Floods - What to do Before and After

Electricity

Exercise caution when entering your home. Avoid electrical shock by wearing rubber boots and rubber gloves in an area flooded with more than 5 cm (2 in.) of standing water.

  • Keep extension cords out of the water. If the power is on in the flooded area, shut if off immediately at the breaker box.

CAUTION: If conditions are wet around the breaker box, stand on a dry board and use a dry stick to turn off the switch.

  • If in doubt, do not enter the flooded area; call your local hydro utility before entering.

The building

Make sure the building is structurally safe. Look for buckled walls or floors. Watch for holes in the floor, broken glass and other potentially dangerous debris.

Equipment

Assemble equipment and supplies, which should include:

  • gloves, masks and other protective gear
  • pails, mops, squeegees and plastic garbage bags
  • chlorine bleach and non-ammonia dishwashing detergent
  • (Note: Never mix bleach with ammonia since the fumes produced together are toxic)
  • large containers for soaking bedding and clothing, and lines to hang them until they are dry

You may also need to rent extension cords, submersible pumps, wet/dry shop vacuums, fans or heaters, etc.

Steps in Clean-up From a Flood

Always wash your hands thoroughly after any cleanup.

Electricity

  • Do not enter the flooded area if there are live electrical circuits. You could be electrocuted. Call your local Hydro utility before entering the basement.
  • Keep power turned off until all water is removed.
  • If you can safely clean up, wear rubber boots and rubber gloves.

Pumping out

  • Pump out the water from basement if necessary. Use pumps or pails to remove standing water, followed by a wet/dry shop vacuum to mop up the rest.

Heating systems and appliances

  • Do not heat your home to more than 4 degrees Celsius (about 40 degrees Fahrenheit) until all water is removed.
  • Whether you use a wood, gas or electrical heating system, ensure that you have it thoroughly inspected by a qualified technician before resuming normal operation.
  • Do not use flooded appliances, electrical outlets, switch boxes or fuse-breaker panels until they have been checked by your local utility.

Ventilation

  • As much as possible, open windows to get air circulating.

Furniture, floor coverings walls and materials

  • As much as possible, move furniture, carpets and dirty materials to a dry area, preferably outside so that the items can dry out fully. Once dry, steam clean upholstered furniture and carpets. If they cannot be completely dried out and cleaned, they should be disposed of.
  • Hose down any dirt sticking to walls and solid-wood furniture. Then rinse several times.
  • Wash and wipe down hard surfaces, furniture and any items that can be cleaned with a solution of one tablespoon of bleach per litre of water. Ensure there is adequate cross ventilation to remove fumes. Then rinse again.
  • Rinse, then clean all floors as quickly as possible. Replace flooring (including carpets) that has been deeply penetrated by flood water or sewage.

Clothing

  • Wash clothes in hot water and dry in the hottest cycle in the drier. If you can add bleach to the wash water use one cup of bleach per load.

Food

  • Any food items that have been in contact with the flood water should be thrown out.

Health Effects

  • Water contaminated with sanitary sewage may contain a number of germs (e.g. bacteria and viruses). Wash thoroughly once clean-up is completed.

Miscellaneous articles

Articles such as books, stuffed toys and paper goods should be discarded as they cannot be properly sanitized. Items of particular value without visible contamination pose minimal risk once they are completely dry.

  • As a general rule, if an item cannot be properly cleaned and sanitized it should be thrown out!
  • Keep children away from contaminated area during clean-up operations.

Residents should get damaged material to curbside as soon as possible to facilitate prompt removal. Flood damaged material will be removed during regular garbage pick-up. Affected streets will be monitored by the City of Ottawa and additional pick-ups will be provided as required.

For more information, call 3-1-1.

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