How Floods Impact Indoor Air Quality: Essential Tips for Safe Recovery

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, keep in mind that protecting indoor air is a key part of safe flood recovery.
Flooding, storm surge, and wind damage from hurricanes can introduce new hazards indoors and worsen existing ones. Flood waters can carry biological and chemical contaminants indoors, and standing water and wet materials can become a breeding ground for viruses, bacteria, and mold. Exposure to these contaminants can cause disease, trigger allergic reactions, and continue to damage materials long after the flood. Learn more about Floods and Indoor Air Quality.

Installing Roof, Window, and Door Tarps

Temporary weather barriers like roof, window, and door tarps need to be secured before cleaning up your home to prevent additional rain or other weather concerns from entering the home during the cleanup process.

Removing Standing Water

Use caution when removing standing water from your home. If the water is several feet deep, removing water too quickly may make the walls and floor crack and collapse, causing structural damage. Follow the guidance in this video to remove standing water, mud, and silt from your home.

Wall Cleanup and Removal

Lead-Based Paint may be present in your home and cause immediate harm to you or your children.

This video will help you determine how to remove and clean drywall, plaster, and wood paneling.

Floor Cleanup and Removal

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.
This video will help you determine if/how to remove flooded flooring.

Drying Everything Out

Before refinishing and replacing walls and flooring, everything in the home needs to be completely dry to prevent future mold growth and to prevent materials from losing their structural integrity. Use this video to determine if your home is dry and ready for rebuilding.