There are several ways a home can be flooded. One of the ways a home can be flooded is from torrential rain. During a heavy rainfall drains and sewers get overloaded and the amount of water accumulating in them is more than the drainage system can remove causing them to overflow. Flooding can also be caused when overflowing streams and rivers inundate the areas surrounding them. Burst water pipes can also cause a flood in your home.



When your home is flooded it is imperative that the water be removed as quickly as possible. Flood water has often been contaminated with sewage water and is likely a dangerous health risk. Though some flood water might appear clear, it is very possible that harmful bacteria are present which can pose serious health risks.

Before proceeding with water removal adequate precautions should be taken to prevent exposure to these pathogens. Wear rubber boots and gloves as well as water proof clothing to keep the flood water from coming into contact with your skin. Switch off the electricity at the breaker box to make sure there is no chance of electrocution. Shut down all gas appliances and shut down the gas at the main where it comes into your house. Make sure that you have a current tetanus vaccination prior to entering the house. Use a special pump designed for water removal called a sump pump. Make sure that you have a sufficient length of pipe to attach to the sump pump. This should be long enough to ensure that the water you pump out will not simply return to your home.

Find where the water is the deepest and start removing the water from that point. If the level of water at that point is too deep, it would be better to start disposing of the water from the highest point downward. This helps reduce the chances of infection due to contact of the skin with the contaminated water.

One should also keep an eye out for snakes, scorpions and other dangerous insects and reptiles. Due to the floods, they are forced from their natural habitats and could be transported into your home. While removing the dirty water, pay special attention to the silt that has accumulated on the floor. All furnishings that have remained below the water level for a few hours will be ruined and should be disposed of since they will be contaminated and pose a health risk. Let everything dry out after the water is removed.

Use hot soapy water to clean hard surfaces and let them dry thoroughly to help destroy any germs that might have remained. Proper ventilation from open windows and running fans will speed up the drying process. Any contamination left behind by floodwater that contained oil can be easily cleaned using a detergent mixed in lukewarm water. Fabrics should be machine washed using the highest recommended temperature as per the manufacturer's label. Sanitize everything in the kitchen that has been touched by the floodwater. Frozen food that has remained at room temperature for a few hours should be disposed off along with any foodstuff that has been exposed to the contaminated water.