Key takeaways:
- Mold can begin growing on wet building materials within 24 to 48 hours, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Every step of the cleanup process is a race against that clock.
- Most porous materials that absorbed floodwater cannot be saved and should be discarded.
- Flood-damaged homes present hazards that are not always visible, including compromised electrical systems, weakened structures, contaminated air and hidden mold.
A flood can leave a home looking unrecognizable. The damage is disorienting, and the urge to start cleaning immediately is understandable. But the order in which you do things matters. Moving too fast or skipping steps can create health hazards, void insurance coverage or lead to mold problems that cost far more than the original water damage.
"The biggest thing homeowners need to know is that water damage becomes a mold risk within 24 to 48 hours, so drying out the space matters more than anything else early on," said Sam Hickerson, founder of RestoreAdvisor.com, a consumer education site covering mold remediation and water damage restoration for homeowners. "Get fans running, bring in a dehumidifier and remove standing water immediately before worrying about anything else."
Here is some guidance on what to do after a flood.
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Do not enter until it is safe
Before returning to your home, wait for floodwaters to recede and emergency officials to say it is safe to return, experts said. If floodwater may have affected electrical or gas systems, do not turn utilities back on until they have been inspected by qualified professionals, they advised.
Floodwater can weaken a home's structure in ways that are not always visible. Look for sagging ceilings, cracked walls, warped floors and foundation damage before going inside. If the building looks unstable, stay out and call a structural engineer or your local building department.
People with breathing problems like asthma or who have weakened immune systems should stay away from moldy sites and should not participate in flood cleanup. Children and pregnant people should not take part in flood cleanup work.
Wear protective gear
Floodwater often contains sewage, bacteria, chemicals and debris. Before touching anything in the house, put on the right gear:
- N95 respirator to protect against mold spores, bacteria and airborne contaminants. A cloth or surgical mask is not sufficient.
- Waterproof rubber gloves that extend past the wrist.
- Rubber boots that reach above any remaining wet areas.
- Safety goggles without vent holes to prevent splashing into your eyes.
- Long pants, long sleeves or coveralls that can be removed and bagged immediately after cleanup.
Document everything before you touch it
Take pictures and videos of damage before you begin cleaning up. Take photos of the serial numbers of any damaged large appliances and keep carpet samples, too.
Use your phone to capture wide-angle shots of every room and close-up images of individual items, walls, floors, ceilings and anything that was submerged. Photograph the water line on the walls. Do not throw anything away until you have documented it. This evidence is the foundation of your insurance claim.
Make a written list of damaged items and their approximate value. If you have receipts, warranties or photos from before the flood, gather those as well.
Contact your insurance company
Start a claim with your flood insurance provider as soon as you can. The company will connect you with an adjuster who will inspect your property for damage.
Ask your insurer what repairs you can begin immediately and which ones require approval first. Keep records of every conversation, including dates, names and what was discussed. Save all receipts for cleanup supplies, temporary housing and any emergency repairs.
Be careful of disaster recovery scams. Ask to see the insurance adjuster's driver's license and flood control number to ensure they are authorized to work on your claim.
Remove standing water
The sooner you remove water from the home, the less damage it will cause.
"Mold is the enemy," said Phil Bergman, whose home on the west coast of Florida sustained severe damage from Hurricane Helene in 2024. "Immediately call a professional clean-up service. Appointment delays can be very lengthy post storm."
Do not use your home's heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to help dry out things until a technician has inspected it. If you suspect that any part of your heating and air-conditioning system was submerged or affected by the floodwaters, do not use it to help dry out your house.
Running contaminated ductwork can spread mold spores and bacteria to every room.
Do not use lower electrical outlets exposed to water when the power comes on because it could ignite, said Bergman. "I had a flash fire up the wall," he said.
Sort what to keep and what to throw away
This is one of the hardest parts of the process, both practically and emotionally. The general rule is straightforward: You can usually clean and dry materials that do not soak up water. You should throw away materials that soak up a lot of water and cannot be cleaned and dried.
Discard these items:
- Mattresses, box springs and pillows
- Upholstered furniture and cushions soaked by floodwater
- Carpet padding (almost never salvageable)
- Particleboard and pressed-wood furniture
- Soaked insulation, whether fiberglass or cellulose
- Food that came into contact with floodwater, including anything in cardboard, paper or non-sealed containers
- Cosmetics, medications and baby bottles
- Stuffed animals and porous toys
You may be able to save:
- Solid-wood furniture with a sealed finish, if cleaned, disinfected and dried carefully
- Metal, glass and hard-plastic items after washing and disinfecting
- Clothing, towels and linens, if laundered in hot water with detergent and a disinfectant
- Dishes, glassware and cookware after sanitizing
- Undamaged, commercially sealed cans, if washed, sanitized and re-labeled
When in doubt, throw it out. You cannot see, smell or taste the bacteria and chemicals that floodwater carries.
Remove damaged building materials
Before starting to repair your home, a call to an independent testing company is a smart move, said Robert Weitz, a certified microbial investigator and principal of RTK Environmental, a leading testing company based in New York City.
- Drywall: Cut it out at least 12 inches above the visible water line. Drywall wicks moisture upward, and the areas above the water mark are often wet inside the wall cavity even if they look dry on the surface. Removing drywall also opens the wall so the wood framing behind it can dry.
- Insulation: Pull out all wet insulation. It traps moisture against the framing and cannot be effectively dried in place.
- Carpet: Carpet exposed to floodwater is typically discarded because floodwater is generally considered contaminated.
- Laminate and engineered flooring: These materials swell and delaminate when wet. They typically need to be removed.
- Tile on concrete: Often salvageable. Clean, disinfect and dry the slab beneath.
Vinyl floor tile may contain asbestos. Do not remove asbestos-containing floor tile even if it is damaged. To remove asbestos-containing material, hire an asbestos professional. Older homes may also have lead-based paint. If your home was built before 1978, take precautions before disturbing painted surfaces.
Clean and disinfect
Once the debris, mud and damaged materials are removed, clean every surface that remains.
- Scrub with soap and water first. Use a stiff brush and hot, soapy water on all hard surfaces, including concrete, tile, wood framing and any remaining walls. Disinfectant does not work on dirty surfaces. You need to remove the visible contamination before disinfecting.
- Apply a bleach solution. If disinfection is needed, federal guidance allows a bleach solution of up to one cup of bleach per gallon of water after surfaces have been cleaned.
- Do not mix bleach with other chemicals. Combining bleach with ammonia or other cleaning products can produce toxic gas.
- Work in ventilation. Open windows and doors when outdoor humidity is lower than indoor humidity.
Hire qualified help when needed
Don't wait if you think you need a professional, said Andriy Shvab, CEO of Total Home Rescue in Alexandria, Virginia.
"I’d recommend calling a restoration company early," he said. "They can document moisture readings, affected materials and the drying process, which can be important for an insurance claim. Delayed mitigation or poor documentation can create coverage issues later."
The biggest mistake homeowners make is assuming something is dry because it looks dry, Shvab added. "Moisture can stay trapped behind drywall, under flooring and in subfloors, which can lead to mold if reconstruction starts too soon."
Ask about qualifications, training and experience and check references for professionals you are considering. A qualified professional may have certification, training or experience in water damage restoration, mold removal and/or drying out buildings.
Look for contractors certified by organizations such as the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, known as the IICRC.
Interview multiple contractors for estimates, said Bergman. Also, provide minimal up-front money for contractors, "and only if requested — beware of those asking for too much up front."
Hold off final payments to service providers until city and county inspectors have approved repairs, Bergman said.