Building & Facilities Damage
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Health Risks
Returning home after a flood can increase your risk of exposure to mold, chemical hazards, and injuries.
Mold
Clean up and dry out buildings quickly (within 24 to 48 hours). Open doors and windows. Use fans to dry out the building.
- CDC. Protect Yourself from Mold.
- CDC. Mold Cleanup and Remediation.
- Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute. Mold and Mildew.
Chemical Hazards
Be aware of potential chemical hazards during floods. Flood waters may have moved containers of hazardous chemicals from their normal storage places.
Injuries
Electrical Hazards
Avoid downed power lines.
Reentering Your Home
- CDC. Reentering Your Flooded Home.
- Ready.gov. Returning Home.
- The Alliance for Healthy Homes. Rebuilding Water-Damaged Homes. [PDF - 105 pages]
Cleaning Up
- EPA. A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home.
- CDC. Preventing Mold After A Disaster.
- CDC. Mold After a Disaster.
- CDC. Flood Water After a Disaster or Emergency.
- CDC. Respiratory Recommendations for Reentering Flooded Homes.
- The American Red Cross. Repairing Your Flooded Home. [PDF - 56 pages]
- The American Red Cross. Returning Home After a Hurricane or Flood. [PDF - 1 page]
- Page last reviewed: January 23, 2016
- Page last updated: January 23, 2016
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