What to do after a flood: the first hours, the first day, the first week

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The first hours: safety

• Power. The CDC says turn off the main power only if you can reach it from a dry place. If you would have to step into standing water, call an electrician to do it. Never switch power on or off, or use an electric tool or appliance, while standing in water.
• Gas. If you smell gas or suspect a leak, turn off the main gas valve, open all windows and leave the house at once.
• Air. If the home has been closed up for several days, enter briefly to open doors and windows and let it air out for at least 30 minutes before staying inside.
• Generators. Only outside and at least 20 feet from buildings, the EPA says, never in a home, garage or shed. Carbon monoxide could kill you in minutes.
• Protection. If you must go into floodwater, wear rubber boots, rubber gloves and goggles, as the CDC advises.
• The building. In a rental, co-op or condo, tell the super or managing agent straight away.

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The first day: records and water out

Before anything is moved or thrown away, photograph and film every wet room, the line the water reached on the walls and each damaged item. Write down when the water came in and where from. These records help with an insurer, a landlord and the provider.

Then the standing water comes out. The CDC lists a wet-dry shop vacuum, an electric water transfer pump or a sump pump, used only once an electrician has made the power safe. For deep water, or for water that came up through a drain or toilet, a provider with pumps and extraction equipment is the safer route. The EPA’s advice is that when damage was caused by sewage or other contaminated water, you call in a professional with experience cleaning it.

Report water on the street, flooding manholes or a clogged catch basin to 311.

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The first two days: drying

“The key to mold control is moisture control,” the EPA says, and its guidance is to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. That is the window that matters most. Carpet and pad, soaked drywall and insulation, mattresses and upholstered furniture usually come out after floodwater; hard surfaces are cleaned; then air movers and dehumidifiers dry the space.

The EPA says not to run a heating or cooling system you know or suspect is contaminated with mold, so leave a furnace or ductwork that sat in floodwater off until it has been checked.

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What to clean with

People often reach for bleach. 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. Wash clothing soiled by flood or sewage water in hot water and detergent, the CDC says. If mold appears in a small patch, under about 10 square feet, the EPA says in most cases you can handle it yourself; for larger areas it points to its guidance for professional remediation.

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If you were in the water

The CDC links floodwater exposure to wound infections, skin rash, gastrointestinal illness and tetanus, and lists what floodwater can carry, from human and livestock waste to hazardous waste. If you were in floodwater and have a cut, a rash or feel unwell, talk to a doctor.

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The first week: insurance and repairs

FloodSmart says most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, and FEMA says homeowners and renters insurance do not typically cover it. If you have a flood policy, call your insurer or agent and ask what they need. If you do not, note for next time that FEMA says a new flood policy generally takes effect 30 days after purchase. Check your own policy or agent.

Renters: put the problem to your landlord in writing. If leaks or mold are not fixed, NYC HPD says to file a complaint online or call 311.

Repairs wait until the structure reads dry. Then fix the cause, then rebuild. The flood cleanup in NYC guide has the full cleanup method, and flood damage repair covers the rebuild.

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Questions people ask