Flooded HomeAfter a flood, it’s important to restore your home to good order as soon as possible to protect your health and prevent further damage to your house and belongings.

Immediate action is important. Your house and furnishings are less likely to grow mould if they are dried within 48 hours.

Before You Begin

• Put your own safety first. Avoid electrical shock and wear rubber boots.

• Record details of damage, with photos or video if possible. Contact your insurance agent immediately and register with your municipality—your municipality may have resources you need, such as future financial assistance.

• Set up a step-by-step action plan to:
  • remove all water, mud and other debris;
  • dispose of contaminated household goods;
  • rinse away contamination inside the home;
  • remove the rinse water; and
  • clean and dry out your house and salvageable possessions.

• Be prepared to make difficult decisions about what to keep and what to throw out. Household items that have been contaminated by sewage, or that have been wet for a long time, will have to be bagged, tagged and discarded according to local regulations.

• Assemble equipment and supplies:
  • gloves, masks (N95 respirators) and other protective gear;
  • pails, mops, squeegees and plastic garbage bags;
  • unscented detergent;
  • large containers for wet bedding and clothing, and lines to hang them to dry; and
  • you may also need to rent extension cords, submersible pumps, wet/dry shop vacuums, and dehumidifiers or heaters.

• Store valuable papers that have been damaged in a freezer until you have time to work on them.

Sourced from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation: After the Flood