Flood Damage Assessment & Repair: First Priorities of Building Inspection & Repair after a Flood
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How to Prevent or Remove Mold After a Flood InspectAPedia® -
Advice for people whose building has flooded - first priorities of what to do after a flood
Flood damage assessment, building entry safety, repair priorities
How to minimize mold damage after flooding
"Anti mold" procedures that don't work or are unsafe
How to clean up a moldy building after flooding
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This article lists the very first priorities for health and safety after a flood and during building damage assessment following flooding. This post-flooding priority advice has been prepared by combining information from expert sources. It applies to flood damage and hurricane damage relief and assistance workers, FEMA, Red Cross, and other volunteers, as well as home owners and home inspectors. This is the first chapter of our articles on steps to take to avoid mold in a flooded building.
If your building has been flooded, this website provides an easy to understand guide for flood damage assessment, setting
priorities of action, safety, and we provide special information about
avoiding or minimizing mold damage.
Hazards in and around flooded buildings include risk of structural collapse, risk of septic system collapse, trip and fall injury hazards, electrical shock hazards, fire and explosion hazards where natural gas or bottled gas are present, toxic sludge and materials containing waterborne bacteria, such as the E. coli and Enterococci bacteria, toxic mold growth indoors.
These are quick, simple steps to minimize mold damage in a flooded building.
our "Flood Response Checklist" lists key actions you should take after building flooding to minimize mold damage, and includes some safety warnings.
We also list after-flood "anti-mold" procedures that do not work or are unsafe - to help you avoid unnecessary expense in dealing with mold
after a building flood.
If your building is already moldy or if you suspect mold related illness in your building, we link to a step by step Mold Action Guide
dealing with toxic or allergenic indoor mold and other indoor contaminants:
when and how to inspect or test for mold, when to hire an expert, how to clean up a moldy area, when and how to perform post-remediation mold testing.
If your septic system has been flooded we link to an article on flooded septic systems outlining what to do about that system as well.
What to do to Prevent Mold Growth After a Building Flood or Burst Pipe
If your building has just been flooded by rising flood waters, a burst pipe, a waste line leak, a sewer backup, or other event,
immediate action may prevent a very costly mold cleanup. Review this
checklist. If your building already has an actual or suspected mold problem, review the
Mold Action Guide web pages (see links at page left).
If you did not take the steps in "Building Floods" below and are reading this section days or weeks after the
flooding event, a comprehensive building survey for hidden mold or other contaminants may be needed before a full building cleanup plan can be made.
FIRST PRIORITIES: What to Do After a Building Has Been Flooded
If You Have Been Injured seek medical care at the nearest hospital or emergency facility. Floodwaters are often contaminated by sewage and there
is risk of serious infection if wounds are not cleaned and treated.
Check on Neighbors to see if there are elderly or infant neighbors who are trapped, injured, or otherwise need assistance.
Help a neighbor who may require special assistance--infants, elderly people, and people with disabilities. Elderly people and people with disabilities may require additional assistance.
People who care for them or who have large families may need additional assistance in emergency situations.
DO NOT ENTER a BUILDING in THESE CONDITIONS:
If the building is still flooded: Flood waters often undermine foundations, causing sinking, floors can crack or break and buildings can collapse.
Collapse hazards: If the building is damaged or has moved off of its foundation: Damage to the building may mean that there is a risk of collapse.
Buildings which have moved off of their foundation - ruptured gas or electrical lines are extremely dangerous. See EARTHQUAKE DAMAGED FOUNDATIONS and FLOOD DAMAGE TO FOUNDATIONS
Even the smallest shift of a building on or off of its foundation, possibly less than an inch, can rupture gas piping or electrical wiring, creating a dangerous condition. See FOUNDATION INSPECTION & DIAGNOSIS and also FLOOD DAMAGE TO FOUNDATIONS
Electrocution hazards: If there are live electrical systems or wires: Where electrical wiring is live and wet or under water or even simply
standing in water or on a wet surface without special protection can lead to a fatal electrical shock. See Electrical Inspection Safety. Below we also warn about use of electrical generators.
Gas explosion hazards: If there there are damaged, loose, or broken gas piping or other fuel spills that could result in a fire or explosion. Make sure that all of the utilities, electricity, gas, even water, have been safely shut down.
Buildings that have not been declared safe: Avoid entering ANY building (home, business, or other) before local officials have said it is safe to do so. Buildings may have hidden damage that makes them unsafe.
Avoid disaster areas: Your presence might hamper rescue and other emergency operations, and put you at further risk from the residual effects of floods, such as contaminated waters, crumbled roads, landslides, mud flows, and other hazards.
Flooded crawl spaces may be contaminated with sewage bacteria, mold, rodents, or chemicals.
Flooded crawl spaces may be in danger from collapse of the structure overhead.
There may be a danger of electrocution in crawl spaces, especially wet ones, if electrical power remains on.
Continue to listen to a NOAA Weather Radio: or local radio or television stations and return home only when authorities indicate it is safe to do so. Flood dangers do not end when the water begins to recede; there may be flood-related hazards within your community, which you could hear about from local broadcasts.
Do not work alone: if you fall or are injured and are alone you may not receive prompt assistance. If you must work alone despite this advice, be sure you have a working radio or cell phone to use to summons assistance
Electrocution hazards: Using a portable electricity generator in a waterlogged or damaged home in a disaster area after hurricanes, earthquakes, floods can be very dangerous, risking death by electrocution, gas explosion, or by carbon monoxide poisoning. Above we also warned about electrocution hazards in buildings where the electricity has not been shut off.
Gas leak risks: Do not Smoke Near or Inside Buildings that Have not Been Declared Safe - a ruptured gas line or leaking gas from appliances could cause a gas explosion and fire. Do not smoke inside buildings. Smoking in a confined area can cause a fire or gas explosion.
Mold, Muck, Insects, Toxic Sludge & Toxic Dust Hazards exist in flooded or storm damaged buildings - a mixture of household chemicals, paints, stored gasoline, lead, sewer or septic system backup, debris and possibly asbestos. Do not begin cleanup efforts without understanding the hazards that may be present and be sure to use the necessary protective clothing and equipment. See FLOOD RESPONSE CHECKLIST
Report broken utility lines: such as electrical, gas, water or sewer piping to the appropriate authorities. Reporting potential hazards will get the utilities turned off as quickly as possible, preventing further hazard and injury. Check with your utility company now about where broken lines should be reported.
Septic system hazards: include sewage-contaminated floods in buildings and risk of collapsing septic systems. See Septic & Cesspool Safety; rope off and prevent access to areas over or close to the septic tank until its condition has been investigated. See Septic Flood Response for advice on repairing septic systems that have been flooded.
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Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below.
Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website
Action Guide for Mold what to do about mold, cleaning, removal, testing, hiring an expert or doing it yourself - a step by step guide to what to do about mold
Floods in Building Setting Priorities and Using Mold Resistant Building - quick steps after a building flood or plumbing leak can prevent costly mold contamination
Prevent Mold, How-To Correct the Causes of Mold and Prevent Indoor Mold or other indoor environment problems
Attic Condensation and Ice Dam Leaks - Detection and Correcting Venting and Condensation Problems in Buildings
How to Clean Moldy Wood Framing & Sheathing How to clean/seal mold from/on exposed lumber or plywood subfloor or roof sheathing indoors - some suggestions based on our field and laboratory research
Humidity: What indoor humidity should we maintain in order to avoid a mold problem?
Mold-Resistant Building Practices, advice from an expert on how to prevent mold after a building flood and how to prevent mold growth in buildings by selection of building materials and by anti-mold construction details.
Ozone Warnings - Use of Ozone as a "mold" remedy is ineffective and may be dangerous.
Mold FAQs Answers to Most Questions about Indoor Mold, Mold Related Illness, Mold Cleanup, Mold Prevention
Mark Cramer Inspection Services Mark Cramer, Tampa Florida, Mr. Cramer is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors and is a Florida home inspector and home inspection educator. (727) 595-4211 mark@BestTampaInspector.com 11/06
Hankey and Brown home inspectors, Eden Prairie, MN, technical review by Roger Hankey, prior chairman, Standards Committee, American Society of Home Inspectors - ASHI. 952 829-0044 - hankeyandbrown.com 11/06
Arlene Puentes, a licensed home inspector, educator, and building failures researcher in Kingston, NY. 11/29/06
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