Michigan State University Extension
Home Maintenance And Repair - 01500009
06/24/03
After A Flood, Priorities
Priorities will vary with kind and seriousness of
damage. Buildings may not be habitable during repair.
1. Examine building structure. Check foundations for
settling, cracking or undermining. Examine walls, floors,
doors and windows to determine what repairs are
necessary. You may want to repair only temporarily until
extensive work can be done.
2. If basement is flooded, start pumping the water in
stages. Pump about a third of the water each day.
3. Get electrical system in operation. If switch box is
in a flooded basement, do not turn electricity back on
until water has been pumped out. Take electrical
appliances to a serviceman as soon as possible.
4. Get water system in operation. Disinfect wells and
water system.
5. Shovel out mud and silt before it dries.
6. Before they dry, wash down flooded walls and floors
with hose. Start at upper limit of flooding and work
downward.
7. Scrub and disinfect walls and floors.
8. Start heating system, if possible, to speed up
drying. Before operating it, heating system may need to
be cleaned, dried and reconditioned. Make sure chimneys
are clean before starting system.
9. Dry out walls and floors. If necessary for proper
drying, strip walls open up to water level. Drill holes
in exterior siding. Complete drying may take months.
10. Repair buckled walls and floors.
11. Clean and dry household items, furniture, carpets,
clothing, dishes, bedding. Disinfect when necessary.
12. Treat items for mildew as needed.
13. Care for damaged trees, shrubs, and lawn.
14. Repaint, repair, refinish as necessary.
This article was written by Anne Field, Extension
Specialist, Emeritus, with reference from the USDA
Disaster Handbook.
This information is for educational purposes only. References
to commercial products or trade names does not imply
endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not
mentioned. This information becomes public property upon
publication and may be printed verbatim with credit to MSU
Extension. Reprinting cannot be used to endorse or advertise
a commercial product or company.
MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State
University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race,
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Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in
cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director,
MSU Extension, East Lansing,MI 48824. This information is for educational
purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply
endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.
This file was generated from data base 02 on 02/04/08.
Data base 02 was last revised on 06/24/03.
For more information about this data base or its contents please contact
strausc@msu.edu .