched byfloodwaters do not need to bethrown out. Hollow wood doorsusually have cardboard spacers inthe middle that lose their shapewhen wet. Generally, these doorscome apart after they are floodedsand need to be replaced.how to make sure that your lossesare covered. Then throw the stuffout, preferably in sealed plasticgarbage bags.Don’t take chances with frozenfood if electricity went off unlessfood is still thoroughly frozen andcontains ice crystals. As a rule,food will remain frozen for up tothree days in a closed freezer withoutpower. Don’t refreeze thawedfood. However, you can cook andthen freeze raw meat that was partiallythawed and then refreeze it.Dispose of discarded itemsproperly. Do not burn or burythem. There will usually be morefrequent garbage pickups after aflood. Your local TV and radiostations will have announcementsconcerning trash pickup schedulesand drop-off sites.How Floodwaters AffectYour HomeOnce contents and debris havebeen cleared, the next step is to getthe water out of the ceilings andwalls. How you drain and dryyour ceilings and walls depends onwhat they are made of.Wallboard.Most ceilings and walls are coveredwith wallboard, especially innewer homes. Wallboard will actlike a sponge, drawing water upabove the flood level. It becomesvery fragile if it stays wet for longand will fall apart when bumped.When the wallboard finally dries,there will still be mud and contaminantsdried inside.Wallboard that has been soakedby floodwater presents a permanenthealth hazard. Therefore,this book recommends that youthrow out flooded wallboard. Onthe other hand, if the wallboardwas soaked by clean rainwater, itcan be dried in place with plentyof fresh air moving through thearea.Plaster.Plaster will survive a flood betterthan wallboard. It should nothave to be replaced but it will takea very long time to dry.Sometimes the plaster willseparate from the wood laths as itdries. Then the wall will have tobe removed and replaced.Insulation.There are 3 main types of insulationand each reacts differently tofloodwaters. Styrofoam survivesbest; it may only need to be hosedoff.Fiberglass batts should bediscarded if they are muddy. Ifsoaked by clean rainwater, removethem so the rest of the wall candry. They can be put back in thewall, but it will take a very longtime to dry.Cellulose (loose or blown-intreated paper) insulation will holdwater for a long time. It can alsolose its antifungal and fire retardantabilities. Therefore, floodedcellulose insulation should bereplaced.Wood.If allowed to dry naturally, woodwill generally regain its originalshape. Different layers of laminatedwood, such as plywood, maydry at different rates, causing thelayers to separate.

4S T E PDry Out Your HomeSome contaminants will stay inthe wood pores after it dries, butnot as much as stays in floodedwallboard. Wood studs and sillswill be covered by new wallboardand painted, so they are wellremoved from human contact.Therefore, wet wood studs andsills do not need to be replaced ifthey are allowed to dry properly.Drain the Ceilings andWallsCeilingsCheck for sagging ceilings. Drainthem carefully as shown in Step 2.If the floodwaters went above yourceiling, you should replace it if itis made of wallboard. A plasterceiling will dry eventually, but if ithas too many cracks or sags, youwill have to tear it down andreplace it. Remove any wet insulationin the ceiling to allow thejoists to dry.WallsRemove water trapped withinyour walls. To check for water,take off the baseboard. Stick anawl or knife into the wall about 2inches above the floor (just abovethe 2 X 4 wood sill plate). Ifwater drips out, cut or drill a holelarge enough to allow water todrain freely. (Use a hand or cordlessdrill or saw to avoid shock.) Ifyou are going to replace the wallboardanyway, you don’t have tobe neat: use a hammer to knockout a hole.wood sill plateIf your walls are plaster, a knifewon’t penetrate them. Drill a holeabove the sill plate to drain thewater. (Use a hand or cordlessdrill to avoid shock.) Do not usea hammer or chisel on plasterbecause the plaster could shatter.In a newer home, you may havemetal sill plates. A metal sill actsas a trough at the bottom of thewall cavity. Drill a hole at floorlevel to drain the water, using ahand or cordless drill.metal sill plateRepeat the process to drain allthe wall cavities. Depending onthe spacing between studs in yourwalls, make a hole every 16” orevery 24”. Watch out for thewiring which is usually at the22

4S T E PDry Out Your Homesame height as your electrical outlets.If there is wet insulation, youwill have to remove the wallboardin order to take out all the insulation.Dry the ceilings and wallsFlood soaked wallboard is usuallyremoved and thrown away.Plaster and paneling can often besaved, but you still need to get aircirculating in the wall cavities todry the studs and sills. Differentapproaches are used for differentmaterials.WallboardIf floodwaters soaked the wallboardat least four feet above thefloor, you should take down allthe wallboard and replace it. Ifthe water level was less than fourfeet deep, remove the lower fourfeet of wallboard. You can fill thegap with 4’ x 8’ sheets installedsideways.without removing the wallboardusing the technique explainedbelow for plaster walls. But youwill need to remove wet insulationif it is not Styrofoam.Plaster wallsIf the plaster or wallboard is cleanand in good shape, you can drillor cut ventilating holes in eachwall cavity. Place holes lowenough so they will be covered bythe baseboard after the wall driesout. Open up the wall on bothsides of interior walls. For exteriorwalls, drill or cut holes on theinside of the house. However, ifthere is wet insulation, you willhave to remove the plaster or wallboardin order to take out all theinsulation.Concrete blockThe cavities in a concrete blockwall will drain on their own.The water will not damage theconcrete like it will wood orwallboard.WallcoveringVinyl wallcovering seals the walland prevents drying. Wallpaperpaste is a favorite home for moldand mildew. For these reasons,you should remove all wallcoveringthat got wet and throw it out.(If vinyl wallcovering is loose onthe bottom, you may be bale tosave it by pulling it off the wall upto the flood level. Clean and reapplyit after everything dries.)If you have Styrofoam insulation—orno insulation—and thewallboard was soaked with cleanrainwater, you can dry the walls23

4S T E PDry Out Your HomePanelingCarefully pry the bottom of eachpanel away from the wall. Usesomething to hold the bottomaway from the sill so the cavitiescan drain and dry out. You cannail them back into shape afterthey and the studs dry out.However, if there is wet insulation,you will have to remove the panelingin order to take out all theinsulation.Dry the floorAir needs to circulate aroundflooded floors so they can dry out.This means removing the floorcovering. Because floodwaterscontain mud and dirt, mostsoaked floor coverings should bethrown away. Keep a piece of alldiscarded floor covering so theadjuster can tell its value.Air needs to circulate below thefloor to dry it out. If the crawlspace of your home is flooded,pump it out. Remove any plasticsheets, vapor barriers or insulationfrom underneath the floor. (Besure to replace them when thefloor and foundation are completelydry.)If a home with a basement wasflooded over the first floor, removefinished basement ceilings, or cutor drill holes between all the joiststo allow circulation. Don’t cut ordrill near electric lines or pipes.You have now reached the stagewhere no more damage shouldoccur to your home. Exteriorholes have been patched, the utilitieshave been turned off, and thedrying process has started. It maytake days or weeks, depending onthe humidity, for all the wood todry out. You can do Steps 5, 6,and 7 while the home is drying.However, do not start Step 8,Rebuild and Floodproof, until thehome is completely dry.Cleaning floor coverings• Small throw rugs can be savedand cleaned in a washingmachine.• Indoor-outdoor carpeting can hehosed off and hung up to dry.• Large rugs and those with foambacking should be discarded.(Usually only valuable carpets areworth the cost of professionalcleaning.)• After getting wet, wall-to-wallcarpeting usually will not returnto its former size and has to bethrown away. Therefore, makethe job easier by cutting it instrips and discarding it in piecesthat are small enough to be carried.Watch out for the tackdownstrips along the wall; theyoften have nails sticking up tohold the carpet down.• A wall-to-wall carpet that wassoaked by clean rainwater can beleft in place and dried.• Remove tile, vinyl, and linoleumflooring should be removed if it iswarped, loose, or has a foam rubberpad (which should be thrownaway).24

5S T E PRestore the UtilitiesLeaky Pipes1. Check for leaky fuel pipes bysmelling for gas. A chemicalthat has a disagreeable, distinctiveodor is added to natural gasand propane to tell you if thereis a leak. If you have anydoubts, have a professionalcheck for you. Do not use openflames.2. Make sure the valve that leads toeach appliance is closed.3. If you find any pipes that movedor any area that smells like gas,brush soapy water on each pipeconnection. The pressure in thepipes will make bubbles appearwhere there is a leak.4. If you find a leak, turn off thegas. Unscrew the pipe connection,clean the joint, and applypipe joint compound or pipetape (available at hardwarestores) on the threads. Screwthe pieces back together tightly.5. Turn on the gas and check theconnection again with soapywater. If you have a leak, or ifyou are not sure your system issafe, turn off the gas and call aprofessional immediately.5S T E PRestore the UtilitiesThe rest of your work will bemuch easier if you have heat,electricity, clean water, and sewagedisposal. However, it may take sometime for a repair professional tocome. Therefore, you should go toStep 6 and do all the cleaning youcan do while you wait for one ormore of these utility systems to berestored.Gas and oil systemsIf your furnace, water heater,stove, or other gas or oil applianceswere flooded to the level ofthe burners, turn off the valve onthe pipe to the appliance. If theywere hot when flooded, parts mayhave cracked. Flood insuranceand federal disaster assistance programswill help replace flooded gasand oil appliances. If you want tokeep a gas or oil appliance, have itcleaned professionally.A cracked, plugged, or leakychimney can cause fires or carbonmonoxide poisoning. Be sure youcheck metal and brick chimneysfor dirt, debris, and leaks beforelighting the furnace or a fire.Gas SystemIf the gas has been turned off atthe main valve serving your home,you need to have a professionalrestore gas service to your home,relight pilot lights, and do a finalcheck of the system.If the gas valve serving only oneappliance is turned off, then youcan relight that appliance. First,make sure the room is well-ventilatedand that there are no openflames (or bare electric wires) anywhere.Then turn on the gasvalve. Check for leaky pipes (seebelow). Let the gas run for aminute or two to clean any air andimpurities out of the pipes. Thenturn the gas off for a minute toallow the gas in the air to go awaybefore you light the appliance.Oil SystemMake sure your main oil valve isturned off. Check your oil pump.If it got wet, have the pump professionallychecked and cleaned.If you want to clean it yourself, seeStep 6Look carefully for any signs ofleaking oil; if you see any, call aprofessional. Look for signs thatthe pipes or oil tank moved duringthe flood. Oil tanks, even buriedones, will float when flooded.After you have turned the electricityback on, open the main valveand turn the pump on. Check forleaky pipes. (See above.)Propane, L-P, and ButaneSystemsThese fuels are kept in pressurizedtanks, so there is no electric pumpto turn on. Check the tanks forsigns of movement or floating.Then follow the instructionsabove for gas systems.25

5S T E PRestore the UtilitiesElectrical SystemCheck with your building or electricalinspector to see how muchwork you can do on your wiring.Many local codes require that alicensed electrician do the work,or that a municipal inspectorcheck the system before you canturn the power back on.The electrical system should betackled in two parts: the mainbreaker or fuse box and the circuits.If the main box got wet, itshould be checked and cleaned byan electrician before you turn thepower back on. You should havethe electrician move your mainbox above flood level for futureprotection.Meanwhile, if you are comfortableworking with electrical fixturesand wiring, you can cleanthe flooded circuits. Otherwisecall an electrician.To clean a flooded circuit,follow these steps in order:1. Check the switch at the mainbreaker or fuse box to make surethat the power is still off. Takeout the fuses or switch off thebreakers to the circuits you willbe working on.2. As noted at the end of Step 2,everything should be unpluggedand all light bulbs should beremoved. The switches andoutlets should be out of thewall. Check the switches andoutlets and their boxes for mudand dirt which can cause ashort or overheating. Hose orwash any mud out of the boxes.3. If you see a lot of mud, dirt, orsalt water corrosion in theswitches or outlets, replacethem. If you want to keep theswitches and outlets that wereflooded, rinse them thoroughlyin a pail of water. Let them dryfor at least 24 hours.4. Check the condition of the wirethat goes to each switch andeach outlet. Replace any fabriccoveredwire. Plastic coveredwire does not need to beremoved unless it has beenflooded with salt water.Aluminum wiring may beseverely corroded by salt water,so all aluminum wiring that hasbeen flooded by salt watershould be replaced before proceeding.5. After everything has dried out,check to make sure the fuses arestill out or the breakers are stillswitched off. Then re-installthe switches and outlets orinstall new ones.If your main box was not floodedor if it has been cleaned andchecked by an electrician, you cantest each circuit once it is cleaned.To test a cleaned circuit:1. Make sure nothing is pluggedin and no wall switches areturned on.2. Install the fuse or turn thebreaker to “ON.” Install themain fuse or turn on the mainbreaker. Some fuse boxes havea main switch—a handle on theoutside of the box that is easierto use than taking out andreplacing the main fuses.3. If the fuse blows or the breakerclicks back to “off,” you have ashort somewhere. Recheckyour cleaning and installationwork. If the fuse or breaker areokay, wait 15 minutes and thenwalk around the home. LookElectrical Safety• Use only the electrically operatedtools you need, one at a time, toavoid overloading a few workingcircuits.• If appliances or motors havegotten wet, have them takenapart, cleaned, and dried. beforeplugging them back in again.• Make sure all appliances areproperly grounded. This is mostimportant if there was damageto the wiring from the flood orduring the cleaning.• Mud or dirt in a grounded outletor adapter may prevent thegrounding system from working,and you could be electrocuted.If you are unsure of whether yourelectrical system is properlygrounded, call an electrician.• When in doubt, call an electrician.Electrocution is a majorkiller in floods.ImportantIt is very important that your utilitysystems and appliances be turnedback on the correct way. A leakygas pipe, an ungrounded electricalappliance, or contaminated water isa serious safety and health hazard.If you are not comfortable workingon your utilities or appliances, calla professional.26

5S T E PRestore the Utilitiesfor sparks or the pungent smellof an electrical short. If thereare any signs of smoking orheating, if the fuse blows, or if abreaker goes off, turn the poweroff and call an electrician.4. If there are no signs of problems,turn the power off again.Plug a lamp or small appliancein an outlet on the circuit youjust tested, or turn on a lightswitch. Be sure that the applianceyou are using to test eachoutlet is working properly.5. Turn the power back on andcheck the fuse or breaker.6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for eachoutlet and wall switch to checkfor shorts or problems.7. Bathroom and outdoor circuitsoften have a ground fault circuitinterrupter at the breakerbox or at a wall outlet. Theseare very sensitive and may keeptripping the circuit off, so youmay have to be extremelythorough in cleaning anddrying these circuits.Water supplyPublic water suppliers usuallyprovide water soon after the flood.If you are unsure of your watersupply, only use it to hose yourhome or for sanitation purposes(flushing the toilet).Buy bottled water for drinkingif you can. Sometimes large waterstorage tanks called “water buffalos”are brought to communitiesthat need clean water. They arefilled with clean drinking waterfrom places outside your area andare towed to your location, oftenby national guard or U.S. militarypersonnel.A “boil order” may be issued inyour community. If such an orderhas been issued, do the following:1. Fill a large pot with water fromthe tap.2. Strain the water throughcheesecloth, a sheet, or otherclean, porous material toremove as many solids as youcan.3. Bring the water to a rumblingboil and let it boil for at least 5minutes.4. Pour the water back and forthbetween two clean pots. Thiswill help it cool and will alsoadd air to the water to make ittaste better.5. Let the water cool. After it iscool, add 16 drops of liquidchlorine bleach per gallon ofwater. Let the water stand ahalf hour. If it gives off a slightchlorine smell and looks clear,it’s OK to use.If you do not smell the chlorineor if the water is still cloudy,add another 16 drops of liquidchlorine bleach and let it standanother half hour. If you smellchlorine, it’s okay to use. If youhave treated it again and it stilldoes not smell like chlorine, don’tuse it for drinking or cooking.Do not cook in pots andpans, or use eating utensils, babyblankets, or any other items thatcould go in the mouth until theyhave been washed in water thathas been tested and approved bythe water supplier or healthdepartment.27

5S T E PRestore the UtilitiesWells. Private wells should bepumped until the water is clear.You can decide whether water isclear enough to hose the homeand do other cleaning work.Check with the local healthdepartment for instructions beforeyou drink or cook with your wellwater. Their instructions willaccount for minerals and chemicalsthat occur naturally in yourarea. The health departmentshould be able to advise you aboutthe best way to have your watertested if necessary.If there are no specific instructionsfrom the local health department,follow these steps to treat yourwell and water:1. Open your faucets to pump thewater out of your well. Letthem run for at least 15 minutesor until you lose pressure.2. Pour one quart of liquidchlorine bleach in the well andleave it for at least four hours.Do not use any water duringthis time.3. Open all the faucets and letthem run until you smellchlorine at each faucet.4. Turn off the faucets and let thewater sit in the pipes for two tofour hours. Do not use anywater during this time.5. Flush out the system byrunning the taps until you canno longer taste or smell thechlorine.Water Heater. Check your waterheater. If floodwaters got into thegas burner, electrical parts, orinsulation, it should be replaced.If you want to save it, have itcleaned and restarted by a professional.Be sure to flush cleanwater through it before you washdishes or clothes with hot water.Sewage disposalPublic sewers should work soonafter a flood, but mud and debrismight clog them. Flush the toiletbefore you use it. If it is clogged,check with your local sewerdepartment to see if the problemis in the main line. You may needto clean out the sewer line fromyour house to the main line.Septic systems will not workuntil the ground water level isbelow the distribution lines. So becareful about flushing the toiletand pouring things down thedrain; they may not have anywhereto go. Until your toiletworks, you can line it with aplastic trash can liner and disposeof the bag following local publichealth recommendations.Cleanup and Repair—Who does what?If your house will be unheated for afew days, and the temperature willfall below freezing, you should winterizeyour water pipes so they willnot freeze and break. A plumbercan blow out the pipes to make surethey are empty. Or you can take thefollowing steps to protect your waterand sewer system from damage dueto freezing temperatures:1. Shut off the main water valve.(It is usually found at the watermeter.)2. Turn on all the faucets in thehouse, both the hot and the coldtaps. Leave them on and letthem run.3. Turn off the hot water heater.Open the faucet at the bottomof the water heater to drain it.You may want to connect a hoseto the faucet so you can controlwhere the water goes. Be careful;the water may be very hot.4. Flush the toilets to empty theirwater tanks.5. Wait for the lowest faucet on thehouse to stop running. (Thiswill usually be a faucet in thebasement.) Then check allfaucets and toilets. If they havestopped running or are empty,your water system should bedrained.6. Pour some propyleneglycolbasedantifreeze in all sink, tub,and floor drains and in the toiletbowls. (This type of antifreezeis available through recreationalvehicle and mobile home dealers.Do not use regular automotiveantifreeze.) These drains havetraps that keep water in them.7. You can turn the main valveback on after the building isheated. Do this before you startyour repairs. That way, if thereis a broken pipe, a water leakwon’t cause much damage.28

6S T E PClean Up29Cleaning Supplies Checklist• Brooms, mops, brushes, sponges• Buckets, hose• Rubber gloves• Rags• Cleaner• Disinfectants• Lubricating oil• Trash bags• Hair dryer6S T E PClean UpThe walls, floors, closets, shelves,contents—every flooded part ofyour house—should be thoroughlywashed and disinfected. Some projects,such as washing clothes, mayhave to wait until all the utilitiesare restored. Others may be bestdone by professionals. This sectionoffers suggestions on the best way toclean flooded items.Clean up suppliesThe Red Cross will often distributecleanup kits after a disaster.These contain many useful itemssuch as a broom, mop, bucket,and cleaning supplies.In most cases, household cleaningproducts will doe the job ifyou use them correctly. Check thelabel on the products to see howmuch to use. Some productsshouldn’t be used on certain materials;the label will tell you that.Apply cleaner and give it time towork before you mop or sponge itup. Follow directions and all safetyprecautions on the container.After cleaning a room or item,go over it again with a disinfectantto kill the germs and smell left bythe floodwaters. You may alsoneed to get rid of mildew, anunwelcome companion to moisturethat shows as fuzzy splotches.Cleaning tipsTackle one room at a time. A twobucket approach is most efficient:use one bucket for rinse water andthe other for the cleaner. Rinseout your sponge, mop, or cleaningcloth in the rinse bucket. Wring itas dry as possible and keep itrolled up tight as you put it in thecleaner bucket. Let it unroll toabsorb the cleaner. Using twobuckets keeps most of the dirtyrinse water out of your cleaningsolution. Replace the rinse waterfrequently.WallsStart cleaning a wall at the bottomor where the worst damage was.If you did not have to remove thewallboard or plaster, you may findit the wallboard or plaster won’tcome clean and you will want toreplace it rather than clean it. Ifyou have removed the wallboardor plaster, wash the studs and sillsand disinfect them.WindowsIf you taped your windows beforethe storm, clean the tape off assoon as possible. The sun willbake the adhesive into the glass.If glass cleaners don’t remove theadhesive, try tar remover, acetone,nail polish remover, or a razorblade. And next time, don’t bothertaping the windows. You don’tget much protection for all thateffort.FurnitureDon’t try to force open swollenwooden doors and drawers. Takeoff the back of the piece of furnitureto let the air circulate. Youwill probably be able to open thedrawers after they dry.

6S T E PClean UpSolid wood furniture can usuallybe repaired and cleaned, butwood veneer often separates andwarps. Wood alcohol or turpentineapplied with a cotton ballmay remove white mildew spotson wood. Cream wood restorerswith lanolin will help restore goodwooden furniture parts.Upholstered furniture soaks upcontaminants from floodwatersand should be cleaned only by aprofessional. This is also true ofcarpets and bedding. Unless thepiece is an antique or especiallyvaluable, upholstered furnituresoaked by floodwaters shouldprobably be thrown out. Get acost estimate from a professionalto see if furniture is worth saving.AppliancesThere’s an unexpected danger ofshock with some electrical appliancessuch as TV sets and radios.Certain internal parts store electricityeven when the appliance isunplugged. Check the back for awarning label. Appliances withsuch labels will need professionalcleaning. But first, get a costestimate to see if they are worthsaving.You’ll need appliances suchas the washing machine, dryer,dishwasher, and vacuum cleanerto help clean your home andcontents. The motors or heatingelements can usually be cleaned.If you can’t wait for a professionalcleaning job, unplug, disassemble,and hose off the appliances thoroughly(with hot water, if possible).Then clean and disinfectthem, but do not use detergents.Clean and disinfect dishwashers,washing machines, and dryersonly with water that has beendeclared safe for drinking. Makesure the sewer line is workingbefore starting a dishwasher orwashing machine.You can speed up the dryingprocess for motors and parts byusing a blow dryer using a moisturedisplacement spray. Moisturedisplacement sprays, such as electronicsparts cleaners or WD-40lubricating and penetrating oil, areavailable at hardware or automotiveparts stores. The sprays canalso stop rust and corrosion untilthe appliance can be disassembledand cleaned. One word of caution:the spray is flammable. Readand follow label instructions andprecautions.Moving parts such as motorsand pulleys will need oil or grease.Contacts and electrical switchescan be cleaned with a moisture displacementspray or an aerosol contactcleaner available at electronicsor auto parts stores. Allow amotor to run for 30 minutes withno load before you use it. Forexample, run the vacuum cleanerwithout connecting the belt.Watch for stripped or damagedwire insulation. Be sure all appliancesare properly grounded.This is most important if there wasdamage to the wiring from the floodor during cleaning. Appliances thatmust be grounded have a roundthird prong on their plugs. Reviewthe information on your electricalsystem in Step 5.Refrigerators and freezers aremore complicated. They mayhave foam insulation and sealedcomponents that suffered littlewater damage. But those applianceshold food, so they should beCleaners1st choice: Non-sudsing householdcleaners2nd choice: Laundry soap or detergentDisinfectants1st choice: Commercial disinfectantsor sanitizers, such as thequaternary, phenolic, or pine oilbased ones. (Check labels for thecontents).2nd choice: 1/4 cup (2 ounces) oflaundry bleach for 1 gallon ofwater.Mildew Removers1st choice: Commercial mildewremovers or mildewicides2nd choice: Washing soda ortri-sodium phosphate (available atgrocery or paint stores). Use 5tablespoons per gallon of water.3rd choice: 1/4 cup (2 ounces)of laundry bleach for 1 gallon ofwater. See below on using bleach.BleachLiquid chlorine bleach, such asClorox or Purex bleach, can do avariety of flood clean up jobs.Make sure that 5.25% sodiumhypochlorite is the only activeingredient. Bleach that has a scentadded to improve its smell isavailable. Scented bleach is finefor cleanup jobs, but don’t use it totreat drinking water. Don’t use drybleach or any bleach that does notcontain chlorine.Be careful of fumes and wearrubber gloves. Read the safetyinstructions on the label. Do notmix bleach with other householdchemical products, especiallyammonia or toilet bowl cleaner;the chemical reaction can create apoisonous gas. Do not use bleachon aluminum or linoleum.30

6S T E PClean Upcleaned, disinfected, and checkedby a professional, or replaced. Ifyour repair person says an expensiveappliance should be replaced,get the opinion in writing and discussit with your insuranceadjuster before you spend moneyfor another one.Clothing and LinensEven if your washing machine didnot get wet, do not use it untilyou know that the water is safeenough to drink and that yoursewer line works. (Perhaps afriend or relative has a washingmachine you can use until yours isclean and working.)Before you wash clothes in thewashing machine, run themachine through one full cycle.Be sure to use hot water and adisinfectant or sanitizer.Take clothes and linens outdoorsand shake out dried mud ordirt before you wash them. Hoseoff muddy items to remove alldirt before you put them in thewasher. That way your drainwon’t clog.Check the labels on clothes andlinens, and wash them in detergentand warm water if possible.Adding chlorine bleach to thewash cycle will remove mostmildew and will sanitize the clothing,but bleach fades some fabricsand damages other fabrics. Youcan buy other sanitizers, such aspine oil cleaners, at the grocerystore to sanitize fabrics that cannotbe bleached.If the label says “Dry CleanOnly,” shake out loose dirt andtake the item to a professionalcleaner. Furs and leather items areusually worth the cost of professionalcleaning. If you want toclean leather yourself, wash themud off and dry the leather slowlyaway from heat or sunlight.Kitchen itemsThrow out soft plastic and porousitems that probably absorbedwhatever the floodwaters carriedin. Floodwaters are contaminated,so you may want to wash dishesby hand in a disinfectant. Air drythe disinfected dishes; do not use adish towel.Like the washing machine, thedishwasher should also be usedonly after you know your water issafe to drink and your sewer lineworks. Clean and disinfect it first.Then use a hot setting to washyour pots, pans, dishes, and utensils.(If you have an energy savingsetting, do not use it.)FoodThrow any food out that has beentouched by floodwaters. Evenfood in tin cans should be discardedif the cans got wet during theflood because there is no way to beabsolutely certain the food inside issafe. Do not keep food in bottlesor jars with bottle caps or screw onlids—they do not keep out floodwaters.The U.S. Department ofAgriculture operates a food safety hotline.Professional home economistscan answer your questions aboutwhether to keep or discard food.Call 1-800-535-4555 between10:00 am and 4:00 pm, EasternTime, Monday through Friday.Paper and booksValuable papers such as books,photographs, and stamp collec-31

6S T E PClean Uptions can be restored with a greatdeal of effort. They can be rinsedand frozen (in a frost-free freezeror commercial meat locker) untilyou have time to work on them.A slightly less effective alternativeto preserving an item is to placeitems in a sealed container, such asa plastic bag, with moth crystals.Papers should be dried quicklywhen they are thawed or unsealed(a blow dryer will do). Don’t tryto force paper products apart, justkeep drying them. Photocopyvaluable papers and records soonbecause substances in the watermay make them deteriorate.If a computer disk or tape hasvaluable information, rinse it inclear water and put it in a plasticbag in the refrigerator. Later, youcan take it to a professional dryingcenter and have the data transferredto a good disk or tape.Many companies that specialize inrestoring computers and computerrecords after a disaster are membersof the Disaster RecoveryInstitute. To find a member companynear you, you can all theInstitute at (314) 846-2007.The YardAs you get rid of things from yourhome, don’t turn your yard into adump. Food and garbage must behauled away as soon as possible.Other discarded items should beremoved as soon as your insuranceadjuster has told you how to makesure their loss is covered. Otherthings you throw away should beremoved as soon as your insuranceadjuster says it’s okay.Mosquitoes can carry manydiseases, and a flood can createidea conditions for them to breed.Drain or remove standing waterthat can become a breedingground. Dump water out ofbarrels, old tires, and cans. Checkthat your gutters are clean and candrain. Ditches and drains alsoneed to be cleaned so they cancarry stormwater away from yourhome.If you can’t get rid of standingwater, use a commercial productthat kills mosquito larvae but doesnot harm other animals. A slightlyless effective method is to applya thin film of cooking oil on thewater. Repeat the applicationwithin a few days after a rain hasdisturbed the film.The LawnLawns usually survive being underwaterfor up to four days. Saltwater should be hosed off the lawnand shrubs. Some grasses are notdamaged by saltwater flooding.Check with your local nursery, gardenstore, or Cooperative ExtensionService. You may have to replacethe lawn if there was mud thickerthan one inch deep, erosion, orchemicals in the floodwaters.Further InformationYou will probably see moredetailed instructions on how toclean various contents in your localpaper or hear them on the radio orTV. Many Cooperative ExtensionService offices have more information,especially on animals, vegetables,landscape plants, and householditems. Check your telephonebook under the name of yourcounty. For example, if you live inMontgomery County, look underMontgomery County CooperativeExtension Service.32

7S T E PCheck on Financial Assistance7S T E PCheck on Financial AssistanceHow much you rebuild andreplace depends on what youcan afford. Four sources of financialassistance can help you throughrecovery: insurance, governmentdisaster programs, voluntaryagencies, and businesses.If you are fully insured (80 percentof the replacement cost of yourhome), you may only have to pay thedeductible and your flood insurancepolicy will pay for professionalcleaning and reconstruction. Evenif you are insured, the other sourcesof assistance can help with expensesthat your insurance policy doesn’tcover.Voluntary AgenciesPrivate voluntary agencies such asthe American Red Cross, SalvationArmy, and church groups are usuallyon the scene during or rightafter a flood. These groups usuallyprovide for immediate needssuch as clothing, groceries, shelter,medical aid, and counseling.Some private organizations canhelp you restore your home. Theymay offer supplies or sometimesvolunteers to help you clean upand rebuild. The services areusually provided free of chargeregardless of a person’s eligibilityfor government aid. The servicesare usually provided free of chargeregardless of a person’s eligibilityfor government aid.The American Red Crossprovides emergency assistance topeople affected by disasters,whether or not the affect area hasbeen declared a disaster area by agovernor or the President. AllRed Cross disaster assistance is freeand is provided as a gift of theAmerican people. The Red Crossdoes not receive funding formthe government to provide thisassistance.The American Red Cross canhelp by providing you with avoucher to purchase new clothing,groceries, essential medications,rent, bedding, essential furnishings,and other items to meetemergency needs. The Red Crosscan also provide you with acleanup kit: mop, broom, bucket,and cleaning supplies. Listen tonews reports to find out where togo for this assistance, or look upAmerican Red Cross in the telephonebook and call. You can alsofind your local Red Cross chapterby doing a search through the RedCross site on the Internet’s WideWorld Web at http://www.redcross.org.BusinessesYour local TV, radio and newspaperswill usually publicize howbusinesses are contributing to therecovery process. Some businessesmay offer reduced prices, but bewary of “flood sales” that are sellingflood damaged items.Some insurance companies andlenders may let you delay yourmonthly payments. Sometimesbanks will make lower interestloans available for reconstruction.While these may seem easier to33

7S T E PCheck on Financial Assistanceobtain than government disasterloans, their interest rates are usuallyhigher.Be careful about out-of-townersoffering “special deals,” especiallyrepair contractors. Sometimes thelocal builders’ association will offeradvice on reconstruction or adviceon choosing contractors. (SeeStep 8 on dealing with repair contractors.)Flood Insurance ClaimsYou may have as many as threeseparate insurance policies: homeowner’s,flood, and wind and hail.This section covers the proceduresfor handling a flood insuranceclaim. Claims for non-flood damagewill be handled in a similarmanner.You should call your floodinsurance agent to report yourdamage as soon as possible afterthe flood. Your agent will arrangefor an adjuster to visit your homeso that your claim can be settled.Be sure you leave phone numberswhere you can be reached.If you are unable to contact thelocal agent, call the NationalFlood Insurance Program at 1-800-638-6620.Under ideal conditions, theadjuster should contact you to setup an appointment to visit yourhome within a few days after youcall your agent. But if flood damageis widespread in your area, itmay take longer for the adjuster tovisit, and it make take time foryour claim to be settled. If floodingis extensive, the adjusters willschedule their visits to review themost severe damage first. Theadjuster cannot estimate yourdamage until floodwaters are awayfrom the building.In the meantime, protect yourhome and its contents from additionaldamage, but do not makerepairs that make it impossible forthe adjuster to see the damage.Step 2, “Give Your Home FirstAid,” discusses how to protectyour home from further damage.While you are waiting for theadjuster, the following suggestionswill help you organize the informationthat you will need:❑✔Take photos or videotape thedamage to both the inside andoutside of the building and thecontents.❑ Separate your damaged andundamaged belongings andstore them for the adjuster toexamine.❑ Find receipts, canceledchecks, or proofs of purchasefor high cost items such asmajor appliances, if possible.The adjuster will need the manufacturer’sname; serial andmodel numbers; price; locationand date of purchase; and adescription of the items.The claims adjuster’s job is tocollect information that is sent toa central office for processing.The insured (you) must file aProof of Loss form within 60 daysof the flooding. In most cases, theadjuster will file this form for you.The form states the amount ofyour loss and is signed by both theinsured and the adjuster. Animportant point to remember isthat you will not be reimbursed forexpenses not authorized by theadjuster.You can ask the adjuster for anadvance or partial payment foryour building or contents loss,Some Points onSettling Claims• You are supposed to be reimbursedfairly for your loss, butyou are not supposed to profitfrom a disaster.• You cannot collect more than theface value of your policy.• You cannot collect for uninsureditems, such as landscaping.• Most adjusters receive a flat salaryor compensation on a per casebasis. There are no financialincentives that encourage theadjuster to give you a small claimpayment.• You should get the adjuster’sname, company, and phone number.He or she will probably befrom out of town.• In most cases, you will be reimbursedfor the actual cash value ofan item. That is the cost ofreplacing the item minus depreciation.If your policy is for 80percent or more of he replacementcost of your house, you willbe reimbursed for the replacementvalue of damage to yourhouse (no depreciation).• If you have problems with a floodinsurance claim, your policyshould list an office or telephonenumber that you can contact oryou can call your insurance agent.34

7S T E PCheck on Financial AssistanceDAC Visit ChecklistBefore you got to a DAC or phonethe toll-free number, do your bestto get together the following informationand documents. If youdon’t have all of them, don’t worry;gather what you have and start yourdisaster assistance applicationprocess.• Your name, address, SocialSecurity number, and identification• Telephone numbers where you ora neighbor can be reached• Names and ages of all persons livingin your home at the time ofthe flood• Insurance papers, including the“Proof of Loss” form• A summary of your damage and arough idea of the cost of repair orreplacement (See Step 3.)• Your income and the income ofall other members of your household.• Who you owe money to and howmuch you owe (mortgage, carloan, etc.)• The total amount of your livingexpenses (rent, mortgage, food,clothing, utilities, medical, andtransportation costs)• Directions to your property, startingfrom a major road, and aroad map with an X for yourproperty.especially if you need the moneyto make your home liveable. Anadvance will not affect the totalamount of your payment. Later,when your total payment is determined,the amount you wereadvanced will be subtracted fromit. You can also ask for a partialpayment if you disagree with theamount of your loss on the Proofof Loss form. Tell your adjuster ifyou disagree and ask what stepscan be taken to straighten outyour claim payment.The check to settle your floodinsurance building claim will mostlikely be in your name as well asthe name of your mortgage holder.Some insurance companies maysend the payment to your mortgageholder. Talk to your mortgagecompany ahead of time tomake sure there won’t be a delayin getting your claim payment toyou.Disaster assistanceIf the flooding was widespreadand caused a lot of damage, yourcommunity might be eligible forstate or federal aid. To receivesuch assistance, your communitymust be declared a disaster area byyour Governor, a federal agencydirector, or the President. Localnewspaper, radio and TV will keepyou informed about disaster declarationsand where to get informationabout any programs thatmight be available to you.If the flood were severe enoughfor your area to be declared a disasterarea by the federal government,the Federal EmergencyManagement Agency may open“teleregistration”, which provides atoll-free number for you to call torequest assistance. Or, it mayopen one or more DisasterApplication Centers (DAC).These centers will give informationand take applications forassistance and are usually locatedin a nearby school or other publicbuilding. They will be open duringthe day and early evening forseveral days to give people time tocome in. Check local newspapers,TV and radio reports for the locationand hours.Federal disaster assistance maybe available in some cases to dealwith uninsured losses and needs.People who are not insured shouldgo to a DAC first. If possible,those with insurance should filetheir Proof of Loss form beforevisiting a DAC. If there is a longwait, you can make an appointmentfor a later day, or use thetoll-free number. (Look atFEMA’s site on the World WideWeb for more information:http://www.fema.gov).When you go to a DAC orapply for disaster assistance, takethe items listed below: The firstperson you will talk to at a DACwill be a receptionist. He or shewill review your damage andneeds, and identify which programsare most appropriate foryou. You will receive a checklist ofprograms that can help you. Youcan then talk to representatives ofthese programs at tables in theDAC.There are six types of federal orstate disaster assistance. Except asnoted, the following are availableonly if the President issues a disasterdeclaration for your area.35

7S T E PCheck on Financial AssistanceDisaster Housing AssistanceThis program may provide asafe place to live until repairs todamaged homes are completed.Rent assistance or mobile homesmay be provided to those withoutinsurance. If repairs can be donequickly to make your house liveable,the program may providefunds to make those repairs.Disaster LoansHome and business owners, farmers,and others with real or personalproperty losses may be eligiblefor low interest loans. These loansare administered by the federalgovernment’s Small BusinessAdministration (SBA) and theFarmers Home Administration(FmHA). SBA and FmHA canprovide loans even if there is noPresidential disaster declaration.Eligibility and loan interestrates vary according to the incomeand financial condition of theapplicant. Check your local paperor TV or radio station for the typeof loans available for replacingyour personal property and forrepairing your house.Individual and family grantsThis program may provide fundsfor necessary expenses and seriousneeds. Grants can cover immediateexpenses such as medical treatment,transportation, home repair,replacement of essential personalitems, and the cost of protectingyour property from the flood.Applicants must not have otherfinancial resources or be able toqualify for an SBA disaster loan.Income tax deductionsIf a federal disaster declaration wasmade, you might quality to file anamended tax return for the pastyear and get a partial refund foryour uninsured casualty losses.Even if no federal declaration ismade, you can often deduct youruninsured losses on your nextincome tax return. Ask theInternal Revenue Service forPublication 547, Non-BusinessDisasters, Casualties, and Theft toget more information.Floodproofing assistanceRestoring a building to its prefloodcondition used to be thefocus of government disaster programs.Now, some programsencourage “floodproofing,”—thatis, modifying the structure to helpit withstand damage from the nextflood. (See Step 8.) The SBA’sDisaster Loan program can loanadditional money to cover certainfloodproofing costs—ask SBAabout it. Other programs willvary from state to state.CounselingA variety of programs give adviceon recovering from a disaster.These include help with unemployment,food stamps, incometaxes, insurance claims, legalissues, veterans benefits, and crisiscounseling. Crisis counseling canbe especially helpful in copingwith problems as you recover fromthe flood before they get out ofhand. Be sure to ask the RedCross about “Disaster MentalHealth” information.36

8S T E PRebuild and Floodproof8S T E PRebuild and FloodproofDon’t just build it back; build itbetter. Now is the best possibletime to think about floodproofingyour home because you can take definiteaction to protect your propertyin the future. many floodproofingmeasures are quite simple, cost effective,and easy to put in place. Byfloodproofing as you rebuild, you canmake the next flood easier on youand your wallet.FloodproofingFloodproofing means to remodelor rebuild using materials andmethods that will prevent or minimizedamage from future floods.Consider the benefits to floodproofingyour home:• By protecting your home fromdamage, floodproofing will saveyou money and aggravationduring the next flood.• Many floodproofing measuresare inexpensive.• Protecting your house fromfuture flood damage willincrease your property’s resalevalue.• Many floodproofing measurescan be easily worked in duringrepair and rebuilding, reducingyour costs.• Some financial assistance programscan help pay for floodproofing.• By preparing for the next flood,you regain control over yourfuture—a guaranteed way toreduce your level of anxiety andstress. You don’t have to waitfor the government to act; youcan take care of protecting yourhome when you are ready.• Floodproofing won’t make itpossible for you to stay at homein a flood. But it is likely tomake it much quicker andeasier for you to clean up thenext time.Before you repair or rebuild,the first thing you should do istalk to your town’s or city’s orcounty’s building department.You will need to ask the followingquestions:❑✔What are the procedures forapplying for a building permit?What inspections will need tobe done?❑ Is your home substantially damaged?(Substantially damagedmeans that the cost to restoreyour home to its “before damaged”condition would equal orexceed 50% of the market valueyour home had before the damageoccurred.) The flood protectionlevel is the level of floodingthat you want your house to beable to withstand withoutdamage to your house or yourbelongings.Start by asking your buildingdepartment what flood protectionlevel it requires for yourarea. If there has been a floodhigher than the level they giveyou, you should use that flood’slevel plus 1 or 2 feet for safety.The next flood may be worse.37

8S T E PRebuild and FloodproofThe next step is to decide if youwill be better off living in a differentlocation, away from areas thatflood. Ask your building officialabout government agencies thatsometimes purchase property foropen space or flood protection inareas that flood—you may qualify.If you are sure that you willrepair or rebuild your house in theflood-prone area, choose thefloodproofing type that is best foryour home or property. there aregive basic types of floodproofingdescribed here, as well as rebuildingtips to help you safely repairand rebuild.Five Types ofFloodproofing1. ElevationMost buildings can be raised sothat the lowest floor is above thepossible flood level. If you hadfoundation damage from theflood, you may need to raise thehouse to repair it. It will be easierand cheaper to elevate the house atthat time.There should be many contractorsqualified to undertake elevatingyour house above flood level.Elevation or relocation are theonly reasonable ways to protectyour home if it is subject tocoastal flooding or to deep flooding(more than six feet deep.)Elevation and relocation are alsothe most dependable measures forfloodproofing your home.An elevated building will need anew foundation. The contractorwill jack up a structure and temporarilyset it on a temporaryframework called cribbing whilethe foundation is built underneath.The foundations of an elevatedbuilding may be columns,piers, pilings, or raised foundationwalls. The elevated building willusually look better and have addedprotection if fill dirt is placedaround the new foundation. Butcheck with your building departmentbefore adding fill dirt. Itmay not be allowed in your community.2. RelocationMoving a building out of theflood-prone area is the surest wayto protect it from flood damage.Most houses and smaller commercialbuildings in good conditioncan be moved, and it is usually noproblem to find contractors experiencedin moving buildings. Youwill have to purchase a new lotunless your present lot is large andhas a good spot on higher groundfor your house. Relocation andelevation are the only reasonablechoices for protecting a home thatis subject to deep flooding (ofmore than six feet in depth) or tocoastal flooding.3. FloodwallsFloodwalls, berms, and levees allwork to keep floodwaters fromreaching your house. They arebuilt to at least the height of theflood protection level in your area.Floodwalls are usually made of38

8S T E PRebuild and Floodproof39concrete. Berms are simply smalllevees, usually built from fill dirt.Floodwalls, berms, and leveescan either surround the building(ring levee) or connect to highground. They can also be built upagainst a building’s foundationwalls. a sump and pump will beneeded to pump out water thatseeps under the wall. Floodwalls,levees, or berms may not beallowed in your area if they couldcreate a drainage problem on yourneighbor’s property. check withyour building department beforeyou build.Floodwalls of all types workbest in places where flooding isless than three feet deep. If floodwatersnear your home developswift currents, floodwalls, levees,and berms cannot be used—theymay wash away. floodwalls andberms may not be appropriate forhomes with basements.If there is not enough room fora berm or levee, you may be ableto build a floodwall made of concrete,which takes up less room.The walls should contain internalreinforcing bars to give addedstrength as well as to help wallsresist cracking and settling overtime. Walls must be properlyanchored to withstand the samewater pressure that can destroybasement walls.4. Dry floodproofingDry floodproofing means sealinga building to keep floodwatersout. All areas below the floodprotection level are made watertight.Walls are coated withplastic or rubberized sheeting orspecial waterproofing compounds.Openings such as doors, windows,sewer lines, and vents are closedpermanently, or can be temporarilysealed with removable shields orsandbags.Dry floodproofing can only bedone if the walls of your home arestrong enough to hold back thefloodwaters without collapsing.For this reason, dry floodproofingis not recommended if floodwatersare expected to be more than twoor three feet above the groundlevel. Dry floodproofing is generallynot appropriate for houseswith basements or crawl spaces.5. Wet floodproofingWet floodproofing means modifyinga building so that floodwaterswill cause only minimal damage tothe building and contents.Building materials below the floodprotection level are replaced withmaterials that are resistant towater. Floodwaters are allowedinto the building to counteract thepressure of the water on the outsideof the walls.

8S T E PRebuild and FloodproofYou should furnish areas thathave been wet floodproofed withlight, portable furniture that canbe easily and quickly movedbefore a flood. Objects that aredifficult to move, such as furnaces,water heaters, appliances, andbookcases, are either put on platformsor reinstalled upstairs.Wet floodproofing has oneadvantage over the other fourfloodproofing times: even thesmallest efforts will significantlyreduce flood damage the nexttime. Thousands of dollars can besaved simply by moving furnitureand electrical appliances out ofareas that will flood. If you decidenot to use one of the other fourfloodproofing types, you shoulduse wet floodproofing measures asyou repair and rebuild. Therebuilding Tips in this section givemore wet floodproofing ideas.Building permitOne you’ve determined the repairsand floodproofing measures youare going to take, local codes generallyrequire that you get a buildingpermit. Before you makerepairs or alterations to your homeor property, make sure your plansare reviewed and okayed by yourbuilding department. You mayalso need to get the okay of ourhomeowner’s association or mortgageholder before you makerepairs or alterations to your homeor property.If you are just replacing itemssuch as carpeting or wallboard,you will probably not need a permit—butyou should check withyour local building departmentbefore you proceed. You will usuallyhave to get a permit for electricalwork and repairs of structuraldamage, such as broken walls.Most local and state buildingcodes require that a building thatis substantially damaged be treatedas a new building. a new residentialbuilding must be built so thatits lowest floor is at or above theflood protection level. In otherwords, if your home meets the criteriadescribed above for “substantiallydamaged,” you will have nochoice but to elevate or relocateyour home in order to meet localbuilding codes.Failure to follow the local buildingcode can result in an order tostop reconstruction, a fine, imprisonment,higher flood insurance rates,denial of flood insurance, or all ofthe above.Rebuilding tipsGive your house plenty of time todry. Many problems result fromrebuilding after a flood beforeeverything dries. If it takes a weekfor the visible signs of moisture todisappear, allow at least anotherweek for the parts you cannot seeto dry. Don’t try to force aswollen door to close. Don’t forcewooden parts to fit. When completelydry, the wood may regainits original shape.There are small, inexpensivemeasures you can take to makeyour recovery easier after the nextflood.40

8S T E PRebuild and FloodproofProducts that resistwater damage• Concrete, concrete block, orglazed brick• Clay, concrete, or ceramic tile• Galvanized or stainless steel nails,hurricane clips, and connectors(in areas subject to salt waterflooding)• Indoor-outdoor carpeting withsynthetic backing (do not fastendown)• Vinyl, terrazzo, rubber, or vinylfloor covering with waterproofadhesives• Metal doors and window frames• Polyester-epoxy paint (do not usemildew-resistant paint indoors,especially on cribs, playpens, ortoys because it contains an ingredientthat is toxic.)• Stone, slate, or cast stone (withwaterproof mortar)• Styrofoam insulation• Water resistant glueUtilitiesMove the main breaker or fusebox and the utility meters abovethe flood protection level for yourhome. Make sure each circuit islabeled so you know which circuitscontrol which outlets andfixtures. If the electrical codeallows, raise the electrical outletsand switches above your floodprotection level.If you are going to replace aflooded furnace, water heater, orair conditioner, install the new oneon a higher floor. If your new airconditioner or heat pump will beoutside, install it on a platformabove the flood protection level. awater heater can be put anywherenear a hot water pipe. An updraftfurnace located in a basement canbe replaced with a downdraft furnaceon a floor above the floodprotection level.Where the flood protectionlevel is not too high, a furnace,water heater or other heavy appliancecan also be raised on a platforminside the house. Put theappliance on concrete blocks or awooden platform supported byconcrete blocks. Make certainthat appliances such as washersand dryers are secure and will notvibrate off the blocks or platformduring use.You can protect the furnace,water heater, washer, and dryerfrom shallow flooding with a lowfloodwall built around the appliance.a concrete or wooden wall 1or 2 feet high can stop low-levelflooding. The wall should bewaterproofed with plastic sheetingor waterproofing compounds thatcan be purchased at hardwarestores.WallsWash and disinfect the studs andsills if the wallboard and insulationhad to be removed. If youare going to rebuild the walls,remember that metal studs andsills are not damaged by water asmuch as wooden ones.Pressure-treated wood will resistmildew and wood eating insectsoutdoors, but it may swell asmuch as untreated wood whensoaked. Some kinds of pressuretreatedwood should not be usedinside the house, where they willcome into contact with food orskin. (It depends on which chemicalswere used to treat them.)Ask your lumber company to helpyou choose the right products forjobs you will do. They would alsohave consumer information sheetsthat give specific precautions forsome products. Ask for them.WallboardThink horizontal rather than vertical.Install the wallboard panelssideways so they are only four feethigh. If the next flood is less thanfour feet deep, you only have toreplace half the wall.41

8S T E PRebuild and Floodproof1” gapThis drawing shows anothersuggestion. Leave the wall openone inch above the sill. The baseboardwill hide this gap. Whenyou remove the baseboard afterthe next flood, the wall cavity willdrain freely and air will circulatebetter. Check your local codes,however. If a firewall is required,the building code may not allowthe gap.“Greenboard” or other moistureresistant wallboard is made forbathrooms and other damp areas,such as basements. It may bemore sturdy when wet than regularwallboard. However, if soakedwith floodwaters, it will presentthe same health hazard as regularwallboard and should be replaced.FloorsSome floors are made with particleboard or plywood, materials thatfall apart when wet for long.Floor joists and some wood floorswill regain their shapes if allowedto dry naturally.After re-nailing, a wooden floormay need a little sanding to besmooth, or you can place a newunderlayment for a new floor overit. Use screws or screw nails onfloors and stairs to minimizewarping. Do not lay new flooringor carpet until the subflooring iscompletely dry.PaintingDo not paint until the surface iscompletely dry. If the surface stillcontains moisture, the paint willpeel. Things look dry on the surfacelong before they are dry onthe inside, and this can lead tocostly mistakes. It may take severalweeks for the surface to dry outenough.To get an idea if a wall or flooris dry enough to paint, dry an areaapproximately 18 inches squarewith a blow dryer. (When checkinga wall, select an area near thefloor where it will be most damp.)Cover the area with a piece ofclear plastic sheeting. Carefullyseal all the edges with tape. Checkthe plastic 24 hours later. If thereare beads of condensation on theside of the plastic that face thewall or the floor, it’s still too dampto paint.You can cover concrete surfaceswith a clear coating or penetratingsealer to make cleanup easier nexttime. Don’t paint over waterstains—they will bleed throughseveral coats of paint. Coat thestained area with shellac or a commercialstain killer before painting.If you are going to dry floodproofyour walls, don’t rely onwaterproofing paints; they cannotkeep floodwaters out. Such paintsmay protect a deck from rain, butthey cannot protect walls andfloors against the pressure ofstanding water. (Thick plastic orrubberized sheeting provides themost secure waterproofing seal.)42

8S T E PRebuild and FloodproofProducts to AvoidAvoid using or storing in areas likelyto flood:• Fiberglass or cellulose insulation• Cork, corkboard• Gasoline, weed killer, pesticide,lye, drain cleaner, swimming pooland other chemicals• Linoleum• Particle board, chipboard, fiberboard,paperboard, strawboard,Masonite paneling• Wallboard, Sheetrock, drywall,gypsum• WallpaperWindowsIf you live near the coast, yourhome is likely to suffer damagefrom the high winds and floodwatersof a hurricane or nor’easter.Boarding up all your windows anddoors are the best way to protectthem from breaking and letting inthe heavy rains that a coastalstorm brings. Taping windowswill not prevent them from breakingduring a storm.Cut plywood to fit each of yourwindows and doors well before astorm threatens. Label each pieceso you’ll know which window ordoor it covers. Store the plywoodwith the nails or other fastenersyou will need to attach them.That way, you will be able to putthe plywood up quickly when astorm threatens.ContractorsYou may need a contractor to helpyou rebuild, especially to handlethe difficult jobs such as foundationrepair and electrical work.If you have been satisfied withwork done by licensed localcontractors, try them first. Ifthey cannot help you, ask themfor recommendations.If you must hire a contractoryou do not know, talk to severalcontractors before you sign anything.Reputable contractorswould agree that you should takethe following steps:❑✔Check on the firm’s reputation.The local Better BusinessBureau, home builders association,or building trades councilare excellent sources. Ask ifthe firm has had unansweredcomplaints filed against it.❑ Ask for proof of insurance.Be sure the contractor hasdisability and worker’s compensationinsurance. If thecontractor is not insured, youmay be liable for accidents onyour property.❑ Ask for references.Contractors should be willingto provide names of previouscustomers. Call some of thecustomers and ask if they wouldhire the contractor again.❑ Ask for a written estimate.Check it to make sure itincludes everything you expectthe contractor to do. Somecontractors charge a fee for anestimate, which is understandablebecause they have plenty ofwork to do after a flood.❑ Ask for a contract. The contractshould be complete andclearly state all the work, thecosts, and the payment schedule.Never sign a blank contractor one with blank spaces.If a lot of money is involved, itmay be worth your while tohave an attorney look at thecontract before you sign it.❑ Ask for any guarantees inwriting. If the contractor providesguarantees, they should bewritten into the contract, clearlystating what is guaranteed, whois responsible for the guarantee(the dealer, the contractor, orthe manufacturer), and howlong the guarantee is valid.❑ Obtain a copy of the finalsigned contract. Once signed,it is binding on both you andthe contractor.43

8S T E PRebuild and Floodproof❑ Don’t sign off before the jobis finished. Don’t sign completionpapers or make the finalpayment until the work is completedto your satisfaction. areputable contractor will notthreaten you or pressure you tosign if the job is not finishedproperly.Areas recuperating from floodsare often prime targets for lessthan-honestbusiness activities.Building codes often require thatwork be done only by licensedcontractors. Some buildingdepartments and trade associationskeep lists of contractors who workin the community.Here are some points toremember:• Be cautious when contractorsyou don’t know offer “specialdeals” after a disaster or want touse your home as a “modelhome.”• Ask for complete financialdetails in writing and for anexplanation of any differencesfrom regular prices. Sales areworthwhile and they do exist,but be sure you are getting theservices and products you arepaying for.• Do not sign a contract when asalesperson has pressured you.Federal law requires a three-day“cooling off” period for unsoliciteddoor-to-door sales ofmore than $25. If you want tocancel such a contract withinthree business days of signing it,send your cancellation by registeredmail. Other types of salesmay have contracts with differentcancellation clauses.• Beware if you are asked to paycash on the spot instead of acheck made out to the contractingcompany. a reasonabledown payment is up to 30% ofthe total cost of the project.• Make sure your contractor callsyou or a qualified observer toinspect work before it is coveredover. Shoddy work on sewers orbasement walls will be hiddenfrom view, and you won’t knowif there is a problem until thenext flood. Most buildingdepartments will want toinspect electrical and plumbinglines before the walls are coveredwith wallboard or paneling.If you are a victim of fraud orhave problems with a less thanreputable contractor, the state orlocal consumer protection officeor public attorney should be ableto tell you what to do.44

9S T E PPrepare for the Next Flood9S T E PPrepare for the Next FloodBe prepared is more than just aScout motto. Your home willvery likely be flooded again someday.Preparing for the next flood willprotect you and your family, yourproperty, your finances, and yourpeace of mind. In addition to thefloodproofing measures discussed inthe previous step, you should buyflood insurance, develop a floodresponse plan, and help your communityimplement a flood protectionprogram.Flood InsuranceEven if you have floodproofedyour home, you still need insuranceto protect you from theunexpected events such as a floodthat rises higher than your floodprotection level. If you haveinsurance, find out whether youhave the right kinds of coverage,and whether you have adequatecoverage. Homeowners’ policiesdo not cover damage caused byfloods, so you will probably needto purchase a separate policyunder the National FloodInsurance Program (NFIP).An NFIP policy covers:• Damage to your building orcontents caused by a generalcondition of surface waterflooding (up to the amount ofyour coverage)• Costs for protecting your propertyfrom flood damage, includingmoving and storing yourcontents for up to 45 days (upto the amount of thedeductible)• Expenses for removing debrisleft by the floodAn NFIP policy does not cover:• Damage caused by high groundwater, sewer backup, subsurfaceflows, or local drainage problemsthat are not considered a“general condition of flooding”• Property located outside aninsurable building, includingfences, outdoor swimmingpools, driveways, docks, floodwalls,crops in the field, andlandscaping• Vehicles, trailers on wheels, andboats• Paneling, carpeting, furniture,and contents in the finishedportion of a basement or underneathan elevated building• Animals• Money, valuable papers, andland values• Living expenses and lost incomeThe NFIP provides federallybackedinsurance coverage for anybuilding in a community that isparticipating in the program.Almost every type of walled androofed building can be insured.It does not matter whether thebuilding is in or out of the floodplain.A mobile (manufactured)home affixed to a permanent siteand properly anchored can also beinsured. You can get coverage onthe building as well as for contents.Building coverage.Insurance can be purchased for45

9S T E PPrepare for the Next Floodthe walls, floors, insulation, wall towall carpeting, furnace, and otheritems permanently attached to thestructure. (Permanent itemsinclude anything that would notfall out if you turned the buildingupside down; i.e., items that staywith the building when it is sold.)Up to 10% of the policy value forbuilding coverage may apply to adetached garage or carport on thesame lot.If you buy insurance for 80 percentor more of the replacementvalue of your home, you will bereimbursed for the replacementvalue of damage to your home—no depreciation will apply. If yourcoverage is for less than 80%, youwill be reimbursed for the actualcash value of the damage—replacementvalue minus depreciation.Contents coverage. Contentscoverage insures your personalproperty. Renters as well as ownersmay purchase contents coverage.Although you can get contentscoverage without having abuilding coverage policy, thosecontents must be located in abuilding that can be insured underthe NFIP. Contents coverage willpay some costs to move and storecontents in a safe place when aflood threatens.Basements. Building coverageis recommended to cover thewalls, floor, furnace, and otherstructural components of a basement.However, the NFIP doesnot cover finished portions of abasement (carpets, wallboard) orits contents. Damage to the basementfoundation is a major problemduring floods, so this coveragecan be very important eventhough it does not cover the finishedportions (carpets, wallpaper)of basements. Some private companiessell coverage for water damagecaused by sewer backup orsump pump failure—items thatare not covered by the NFIP.NFIP flood insurance is soldthrough private insurance agentsand companies. All companiesoffer identical coverage and rates.Newer or substantially improvedhouses are charged according totheir elevation in relation to theexpected flood level. Olderhomes, which are “grandfathered”in, qualify for a flat, subsidizedrate. Houses outside floodplainsthat are identified on FloodInsurance Rate Maps pay lowerrates. You can check your property’slocation on a Flood InsuranceRate Map at your building departmentor an insurance agent.A few private insurance companiessell their own flood insurancepolicies, although the coverageand rates are different from theNFIP’s. Some mobile homeinsurance covers flood losses.Unlike the NFIP, private insurancewill vary from company to companyso check several for theircoverage and rates.If you are located in a floodplainshown on a Flood InsuranceRate Map, you must buy floodinsurance coverage as a conditionof having a mortgage or homeimprovement loan from a federallyregulated lender or as a conditionfor getting federal disaster assistance.In some cases, privateinsurance will suffice for thisrequirement, but generally thelender or disaster assistance agencywill ask to see an NFIP policy.46

9S T E PPrepare for the Next FloodDon’t wait.Buy flood insurance protectionbefore the next flood is threatening.There is a thirty-day waiting periodbefore NFIP flood coverage takeseffect. Contact your insuranceagent for information on rates andcoverage.Flood Watch, Flood WarningFloods can take several hours todays to develop.•A flood watch means a flood ispossible in your area.•A flood warning means flooding isalready occurring or will occursoon in your area.Flood Response PlanPreparing a flood response planwill help you think through all thedetails that demand attention asthe floodwaters approach. This isa project for the whole family. Asyou write down the plan, you canmake sure everyone understandsit. And having the plan in writingwill help you remember what todo when everyone is in a hurryand excited because a flood iscoming.The next flood might be worsethan the last one. Talk to yourbuilding official or city or countyengineer about that possibility.See Step 8 for information on theflood protection level in your areato use as you prepare your floodresponse plan.Check with your local emergencymanager or Red Cross chapterfor the official warning andevacuation procedures. Find outhow much warning time you willhave to leave your home beforethe flood reaches you. Identify afriend, relative, or motel whereyou can go when you asked toevacuate. Test drive your evacuationroute to be certain it will bepassable when flooding is likely.Be prepared to evacuate when toldto do so or if you see floodwatersrising. You may hear flood warningand evacuation informationon your local TV and radio stations.Make a record of all your personalproperty. Go through yourhome room by room recordinghousehold inventories and takingphotographs or videotapes.Inventory forms are available frommost insurance companies, or youcan use the format shown in Step 3.Keep photocopies of inventoryrecords, insurance policies, deeds,and other valuable papers at a differentlocation, someplace outsideof the flood-prone area.If flooding in your area is fromsewer backup or basement, yourown water alarm can give you preciouslead time before yourbelongings are damaged by floodwaters.a water alarm is similar toa smoke alarm; it beeps whenwater touches it. Water alarmscost $10 to $20 and are availableat hardware stores.Develop a flood response planbased on the flood protectionlevel, local warning procedures,and the time you will have torespond. In flash flood areas, youmay only have enough time toevacuate. But if you live in areas inthe path of a hurricane or on largerivers, you may have 12-24 hoursof warning time.Flash floodsIf you live in a mountainous area,or if your flooding comes from asmall stream or ditch, your homemay be subject to flash flooding.Flash floods can occur before thelocal emergency managers havetime to issue a warning. In thesecases, the National WeatherService may issue a flash floodwatch advising people that conditionsare favorable for a flashflood. You may not be notified ofa flash flood warning before floodingactually begins.47

9S T E PPrepare for the Next FloodHurricanesIf you live near the coast, you willbe asked to evacuate when a hurricanethreatens your community.It is important to evacuate whenyou are asked to. Prepare yourflood response plan to take intoaccount all of the time that youwill need to protect your homebefore you evacuate. You willneed time to board your windowsand to clear your yard so that yourbelongings will not blow or floataway. You may also want to taketime to move your belongingsabove the flood protection level.(See Step 8.)Developing a checklistYour flood response plan shouldbe a checklist of steps to takebefore floodwaters reach yourhome. The following are examplesof things to include:❑✔Listen to local radio or TVstations for flood informationand evacuation instructions.❑ Read safety precautions at thetop of this document.❑ Get into the habit of keeping afull tank of gas in your car,especially at times of the yearwhen flooding can be expectedin your area.❑ Pack the car with supplies youneed while away from home.❑ Put supplies needed for cleanup and recovery in a safe place.If your flood protection level isover your top floor, you mayhave to store supplies at afriend’s home away from theflood-prone area or take themwith you in your car.❑ Take pets to a kennel or friend’splace on high ground. Healthcodes do not allow animals inpublic shelters.❑ If you have enough warningtime, move your contents abovethe flood protection level or toanother safe place. Some of thecost of doing this can becovered under an NFIP floodinsurance policy.❑ Install flood shields and otherfloodproofing measures youmay have prepared.❑ In hurricane-prone areas,protect against wind damage.Install hurricane shutters orplywood covers over windowsand doors, take down TVantennas, and securely tiedown boats, garbage cans, andeverything else left outdoors.❑ Tape plastic around the cap toyour well. This will preventmost, but not all, floodwaterfrom entering your watersupply. You will still have todisinfect your water, asexplained in Step 5.❑ Turn off the electricity, gas, oil,and water.❑ Lock your home.❑ Follow your designated evacuationroute to a place of shelter.If You Are Asked ToEvacuateTake essential disaster supplieswith you. See “Disaster SuppliesKit” on this web site.Community activitiesYour neighborhood or communitycan take steps to reduce flood lossesin the future. Recent floodingmay prompt local governments toFlash Flood WatchIf it is raining a lot, or if you are inmountainous areas, it’s a good ideato keep listening to local radiostations (not stations in locationsaway from where you are). If youhear a flash flood watch for yourarea, it’s a good idea to stay on highground.If you hear a flash floodwarning, climb to higher groundimmediately. Leave your car,camping gear, or other belongingswhere they are. You may have onlyminutes to escape.Flash floods can happen withoutwarning. If you hear a rumblingsound, if animals are running awayfrom where you are, or if you feelthe ground shaking, climb to higherground immediately.48

9S T E PPrepare for the Next Floodstart a flood planning effort thatencourages citizens to participate.If no effort is underway, encourageyour community leaders to get aflood protection program started.There are many ways to reduceflood damage. a community floodprotection program should considera variety of activities. Theobvious solution often seems to be“fixing” the shoreline or riverusing flood control projects suchas dredging or seawalls.Unfortunately, these activities maynot be effective, feasible, or affordablewithout state or federal aid.Because flood control projectsrequire so much planning, time,and money, communities shouldalso consider and implement otherapproaches.Keeping the ditches anddrainageways open is very important.Trash, construction materials,shopping carts, and even grassclippings dumped in a ditch canclog bridges and culverts, and addto water pollution.Neighborhood efforts to keepthe ditches clean and to reportdumpers can make a big differencein the amount of flooding, especiallyduring smaller storms.Report illegal floodplain constructionactivities (i.e., those without apermit posted) to the buildingdepartment.You can work with your neighborsto monitor stream levels orrain gages to give the communityadvance warning. It may also bepossible to monitor commondebris catching sites, such asbridges, and keep the openingsclear.SandbaggingSandbagging can be very expensive.If your community wants toestablish a plan for sandbagging,you will have to buy sandbagsbefore a flood to be sure you havethem on hand. Get burlap orplastic sandbags. Other kinds ofbags simply won’t hold up. Burlapor plastic bags cost 25¢ to 50¢each. Sand and plastic sheetingmust also be stockpiled.Sandbagging can also be verytime consuming. It takes twopeople approximately one hour tofill and place 100 sandbags, givingyou a wall one foot high and 20feet long. If you skimp on thebags, you risk putting up a wallthat will be knocked over.When a flood is imminent,everyone wants to sandbag, usuallybecause they don’t know whatelse to do. While it does have atherapeutic effect, sandbaggingshould be considered only as partof an overall flood response plan,or as a last resort for individuals.A good plan will help use yourlimited time and resources mostefficiently. For example, a foodresponse plan might call for sandbagsto fill in gaps in a floodwall.Sandbagging is supposed tokeep water away from vulnerableflood-prone property.Floodproofing measures and movingcontents out of the way aremuch more secure methods toaccomplish the same thing.Therefore, before you considersandbagging for your personalproperty, consider the flood protectionalternatives discussed inStep 8. They are more effectiveand more dependable ways to protecta home from flooding.49

9S T E PPrepare for the Next FloodSources of informationThe following people can provideadvice or assistance on floodrecovery. Some of these peoplemay be able to speak to neighborhoodgroups or help in developinga community flood protectionprogram.Flood Preparedness and SafetyThe American Red Cross andlocal emergency managers conductsessions to increase public awarenessand to educate the communityin ways to prevent, prepare for,and cope with emergencies. Localemergency managers also sponsorpublic meetings on damage reduction,safety, response planning,how to handle stress, and otherflood-related topics.The following publications areavailable from the American RedCross. Contact your Red Crosschapter for more information:• Your Family Disaster Plan(ARC 4466)• Su plan para el hogar en caso dedesastres (ARC 4466S)• Your Family Disaster SuppliesKit (ARC 4463)• Su Equipo de suministros para lafamilia en caso de desastres (ARC4463S)• Safe Living in YourManufactured Home (ARC4465)• Are You Ready for a Flood orFlash Flood? (ARC 4458)• ¿Está preparado para una inundaciónor inundación súbita?(ARC 4458S)• Are You Ready for a Hurricane?(ARC 4454)• ¿Está preparado para unhuracán? (ARC 4454S)Clean upMany Cooperative ExtensionService offices have home economistsand food and farm experts.Check your telephone book underthe county name. For example, ifyou live in Pittsburg County,check under “Pittsburg CountyCooperative Extension Service”.Questions on cleaning or disinfectingof specific materials can beanswered by manufacturers ofcleaning products. Check theproduct labels for toll free telephonenumbers.Flood insuranceYour property insurance agent isthe best source of information onflood insurance. He or she cangive you forms and instructionsfor making your own propertyinventory. a free copy of Answersto Questions about the NationalFlood Insurance Program, FIA—2,is available from the FederalEmergency Management Agency.(See address below.)Repairs and rebuildingLocal building and housingdepartments, and hardware storesare excellent sources of technicaladvice. Their staffs have manyyears of experience in dealing withlocal construction conditions.Home maintenance and repairbooks that are found in libraries orbookstores are invaluable referencesfor the do-it-yourselfer.Private home inspectors cangive you itemized lists and costestimates of needed repairs. (Lookin the yellow pages under BuildingInspection Services.) Buildingtrades associations and the BetterBusiness Bureau can provide guidanceon dealing with contractors.50

9S T E PPrepare for the Next FloodFloodproofingSome local building officials andcontractors are familiar withfloodproofing techniques. Severalstates and communities have publishedfloodproofing or “retrofitting”manuals. The FederalEmergency Management Agencyand the U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers have several publicationsthat provide excellent summariesof various floodproofingmeasures. The following are availablefree from:Federal EmergencyManagement AgencyAttn: PublicationsP. O. Box 2012Jessup, MD 20794-2012• Design Manual for RetrofittingFlood-prone ResidentialStructures, FEMA-114. Thisdetailed manual explains all thefloodproofing options in languagea homeowner can understand.• Elevated Residential Structures,FEMA-54.• Floodproofing Non-residentialStructures, FEMA-102.• Coastal Construction Manual,FEMA-55.• Manufactured Home Installationin Flood Hazard Areas, FEMA-85.The following are available forfree from:U.S. Army Corps of EngineersAttn: CECW-PF20 Massachusetts Avenue, NWWashington, D.C. 20314• Introduction to Flood Proofing,John R. Sheaffer, 1967• Flood-Proofing Regulations, U.S.Army Corps of Engineers,Pittsburgh District, 1990, 80pages (Corps publication EP1165 3 314).• Flood Proofing Systems &Techniques, L.N. Flanagan,editor, 1984• Flood Proofing Tests, Tests ofMaterials and Systems for FloodProofing Structures, Corps ofEngineers, National FloodProofing Committee, August,1988.• Raising and Moving the Slab-On-Grade House, Corps ofEngineers National FloodProofing Committee, 1990.References on technical aspectsof floodproofing can be locatedthrough the FloodplainManagement Resource Center, afree service provided by theAssociation of State FloodplainManagers. Call 303/492-68189:00 am - 4:00 pm, MountainTime.FEMA Regional OfficesRegion I—CT, ME, MA NH, RI, VTFEMA Region IJ.W. McCormack POCH, Rm.442Boston, Massachusetts 02109-4595(617) 223-956151

9S T E PPrepare for the Next FloodRegion II—NJ, NY, PR, VIFEMA Region II26 Federal Plaza, Rm. 1337New York, NY 10278-0002(212) 225-7202Region III—DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WVFEMA Region IIILiberty Square Bldg., 2nd Floor105 S. Seventh StreetPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania19106-3392(215) 931-5750Region IV—AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TNFEMA Region IV1371 Peachtree St., N.E., Suite700Atlanta, Georgia 30309-3108(404) 853-4400Region VIII—CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WYFEMA Region VIIIDenver Regional CenterBuilding 710, Box 25267Denver, Colorado 80225-0267(303) 235-4830Region IX—AZ, CA, HI, NVFEMA Region IXBuilding 105Presidio of San FranciscoSan Francisco, California 94129-1250(415) 923-7176Region X—AK, ID, OR, WAFEMA Region XFederal Regional Center130 228th St., S.W.Bothell, Washington 98021-9796(206) 487-4682Region V—IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WIFEMA Region V175 West Jackson Street, 4th FloorChicago, Illinois 60604-2698(312) 408-5533Region VI—AR, LA, NM, OK, TXFEMA Region VIFederal Regional Center., Rm.206800 N. Loop 288Denton, Texas 76201-3698(817) 898-5127Region VII—IA KS, MO, NEFEMA Region VII911 Walnut Street, Room 200Kansas City, Missouri 64106-2085(816) 283-700252

Repairing Your Flooded HomeIndexAAdjuster 11, 12, 16, 27, 28, 31-32Air Conditioning 10, 15, 39American Red Cross 2, 13, 25,30, 46, 50Animals 3, 7 47Anxiety 1, 2, 35AppliancesCleaning 26-27Gas 21Protecting 38, 39BBaseboards 18, 19, 40Basement 20, 37, 38, 39,40, 45Berms 37, 38Bleach 23, 24, 26, 27Books 7, 28Builders 41-42Building permit 35, 38-39CCabinets 7, 15Calcium Chloride 16Carpet 12, 13, 16, 20, 26, 40Ceiling 6-7, 8, 13, 17-19Children 2Chimney 21CleaningAdvice 9-10, 25-29, 50Cleaners 26Supplies 25, 49Closets 15, 16Clothing, cleaning 27Community activities 49Computers 28Concrete 19, 40, 41Contractors 41-42Contracts 42Cosmetics 16Counseling 2, 33-34Crawl space 10, 20Credit Cards 13-14Crisis counseling 2, 33-34DDampness 15Dehumidifier 15Depression 1Desiccants 15-16Disaster assistance 32-34Dishes, cleaning 3, 27Disinfectants 26Drywall, see WallboardDrying 15-20Ducts, heating or cooling 10-15EElectrical systemCircuit breakers 5, 13, 22-23Cleaning 9-10, 22Electricity safety 22Fuse boxes 5, 13, 22-23Turning off 5Turning on 22-23Elevation 36Evacuation supplies 48FFatigue 1-3Financial assistance 13, 30-34Flash floods 46-47Flood insurance 7-8, 21, 44-46Claims 11, 12, 31-32References 51Flood protectionCommunity activities 49Emergency steps 47Flood response plan 46-49Flood proofing 13, 35-41Assistance 33References 51Flood protection level 35, 36, 37,38, 29, 44Flood response plan 46-49Flood warning 46Flood watch 46Floodwall 37, 38, 39, 44, 49Floor 8, 12, 13, 20, 40See also CarpetFlooring 20, 40, 41, 51See also CarpetFoam rubber 16, 20Food 11, 16-17, 27-28, 48Foundation 5, 12, 13, 20, 36, 37,38, 45Fuel oil 6, 21Furnace 15, 21, 38, 39, 45Furniture 10, 13, 16, 26, 38, 44Cleaning 26GGarbage 16-17, 28Gas system, 6, 13, 21Checking for leaks 5, 21Gas meter 6Turning off 5-6Turning on 21Generators 4Government assistance 32-34Grants 33Grass 28Gypsum board, see WallboardHHealth precautions 1-3, 9Humidity 15-16Hurricanes 41, 46, 47References 5054

Repairing Your Flooded HomeIIncome tax 11, 33Information sources of 50-53Insulation 17, 18, 19, 20, 40, 41InsuranceAgent 11, 16See also AdjusterCoverage 11Flood 7-8, 21, 31-32, 44-46Homeowner’s 11Wind and hail 11Inventory 12, 46, 48KKitchen ware 27LLawn 28Leather cleaning 13, 27Levee 37, 49Lights, see Electrical system,AppliancesLinoleum 41See also FlooringLoans, disaster 30, 33LP gas, see Gas systemMMattresses 16Medicine 16, 48Mildew 7, 15, 16, 25, 26, 27Mildew-resistant paint 40Mobile (manufactured) home 44,45Mold, see Mildew Mortgage holder13, 32, 38Mosquitoes 28Moth crystals 28Mud 5, 7, 9-10, 15, 17, 20, 22,27, 28-29NNational Flood InsuranceProgram, 44-46OOil, see Gas systemOutlets, see Electrical systemOutreach programs 1-2PPaint 40-41Paneling 20, 41Permit, building 35, 38-39Pets, see AnimalsPhotographs 7, 28Plan for recovery 11-14Plants 29Plaster 6, 17, 18, 19Plywood 17-18, 40, 41, 47See also Wood, Floors,Paneling, WindowsPower, see Electrical systemPrescriptions 48Proof of Loss 12, 31-32Propane, see Gas systemRRebuilding, see repairsRecords 11-12, 16, 28, 46Recovery plan 11-14Regulations, see Building codeRed Cross, see American RedCrossReferences 50-53Repairs 35-43Temporary 7-8Roof 8Rugs, see CarpetSSafety checklist 6Sandbags 49Septic system 24Sewage disposal 24Sheetrock, see wallpaperStress 1-2Structural damage 12, 38Substantially damaged,definition 38TTile 20, 40Toys 2, 16Trash, see GarbageUUnheated. See WinterizingUtilities. See also Electrical system,Gas system, Water supplyRestoring 21-24VValuables 7Video 11, 16, 46Camera 5Volunteer organizations 30WWalls 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 41Basement 8-9, 45Drying 13, 17, 18, 19Cleaning 10, 25, 40Protecting 37References 51Wall covering 19, 41Wallboard 6, 7 13, 15, 17, 18,19, 40, 41Cleaning 25Wallpaper, see Wall coveringWarnings 46, 47, 49Water, drinking 3, 5, 8, 23-24Water alarm 46Water heater 21, 24, 38, 39Waterproofing 37, 39, 41Water supply 8, 10, 23-24Well water 24, 47-48Windows 8Cleaning 25Winterizing 24Wires, wiring, see ElectricalsystemWood 16, 17-18, 26, 39, 40See also Walls, Floors, Furniture,Cabinets55

Repairing Your Flooded HomeImportant NumbersPoliceInsurance AgentFireAmbulanceHomeowner’s Insurance PolicyCompanyNumberEmergency Management OfficeNeighborsFlood Insurance PolicyCompanyNumberWind and/or Hail Insurance PolicyAmerican Red CrossCompanyNumberPower CompanyDisaster Hotline (announced if there is a federal disasterdeclaration)Gas CompanyHardware StoresWaterLumber CompaniesHealth DepartmentCooperative Extension ServicePoison Control Center

F L O O D S A F E T YDo not walk through flowing water. Drowning is the number one causeof flood deaths. Most of these drownings occur during flash floods. Six inchesof moving water can knock you off your feet. Use a pole or stick to make surethat the ground is still there before you go through an area where the water isnot flowing.Do not drive through a flooded area. More people drown in their carsthan anywhere else. Don’t drive around road barriers; the road or bridge maybe washed out.Stay away from power lines and electrical wires. Electrocution isalso a major killer in floods. Electrical current can travel through water. Reportdowned power lines to your utility company or local emergency manager.Turn off your electricity when you return home. Follow the instructionsin Step 2. Some appliances, such as television sets, can shock you evenafter they have been unplugged. Don’t use appliances or motors that have gottenwet unless they have been taken apart, cleaned, and dried.Watch for animals, especially snakes. Small animals that have beenflooded out of their homes may shelter in yours. Use a pole or stick to seekpoke and turn items over and scare away small animals.Look before you step. After a flood, the ground and floors are covered withdebris including broken bottles and nails. Floors and stairs that have been coveredwith mud can be very slippery.Be alert for gas leaks. Use a flashlight to inspect for damage. Don’tsmoke or use candles, lanterns, or open flames unless you are sure that the gashas been turned off and the area has been aired out.Carbon monoxide exhaustkills. Use a generator or other gasoline-powered machine outdoors. The samegoes for camping stoves. Fumes from charcoal are especially deadly-cook withcharcoal only outdoors.Clean everything that got wet. Floodwaters have picked up sewage andchemicals from roads, farms, factories, and storage buildings. Spoiled food andflooded cosmetics and medicines are health hazards. When in doubt throwthem out.Take good care of yourself. Recovering from a flood is a big job. It istough on both the body and the spirit. And the effects a disaster has on youand your family may last a long time. Read Step 1 on how to recognize andcare for anxiety, stress, and fatigue.Issued in furtherance of the International Decadefor Natural Disaster Reduction.ARC 4476FEMA L-198Aug. 1992