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Flood Recovery Tips
If you have been evacuated, listen to the Media and your local Public Safety officials. Do not return home until authorities indicate that it is safe to do so.
Travel
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Never attempt to drive into or through floodwaters. Do not go around barriers or enter detoured areas. Your vehicle can be quickly swept away by as little as 2 feet of moving water. |
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Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded. Roads may have weakened and could collapse under the weight of your car. |
Sanitary Information
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Avoid floodwaters. Keep all children and pets out of the flood waters. The water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline or raw sewage. |
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Keep contact time with floodwaters to a minimum. It is especially important to keep the water out of your mouth, eyes and nose. Wash your hands frequently with soap and clean water if you come in contact with floodwaters. |
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Throw away food that has come in contact with floodwaters |
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Make sure your tetanus immunization is up to date. For most adults, a tetanus booster within the past 10 years is adequate. For children, check with your pediatrician. |
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Contact local Board of Health related to questions on safety of drinking water. |
Structural Hazards
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Assume all wires are live. Electrical current will travel through water. Avoid all downed power lines. Report downed electrical wires to your utility company or local authorities |
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Before returning to a building, inspect for cracks or other damage. When entering, use extreme caution; make sure the building is not in danger of collapsing |
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Look for hazards such as broken or leaking gas lines, flooded electrical circuits, submerged furnaces or electrical appliances and damaged sewage systems. Report them to the utility company or local authorities. |
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Flooded buildings should be pumped out and disinfected. Pump out basements gradually, about 1/3 per day, to avoid structural damage. |
Cleanup & Disposal
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If you suspect contamination from oil or hazardous materials, contact your local fire department and MassDEP Emergency Response: 1-888-304-1133. |
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After the water is pumped out, solid wastes should be disposed of in a functioning sewage disposal system or sealed in plastic bags for disposal in an approved landfill. |
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All flooded floor and wall surfaces should be washed with a solution of two capfuls of household bleach for each gallon of water. |
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Carpeting, mattresses and upholstered furniture should be disposed of or cleaned and disinfected by a professional cleaner. |
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Dampness in basements, walls, carpets, and wood provide an excellent environment for mold to flourish. If you see or smell mold, take immediate steps to eliminate the excess moisture. Contact a licensed professional inspection service or your local Board of Health. |
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Do not dispose of debris in your yard. Have debris hauled away before it causes additional heath hazards. Contact a licensed professional inspection service or Board of Health for more information. |
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Yards that have been contaminated by flooded sewage systems should be disinfected by a liberal application of lime. Children and animals should be kept away from limed areas until the lime is no longer visible. |
Insurance
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If your home, apartment or business has suffered damage, call your insurance company or agent who handles your flood insurance right away to file a claim. |
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Take pictures of the damage, both to the house and its contents for insurance claims. |
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Keep your insurance agent advised if your contact information changes. If you are in a shelter or cannot be easily reached, provide a designated point-of-contact who can reach you. |
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If you have damage estimates prepared by a contractor, provide them to your insurance adjustor. |
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If local officials require the disposal of damaged items, take photos and document damages. |
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Be prepared for a rough time. Recovering from a flood is a big job. It is taxing on the body and spirit. The after-effects of this type of disaster on you and your family may last a long time. Consult a health professional on how to recognize and care for anxiety, stress and fatigue.
Storm Fact Sheet
Flooding
If a person must come into contact with the floodwater they should take the following general precautions:
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Keep all children and pets out of the floodwater. |
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Check in on elderly or chronically ill neighbors to make sure that they are safe. |
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Wear waterproof boots, gloves, eye protection and clothes that are either water resistant or disposable. |
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Make sure all gas and electric utilities to the affected area are turned off by appropriate persons before you enter. |
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Keep contact time with flood waters to a minimum and avoid splashing. It is especially important to keep the water out of mouth, eyes and nose. |
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If there has been personal exposure to the flood waters, bathe or shower thoroughly with soap and water and wash all contaminated clothing in hot water and a detergent. |
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Make sure tetanus immunization is up to date for any person who is exposed to flood waters. For most adults, having received a tetanus booster within the past 10 years is adequate. For children, parents should check with their pediatrician to make sure the tetanus vaccination is up to date. |
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General use of immune globulin (IG) injections for hepatitis A is not being recommended. However, individuals should consult with their primary health care provider if they have significant underlying health problems or are immunocompromised (e.g., on steroid therapy, chemotherapy for cancer, has HIV or some other disease that weakens the immune system). |
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Health care providers should be contacted if an individual becomes ill with fever, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea after exposure to possibly contaminated flood waters. |
Wells
If the area over a well is under flood water, the recommended procedure for disinfecting is:
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pour a solution of three gallons of water and one pint of 3% to 6% commercial bleach directly into the well, |
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open all faucets until there is an odor of chlorine apparent and then close all faucets for ten hours to allow the bleach to kill bacteria present in the pipes, storage tank or well, |
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open all faucets and let the water run until the odor and taste of bleach have disappeared, |
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have a sample of water, taken 24 hours after disinfecting, tested at a certified laboratory to determine that the water is suitable for use. |
Note: This procedure results in a high level of chorine so the water should not be used for drinking, cooking, or watering livestock until the chlorine odor and taste is no longer apparent. Use of bottled water or boiling water is suggested if citizens are unsure of the purity of their water supply.
Homes and buildings
Flooded buildings should be pumped out and disinfected. After the water is pumped out, solid wastes should be disposed of in a functioning sewage disposal system or sealed in plastic bags for ultimate disposal in an approved landfill. All flooded floor and wall surfaces should be washed with a solution of two capfuls of household bleach for each gallon of water. Any household articles affected by floodwaters should be washed with the same solution. Carpeting, mattresses and upholstered furniture should be disposed of or cleaned and disinfected by a professional cleaner.
Yards
Yards that have been contaminated by flooded sewage systems should be disinfected by a liberal application of lime. Children and animals should be kept away from limed areas until the lime is no longer visible.
Power Failure/Food Safety
Heavy rain can mean a disruption in electrical and gas service and the availability of potable water. When power goes off in the refrigerator, you can normally expect food inside to stay safely cold for 4 to 6 hours, depending on how warm your kitchen is. Here are some additional guidelines:
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Add a block of ice to the refrigerator if the electricity is off longer than 4-6 hours. As this ice melts, the water may saturate food packages. Keep packages out of the water as it drains. |
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High protein foods (dairy products, meat, fish, and poultry) should be consumed as soon as possible if power is not restored immediately. They cannot be stored safely at room temperature. |
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Fruits and vegetables can be kept safely at room temperature until there are obvious signs of spoilage. |
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A fully stocked freezer will keep food frozen 2 days if the door remains closed. A half-full freezer can keep foods frozen about one day. |
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If you are purchasing perishable foods from a market in an area that has been affected by power outages, make sure that the cold foods have been kept below 45 degrees F. and that hot foods have been kept above 140 degrees F. |
Generally, do not eat any food that has come in contact with floodwater, especially root and garden vegetables. Citrus fruits should be washed well, sanitized in a chlorine solution and peeled before eating. Apples and other fruits should also be cooked before eating. Carefully examine all canned and bottled goods, these are usually not affected but should be washed thoroughly with approved drinking water and a mild disinfecting solution and rinsed prior to opening and use. Canned or powdered milk may be substituted for fresh milk.
Injury Prevention
Hazards of floods continue to exist after the water recedes as workers, volunteers and homeowners begin to clean up. There are many hazards besides drowning which may cause serious injury. Some basic cautions should be taken as follows.
Electrical hazards: When entering flooded areas, be aware of electrical hazards. Don’t touch any electrical equipment unless you are absolutely sure it is properly grounded or that the power is off. Also, don’t operate any electrical equipment that is not specifically designed for use in wet locations. The water in which you are standing will provide a path for the electricity if you touch any equipment that is not properly grounded. That path will go through you too.
Never handle a downed power line. If clearing or other work must be performed near a downed power line, contact the utility company. Extreme caution is necessary when moving ladders and other equipment near overhead power lines to avoid inadvertent contact.
Carbon Monoxide:Flood cleanup activities may involve the use of gasoline- or diesel-powered pumps, generators, and pressure washers. Because these devices release carbon monoxide, a deadly, colorless, odorless gas, operate all gasoline-powered devices outdoors and never bring them indoors.
Back Injuries: Get help to move heavy objects. Working on slippery surfaces can also cause injuries. Make sure you have a firm footing before lifting. Make sure you have a clear path for carrying heavy objects.
Heavy Equipment: Never operate equipment that you have not been adequately trained to use. When crews are working around heavy equipment, site control is critical. During an emergency, people will not pay attention to back-up alarms. Do not work around heavy equipment unless it is absolutely necessary. Have as few pedestrians in the area as possible.
Structural Instability: Never assume that water-damaged structures or ground are stable. Soil is also easily destabilized in wet conditions and may collapse without warning.
Additional questions about proper disinfection procedures and other potential health problems related to the storm can be directed to the local Board of Health in each city or town.
Flooding and Sewage Back-ups: Home Care Guide
Background/Introduction
This document has been jointly prepared by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Division of Community Sanitation (DPH), and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and is intended to provide guidance to the general public relative to managing pathogen risks from direct contact with floodwaters and/or sewage backups.
It is important to note that during and following flooding events, dangerous and even life-threatening hazards may exist, and the public is strongly urged to contact local and state emergency management officials for instructions on the procedures or actions necessary to safely avoid injury during these conditions.
Pathogens are disease-causing agents, which can be in the form of bacteria, viruses, mold spores, or protozoans, and which are normally present in large numbers in sewage wastes. The nature and extent of potential pathogen risks of sewer backups and floodwaters will depend in large part on the potential contaminants expected to be in the waters. In general, the greater the extent of the sewage component, the more likely the potential for adverse impacts, and the more important the proper cleanup of the materials that have come into direct contact with the contaminated waters. The severity of the health threat therefore depends on the source of the water and the extent of penetration into the building environment. The extent of penetration is dependent on the porosity of contaminated materials, the quantity of floodwater, and the amount of
time the water remains in contact with materials. Even floodwater or stormwater which has not been directly impacted by sewage discharges is likely to contain a wide variety of microbiological organisms (e.g., from animal wastes, street runoff, etc.) and must be properly managed. Some of these pathogens, such as mold spores, can even establish an ecological niche and present a health risk from chronic exposure for some time after the event. Preventive measures, and proper cleanup procedures are essential in mitigating the risk of infection; this guidance is intended to assist the public in these actions.
DEP and DPH recognize that flood conditions can occur in any watershed during severe wet weather events. The potential for, and extent of, flooding depends on many factors, including: topography, flood storage capacity, the extent and location of development, infrastructure constraints, and, of course, on the severity of the storm event. DEP, through implementation of its Combined Sewer Overflow Abatement program and Sanitary Sewer Overflow Abatement program, continues to require infrastructure improvements to mitigate the potential for untreated wastewater to be discharged during wet weather events. DEP also has implemented a Stormwater Policy which provides for performance measures to control stormwater pollution and peak flow rates for projects subject to the Wetlands Protection Act, Infiltration/Inflow Control Guidelines and Illicit
Connection Initiative (sewers connected to separate stormdrain systems). While these programs are important in managing the risks from exposure to floodwaters, some risk will always remain, especially for low-lying properties during and following extreme storm events. As such, DEP has collaborated with DPH to develop guidance for the public who may be at risk to flood conditions. This Guidance includes suggested actions before and after flood events to minimize the public health risk and property damage. In all cases where flood conditions are expected or occur, the public should always remain in close contact with public safety officials as well.
Prevention:
If a home is located in an area subject to periodic flooding (such as in a floodplain) or where sewage backups have occurred, the homeowner should implement "all feasible measures" to prevent/minimize the nature and extent of impacts from such situations. Such actions can be preventive or pro-active.
Preventive actions include:
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waterproofing the building foundation and/or sealing cracks in foundation floor or walls; |
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installation of a check valve or shut-off valve on the building sewer close to where it enters the structure, which will protect your home from sewage back-ups due to surcharging conditions in the municipal sewerage system (you must check with the proper sewer authority prior to taking this action!!); and |
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raising or removing any sink, toilet, washing machine, etc. in the basement that may be subject to backups when the sewer system surcharges. |
Pro-active measures include:
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purchasing or installing a pump (e.g. sump pump) to pump out water that collects in the low point of the basement or structure; |
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ensure that building gutter downspouts and drains are directed away from the foundation and toward low points away from the home; |
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to the extent possible, keep furniture and valuables above flood levels where flooding has previously occurred; and |
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if minor flooding occurs, follow the water to its point-of-entry and seal cracks or defects to the extent possible. |
Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. Flood insurance is also vitally important where properties are known to be in floodplains or flood prone areas. More information on prevention and flood insurance is available on the FEMA website.
Cleanup of Internal Areas
Once the flood waters have receded and the property can be accessed safely, cleanup operations should commence - Remember to check with local emergency management officials before returning to a property affected by flooding! The most important steps are to restore the environment to a dry state and salvage any valuable property. The longer that water/waste are allowed to remain in your home or on your property, the greater the potential for illness and irreparable damage to your home, its contents, and environs. Where they may be operated safely, use of pumps and dehumidifiers will be helpful in restoring dry conditions. In
any flood cleanup project regardless of the source, one should assume that pathogens are present and take appropriate precautions.
The survival of pathogens depends on a number of factors: location (indoors vs. outdoors), season, type of surface contaminated, whether disinfectants are used, and also on environmental conditions such as humidity, temperature, and sunlight. Sunlight (UV radiation) reduces the survival rate of pathogens with numbers decreasing rapidly with increasing exposure to UV radiation. Mild temperatures and higher humidity in external situations result in longer survival times.
Prior to undertaking cleanup efforts, take proper precautions:
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Always wear protective gloves, eyewear, and boots. Rain gear is also advisable. |
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Avoid direct contact with sewage material, and be particularly careful of your face and eyes. Goggles are recommended when using a hose and/or any chemicals. |
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Protect all cuts and scrapes. Immediately wash and disinfect any wound that comes in contact with sewage. |
The following steps should be taken to mitigate the microbial risk from a building contaminated with sewage:
? Any excess water should be removed from the property by pumps, wet vacs, or mopping. Dehumidifiers and active ventilation should also be used when available.
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All solid waste should be collected and disposed. |
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All upholstered furniture and mattresses should be discarded, other contaminated furniture should be removed and cleaned or discarded. |
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The affected areas should be washed with a detergent solution to remove sewage-related contamination, then disinfected and allowed to dry. |
Sort damaged contents to be repaired or discarded. Use the following guide relative to discarding of household material and furnishings.
Usually Discard
Foam rubber
Large carpets
Books and paper products
Always Discard
Food
Cosmetics
Medicines and medical supplies
Stuffed animals
Toys
Mattresses and pillows
Upholstered couches and chairs
Carpet padding
Cardboard
BE CAREFUL
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Assume anything touched by sewage is contaminated. |
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Clean and disinfect everything sewage has touched. |
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Always wear protective rubber gloves, eyewear, and boots and be especially careful if you have cuts or open sores. |
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Wash, disinfect, or discard any clothing and supplies immediately after use. |
Disinfection
Disinfectants are typically chemical agents that reduce significant numbers of pathogens to levels below those expected to cause disease. Cleaning and disinfection are two different processes. Cleaning removes the dirt. The processes of disinfection and decontamination are important to ensure the elimination of pathogens and organisms that were contained in the sewage or that grew during the period of contamination. Even concrete can be colonized and broken down by microorganisms if it is allowed to remain wet and contaminated by organic matter. Many household products are capable of disinfecting surfaces and should be used in accordance with manufacturer's label directions. A household bleach solution is also an effective disinfection agent, and can be made by combining one quarter cup of household bleach to one gallon of water. Bleach
should never be used directly without dilution since, in this concentrated form, the bleach can cause severe skin and respiratory hazards.
To prepare surfaces for disinfection, wash surfaces first with warm soapy water and rinse surface. Apply the disinfectant solution to all areas of the affected surface, and allow for sufficient contact and drying time.
When proceeding with cleanup operations, remember that those individuals whose immune systems are in some way compromised or who are otherwise susceptible due to age, medication, or underlying illness, are considered to be at greater risk of contracting infections than those individuals who are healthy.
If you decide you that you need professional help:
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Look under "Carpet Cleaning", "Fire Restoration", or "Mold Abatement" in the telephone book. If you hire cleanup or repair contractors, be sure they are qualified to perform the job. Always check references and ask whether they are insured. Certification for these companies is not currently required or available in Massachusetts. |
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Contact your local emergency management officials, to determine if there are resources available for assistance, or to get referrals for qualified contractors. |
More detailed information on cleaning up after a flood event can also be found on the Red Cross website.
Cleanup of External Areas
The majority of the microbial population from sewage flooding onto lawns, tarmac and paved areas will be inactivated within several days due to exposure to UV radiation from sunlight. A disinfectant can be used on tarmac and paved areas. Contamination on grass could be left to degrade naturally. Typically, bacterial numbers on turf are reduced to background levels expected in the environment within 13 days, but can extend to 20 days on soil and sand in the autumn and spring. Generally, the least absorbent or pervious surfaces absorb the least sewer and bacterial concentrations and return to background levels the quickest.
References/Other Sources of Information
Protecting Your Home from Flooding, FEMA, 1994
Repairing Your Flooded Home, FEMA-234, 1992
Flood Emergency and Residential Repair Handbook, FIA-13, 1986
Retrofitting Flood-Prone Residential Structures, FEMA-114, 1986
Protecting Building Utilities from Flood Damage, FEMA-348, 1999
To obtain copies of these and other FEMA documents, call FEMA Publications at 1-800-480-2520. Information is also available on the World Wide Web: Web site
Other Internet Links
Disclaimer:
The information provided is based on research and input from experienced professionals. The reader must assume responsibility for adapting this information to local conditions. This document should be used as a guide and is not intended to replace the advice and guidance of experienced professionals and public health officials who are able to view a home and assess the needs of the particular situation.
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