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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Do not go back inside until local officials say reentry is safe. When you can return, treat the building as a contaminated, potentially unstable work site: stay out of floodwater, keep away from electrical hazards, protect drinking water and food, document every loss before moving items, and start drying only when power and structural conditions are safe. The steps below follow U.S. federal guidance, but your local authority, utility, health department and insurance policy control the decisions for your address.
1. Wait for an official all-clear before returning
Remain at your evacuation location until local emergency managers or law-enforcement officials announce that returning is safe. Roads, bridges, gas lines, power systems and buildings can remain dangerous after the wind and rain stop. Ready.gov’s hurricane guidance says to “Follow reentry guidance from local authorities and return home from an evacuation only when it is safe to do so.” An apparently calm street is not proof that your home or route is safe.
Check the approach, not just the house
- Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwater. It may hide sharp debris, open manholes, sewage, bacteria, chemicals and downed electrical lines, and moving water can sweep away a person or vehicle.
- Avoid unnecessary travel. Roads and bridges may be undermined or blocked even after water appears shallow.
- From outside, look for leaning walls, shifted foundations, major cracks, sagging roofs, fallen trees, damaged gas lines and other signs of structural instability.
Use a safe entry method
- Approach in daylight with a battery-powered flashlight. Do not use candles, matches or other open flames; a damaged gas line may make ignition possible.
- If standing water is present, do not touch switches, outlets, appliances or electrical panels while you are wet or standing in water.
- If the main electrical disconnect can be reached from a dry, safe location, CDC guidance says to turn it off. If it cannot, leave it alone and wait for the utility or a qualified electrician.
- Leave immediately if you smell gas, hear unusual structural movement, see sparking or feel that floors, ceilings or stairs are unstable. Call the relevant emergency service or utility from a safe location.
Never assume that a home is safe because the electricity is off. Floodwater can weaken framing and contaminate surfaces even when there is no visible electrical damage.
2. Protect people, drinking water and food
Assume water is unsafe until authorities say otherwise
Flooding can allow sewage, chemicals and microbes into a public or private water system. Do not drink tap water, use it for brushing teeth or prepare infant formula with it until your local health department or water utility says it is safe. Follow any boil-water, do-not-drink or bottled-water instruction exactly; a boil notice and a chemical contamination notice require different actions.
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Discard contaminated or temperature-abused food
Throw away food that touched floodwater. Also discard refrigerated or frozen food that may have stayed at unsafe temperatures during a power outage, even if it looks and smells normal. Do not taste food to test it. Keep flood-exposed food out of reach of children and pets while you document it, then place it in sealed bags according to local waste instructions.
Limit exposure during cleanup
- Children should not participate in disaster cleanup.
- People with asthma or other lung conditions, and people with weakened immune systems, should not enter a building with visible or noticeable indoor mold or active water leaks.
- Everyone else should pace the work, take breaks, drink safe water and stop if they develop breathing difficulty, dizziness, nausea, confusion or other concerning symptoms.
Keep household members away from standing water, damaged wiring, sharp debris and cleaning chemicals. Arrange a safe, dry place for pets and anyone who cannot tolerate the conditions.
3. Document the damage before moving anything
Once you have confirmed that entering is safe, create a visual record before cleaning, discarding or dismantling property. Documentation supports an insurance claim and may be needed for disaster-assistance applications.
Make a complete visual record
- Photograph and video the exterior from every side, including flood lines, foundation damage, roof damage, fallen trees and damaged utilities.
- Move room by room inside. Capture wide views first, then close-ups of walls, floors, ceilings, cabinets, appliances, furniture and personal belongings.
- Label files by room and date. A simple naming pattern such as
kitchen_2026-10-18_refrigerator.jpgmakes later review easier. - Photograph appliance make, model and serial-number plates before mud or corrosion makes them unreadable.
- Keep receipts for emergency supplies, temporary repairs, lodging and professional services. Record who performed work, what was done and when.
When feasible, separate damaged items from undamaged ones without creating a safety risk. Do not throw away an item that can be safely stored until it has been photographed and the insurer has told you whether it wants to inspect it. Perishable food, sewage-contaminated materials and other hazards can be removed after they are documented.
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4. Notify the insurer and identify assistance
Start the claim promptly
Call your insurer or agent as soon as practical and ask what evidence, inventories, receipts and inspections it requires. Give a factual description of the event and preserve the claim number and adjuster’s contact information. Keep copies of every email, form and estimate. Follow the policy’s instructions for protecting property from further damage, but do not perform dangerous work just to satisfy a documentation request.
Understand the flood-coverage distinction
Standard homeowners insurance generally does not cover flood damage. Read the actual policy rather than relying on the name of the storm or assumptions about what “hurricane” coverage means. Ready.gov identifies the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) as a source of flood coverage. Flood policies, homeowners policies, wind coverage and endorsements can assign different causes of loss to different insurers, so ask each carrier how it handles your specific damage.
Consider federal disaster assistance
Ready.gov also directs affected residents to register with FEMA for additional disaster assistance when a declaration and eligibility rules apply. Registration does not guarantee approval, and the amount or type of help depends on the declared area, household circumstances and program requirements. Keep your inspection reports, receipts, photographs and insurance correspondence together for any application.
FEMA says you do not have to wait for a FEMA inspection or a flood-insurance inspection before beginning necessary cleanup and repairs. You do need to document the condition first and confirm that the structure is safe to enter.
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5. Decide whether a task is safe for you
There is no single universal mold or flood-damage size threshold that determines when every household must hire a contractor. Make the decision by evaluating the conditions below:
| Question | Resident-led work may be reasonable only when… | Seek qualified help when… |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Floors, walls, ceilings and stairs appear stable and there is no sign of shifting. | There are major cracks, sagging, movement, collapsed areas or uncertainty about stability. |
| Water and sewage | The area is no longer flooded and contamination is limited and understood. | Sewage, chemicals, fuel, unknown liquids or extensive standing water are present. |
| Electricity | Power has been evaluated or isolated safely by the utility or a qualified electrician. | Wiring, panels, outlets or appliances were submerged or their condition is unknown. |
| Mold and moisture | You can ventilate, wear appropriate PPE and clean or remove wet materials safely. | Mold or water damage is widespread, hidden, recurring or beyond your equipment and ability to contain. |
| Health and equipment | You can work without aggravating a medical condition and have the required protection. | Anyone doing the work has asthma, immune suppression or another condition that makes exposure unsafe. |
A professional assessment is also prudent when you cannot determine what a material contains or whether it can be cleaned and dried completely.
6. Dry the building as quickly as conditions allow
CDC guidance recommends drying the home and belongings as quickly as possible, aiming for 24 to 48 hours when feasible. This is an operational target, not permission to enter an unsafe building or use electrical equipment around water. If an item is wet with floodwater and cannot be cleaned and dried completely within that period, take it outside when safe and photograph it before disposal.
Use ventilation and equipment safely
- Open doors and windows when outdoor conditions permit to increase ventilation.
- After electricity has been declared safe, use fans and dehumidifiers to move moisture out of the structure.
- Do not operate a wet/dry vacuum, fan, dehumidifier or other powered tool where outlets, cords or equipment may be wet or contaminated.
- Remove soaked porous materials that cannot be fully cleaned and dried, following local disposal rules.
Wear mold-cleanup protection
CDC recommends an N95 respirator at minimum for mold cleanup, along with goggles and protective gloves. Waterproof boots and protective clothing help prevent skin contact with contaminated water and debris. An N95 reduces inhalation of particles; it does not make a toxic atmosphere or an oxygen-deficient space safe. Leave areas with unknown chemical fumes or severe contamination and obtain professional assistance.
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7. Clean hard surfaces and control mold without creating new hazards
Basic cleaning sequence
- Remove mud and visible debris after documenting the damage.
- Wash hard, nonporous surfaces with water and detergent.
- Rinse as appropriate and dry surfaces promptly.
- Address the moisture source before attempting mold treatment; otherwise mold can return.
- Place unsalvageable materials in bags or containers that prevent spreading contamination, according to local instructions.
Never paint or caulk over mold. Clean or remove the mold and correct the moisture problem first. Mold hidden behind walls, under flooring or in ductwork may require an assessment rather than surface wiping.
Never mix cleaning chemicals
CDC’s warning is explicit: “DO NOT mix bleach and ammonia because it can create toxic vapors.” Use one product according to its label, provide ventilation and keep chemicals in their original containers. Do not improvise combinations of bleach, acids, ammonia or other cleaners.
Prepare a practical supply kit
CDC’s essential cleanup list includes buckets, stiff-bristle brushes, N95 respirators, goggles, protective rubber gloves, waterproof boots, dish detergent and household bleach. Potentially helpful items include a wet/dry vacuum, large plastic bags, towels, resealable bags, a first-aid kit and bottled drinking water. Supplies do not make an unstable structure safe, neutralize unknown chemicals or replace an electrician, structural professional or remediation specialist.
8. Operate generators and fuel-burning equipment outdoors only
Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other fuel-burning device inside a home, basement, shed or garage, even if doors or windows are open. FEMA and Ready.gov say to place generators and other fuel-burning equipment outdoors and at least 20 feet from windows, doors and garage openings. Exhaust can accumulate indoors and cause fatal carbon-monoxide poisoning.
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Position the generator so wind cannot push exhaust toward openings, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for grounding, fuel storage and connection. CDC recommends a battery-operated or backup carbon-monoxide detector when using a generator. If anyone develops headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, chest pain or confusion, move to fresh air and call emergency services.
9. Keep a recovery record and monitor changing conditions
Flood recovery is often interrupted by renewed rain, utility work, boil-water changes or additional evacuation orders. Keep your phone charged, monitor official local alerts and preserve a written log of contacts, dates, expenses, readings and repairs. Update your insurer when conditions change and keep receipts for temporary measures that prevent further damage.
Use the following order whenever new work is considered: confirm the latest local safety order; check structural and electrical conditions; protect people from water, mold and chemicals; photograph the condition; then clean, dry or remove materials. If any step is uncertain, stop and obtain guidance from the utility, health department, building official, insurer or a qualified professional.
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