| Safety Turn off electricity. Stand on a
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| | ventilate with outdoor air. Use fans to
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| dry spot or on a dry wooden block or
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| | circulate air in the house. If mold and
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| plastic crate. Use a wooden stick or
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| | mildew have already developed, brush off
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| plastic pipe to pull the fuse box handle
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| | items outdoors to prevent scattering
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| to off. Pull out the main fuses, and
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| | spores in the house. Vacuum floors,
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| unscrew each circuit fuse. On a breaker
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| | ceilings and walls to remove mildew, then
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| box, use the stick to switch off the main
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| | wash with disinfectant. Wear a two-strap
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| breaker switch and each circuit breaker.
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| | protective mask to prevent breathing mold
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| If you have to step in water to get to
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| | spores.
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| your electric box, call an electrician or
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| | Cleaning Carpet and Floors Clean and dry
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| your power company. Even if the power
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| | carpets and rugs as quickly as possible.
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| company has turned off electricity to
| |
| | If sewage-contaminated floodwater covered
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| your area, make sure your house's power
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| | your carpeting, discard it for health
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| is disconnected so it won't come back on
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| | safety reasons. Also discard if the
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| without warning.
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| | carpet was under water for 24 hours or
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| Turn off gas. If you suspect a leak or
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| | more. To clean, drape carpets and rugs
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| smell gas, leave your home immediately.
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| | outdoors and hose them down. Work a
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| Leave the door open. If the gas meter is
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| | disinfecting carpet cleaner into soiled
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| outside, turn off the gas by using pliers
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| | spots with a broom. To discourage mildew
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| or a wrench to turn the valve a quarter
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| | and odors, rinse with a solution of 2
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| turn so the valve is perpendicular to the
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| | tablespoons bleach to 1 gallon water, but
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| pipe.
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| | don't use this solution on wool or nylon
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| Make sure water is safe. Listen for
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| | carpets. Dry the carpet and floor
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| announcements about the local water
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| | thoroughly before replacing the carpet.
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| supply. Private water wells need to be
| |
| | Padding is nearly impossible to clean so
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| tested and disinfected after floodwaters
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| | should be replaced. If the carpet can't
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| recede. Water that might be contaminated
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| | be removed, dry it as quickly as possible
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| should be boiled at least 10 minutes.
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| | using a wet/dry vacuum and dehumidifier.
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| Make sure food is safe. Frozen or
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| | Use a fan to circulate air above the
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| refrigerated foods warmed above 40
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| | carpet, and if possible, lift the carpet
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| degrees for more than two hours may not
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| | and ventilate with fans underneath.
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| be safe to eat. This includes meats, milk
| |
| | Remove hardwood floor boards to prevent
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| products, eggs, casseroles and other
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| | buckling. Remove a board every few feet
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| foods. Discard anything that is moldy or
| |
| | to reduce buckling caused by swelling.
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| has an unusual odor or look. Partially
| |
| | Clean and dry wood before attempting
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| thawed frozen foods that still have ice
| |
| | repairs. With wood subflooring, the floor
|
| crystals can be safely refrozen. Most
| |
| | covering (vinyl, linoleum, carpet) must
|
| once-frozen foods that have thawed can be
| |
| | be removed so the subflooring can dry
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| cooked and eaten immediately if they
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| | thoroughly which may take several months.
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| haven't been above 40 degrees more than
| |
| | Open windows and doors to expose the
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| two hours. These foods can be refrozen
| |
| | boards to as much air as possible.
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| after cooking.
| |
| | Electrical Cleanup Practice safety during
|
| Stay healthy. Wash hands with soap and
| |
| | initial electrical cleanup.
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| water often. Get a tetanus booster before
| |
| | Appliances: Electric motors must be
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| working in floodwater. Disinfect dishes,
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| | reconditioned or replaced. To clean
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| appliances and other materials that may
| |
| | surfaces, use a heavy-duty cleaner and
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| have been contaminated by floodwater.
| |
| | hot water, then a bleach solution.
|
| Take care of yourself and your family.
| |
| | Refrigerators, freezers and ovens with
|
| Accept support from family, friends and
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| | foam insulation and sealed components may
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| others. Talk about your feelings to
| |
| | have little water damage, but since they
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| release tension. Discuss the situation
| |
| | hold food, they should be cleaned and
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| with children honestly and openly. Get
| |
| | disinfected.
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| proper nutrition and rest. Pace yourself,
| |
| | Electronics: Get a cost estimate from a
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| and take one step at a time. Don't be
| |
| | professional for repairing televisions,
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| afraid to get help.
| |
| | radios, computers and similar equipment
|
| General Cleanup Get organized. Set
| |
| | to decide if the device is worth
|
| priorities. Remove contaminated mud
| |
| | repairing.
|
| first. Next scrub with detergent, then
| |
| | Clean-up Equipment: When using sprayers,
|
| wash with a disinfectant.
| |
| | wet vacs, vacuum cleaners and other
|
| Thoroughly clean and dry your house
| |
| | cleaning equipment, use an extension cord
|
| before trying to live in it and before
| |
| | with a ground fault circuit interrupter
|
| making permanent repairs.
| |
| | or install a GFCI in the electrical
|
| Remove water from the basement slowly.
| |
| | circuits in damp environments.
|
| If your basement is full or nearly full
| |
| | Hire a professional to replace or
|
| of water, pump out just 2 or 3 feet of
| |
| | recondition electrical wiring and
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| water each day. If you drain the basement
| |
| | equipment.
|
| too quickly, the pressure outside the
| |
| | All breaker panel boards, breakers,
|
| walls will be greater than the pressure
| |
| | fuses, disconnect switches, controllers,
|
| inside the walls. That may make the walls
| |
| | receptacles, switches, light fixtures and
|
| and floor crack and collapse.
| |
| | electric heaters that have been submerged
|
| Remove contaminated mud. Shovel out as
| |
| | must be replaced.
|
| much mud as possible, then use a garden
| |
| | All electrical equipment, switchgear,
|
| sprayer or hose to wash away mud from
| |
| | motor control centers, boilers and boiler
|
| hard surfaces. Start cleaning walls at
| |
| | controls, electric motors, transformers
|
| the bottom or where damage is worst.
| |
| | and other similar equipment such as
|
| Remember to hose out heating ducts,
| |
| | appliances, water heaters, dishwashers
|
| disconnecting the furnace first.
| |
| | and oven ranges that have been submerged
|
| Clean and disinfect. Scrub surfaces with
| |
| | need to be reconditioned by the original
|
| hot water and a heavy-duty cleaner. Then
| |
| | manufacturer or its approved
|
| disinfect with a solution of ? cup
| |
| | representative, or replaced.
|
| chlorine bleach per gallon of water or a
| |
| | Electrical wiring may require replacement
|
| product that is labeled as a disinfectant
| |
| | depending on the type of wire or cable
|
| to kill germs. Laundry bleaches should
| |
| | and what application it was listed for.
|
| not be used on materials that will be
| |
| | Splices and termination must be checked
|
| damaged or might fade. Sanitize dishes,
| |
| | to make sure they comply with the
|
| cooking utensils and food preparation
| |
| | National Electrical Code.
|
| areas before using them. Thoroughly
| |
| | The electrical system needs to be
|
| disinfect areas where small children
| |
| | certified by a licensed N.D. electrical
|
| play. Don't mix cleaning products. A
| |
| | contractor or inspector to assure that
|
| combination of chemicals can give off
| |
| | the electrical system will be safe to
|
| toxic fumes.
| |
| | energize.
|
| Dry ceilings and walls. Flood-soaked
| |
| | Cleaning Valuable Items Wash mud off
|
| wallboard should be removed and thrown
| |
| | before items dry, if possible.
|
| away. Plaster and paneling can often be
| |
| | Photographs, books and important papers
|
| saved, but air must be circulated in the
| |
| | can be frozen and cleaned later. Wash the
|
| wall cavities to dry the studs and sills.
| |
| | mud off. Store the articles in plastic
|
| The three kinds of insulation must be
| |
| | bags and put them in a frost-free freezer
|
| treated differently. Styrofoam might only
| |
| | to protect from mildew and further damage
|
| need to be hosed off. Fiberglass batts
| |
| | until you have time to thaw and clean
|
| should be thrown out if muddy but may be
| |
| | them.
|
| reused if dried thoroughly. Loose or
| |
| | Details Call your insurance agent. If
|
| blown-in cellulose should be replaced
| |
| | your insurance covers the damage, your
|
| since it holds water for a long time and
| |
| | agent will tell you when an adjuster will
|
| can lose its antifungal and fire
| |
| | contact you.
|
| retardant abilities.
| |
| | List damage and take photos or videotape
|
| Prevent mildew growth. Take furniture,
| |
| | as you clean. You'll need complete
|
| rugs, bedding and clothing outside to dry
| |
| | records for insurance claims,
|
| as soon as possible. Use an air
| |
| | applications for disaster assistance and
|
| conditioner or dehumidifier to remove
| |
| | income tax deductions.
|
| moisture or open at least two windows to
| |
| |
|
