AFTER A FLOOD
AFTER A FLOOD
- Return home only when authorities say it is safe.
- If there is major structural damage or there are utility breaks, have qualified specialists inspect your home and make repairs before you re-enter.
- Be very careful when inspecting your home on your own for the first time.
- Use a flashlight, not a torch or lantern.
- Check for gas leaks (use your nose).
- Wear rubber-soled shoes and rubber gloves in case of severed electrical lines.
- Don't turn on electrical switches.
- Check electrical circuits only when electricity has been shut off.
- Don't use flooded electrical appliances until they have been repaired.
- Don't drink municipal water until the health department has declared it as safe for human consumption.
- Don't rush to pump out a flooded basement. If the water is removed all at once, the walls may cave in because of the sudden pressure change. Pump out about a third of the water a day. Mud is easier to shovel while it is still moist.