These are common questions New Yorkers ask after a flood, answered from official sources and the water damage standard restorers use. If yours is not here, send it through the contact page.
Flood Restoration NYC is an independent referral service, not a restoration company. When you send the form, your details go to an independent local restoration provider serving New York City, who can contact you, inspect and quote any work directly. You decide whether to hire them.
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About this site
Is Flood Restoration NYC a restoration company?
No. It is an independent referral service. It does not pump, clean, dry or repair anything, and it does not send anyone itself. It passes your request to an independent local restoration provider, who can contact you and quote directly.
What does it cost to send the form?
Nothing, and it does not commit you to anything. You decide whether to let the provider inspect and whether to accept a quote.
How much does flood or sewage cleanup cost?
This site publishes no prices, because the cost depends on things only an inspection can tell: how much water, what category it is, how long it sat, what has to be removed and how the space is dried. Ask the provider for a written quote that says what the work includes.
Which boroughs does the form cover?
All five: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island.
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Safety
Is it safe to go back into a flooded home?
Only once the power and gas are safe. The CDC says turn off the main power only from a dry place, call an electrician if you would have to stand in water to reach it, never switch power on or off while standing in water, and have an electrician check the system before the power goes back on. If you smell gas, close the main gas valve, open the windows and leave. If the home was shut up for days, open it and let it air for at least 30 minutes first.
What should I do after touching floodwater?
The CDC links floodwater exposure to wound infections, skin rash, gastrointestinal illness and tetanus, advises rubber boots, rubber gloves and goggles for anyone who must enter it, and says clothes soiled by flood or sewage water should be washed in hot water and detergent. Ask a doctor about any wound that came into contact with floodwater.
Can I run a generator during a power cut?
Only outside and at least 20 feet from buildings, the EPA says, never in a home, garage or shed. Its carbon monoxide could kill you in minutes.
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Cleanup and drying
How do I clean up water after a flood?
Make it safe, photograph everything, remove the standing water, take out soaked porous materials, clean hard surfaces and dry the space. The flood cleanup guide goes through each step. For sewage or other contaminated water, the EPA says to call in a professional with experience in it.
How long does it take to dry out a house after a flood?
It varies with the water and the building. The EPA’s target is to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth, which in a basement usually takes air movers and dehumidifiers. Dryness is confirmed with moisture readings before anything is rebuilt.
What disinfectant should I use after a flood?
The EPA says bleach and other biocides are not recommended as a routine practice during mold cleanup, and warns never to mix cleaning products or add bleach to other chemicals. Thorough cleaning and drying matter more than the product.
What is Category 3 water?
The ANSI/IICRC S500 standard sorts water into three categories by contamination. Category 3 is “grossly contaminated” water that can contain harmful agents; its examples include sewage, flooding from seawater and rising river water. The IICRC’s 2026 position statement adds that wind-driven rain and water from above are not automatically Category 3: the restorer’s inspection decides.
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Basements and sewers
What should I do if my basement floods?
Get out first if you live there and water is still coming in. NYC Health reports that 10 of the 14 people who died in Ida drowned in unregulated basement apartments. Then follow the basement flooding guide.
Is a sewer backup an emergency?
Treat it as one. Sewage is Category 3 water. Stop using water in the building, keep people away and see sewage cleanup.
How do I stop my basement flooding again?
Find out where the water came in. DEP makes it mandatory to disconnect downspouts from the sanitary sewer; a backwater valve may help with sewer backups, and FloodHelpNY says a licensed plumber or engineer can tell you which, if any, suits your home. See basement waterproofing.
How do I report a water leak or flooding on the street?
Report it to 311. NYC311 takes reports of water leaks on streets and sidewalks and of manhole flooding, and DEP asks residents to report clogged catch basins to 311.
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Renters, owners and insurance
My apartment flooded. What do I tell my landlord?
Tell them in writing and keep a copy. If a leak or mold is not fixed, or the repair is not done safely, NYC HPD says to file a complaint online or call 311. Whether you can end a lease after a flood depends on your lease and the law; ask a lawyer or a tenant organization.
Does insurance cover flood damage?
Usually only a flood policy does. FloodSmart says most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, FEMA says homeowners and renters insurance do not typically cover it, and a flood policy generally takes effect 30 days after purchase. Check your own policy or agent, and see flood insurance basics.
Am I in a flood zone?
Look the address up on NYC Flood Maps for the FEMA flood zone (letters) and with the Hurricane Evacuation Zone Finder for the evacuation zone (numbers 1 to 6). The NYC flood zones guide explains both.
Still have water in the building? Send the form with your borough and what happened, and an independent local provider can contact you.
NowWater in the building?
Tell us where and what happened, and an independent local provider can contact you.