The Los Angeles Fire Department has published a guide on how to recover from a flood. Here’s a summary of the steps:
• Take care of yourself first: Get prompt medical attention if you are ill or injured. Protect yourself from stress, fatigue, and flood-specific hazards.
• Give your home first aid: If evacuated, return home only when authorities indicate it is safe to do so. Dangers do not end when floodwaters recede; some - such as chemical and sewage contamination, electrical shock, and inhalation hazards - may be invisible.
• Get organized: Document every loss and expense. Take photos, keep receipts, and contact your insurance agent.
• Dry out your home: Floodwaters damage materials, leaving mud, silt, and contaminants that can promote the growth of mold. You need to safely and thoroughly dry your home to reduce these hazards and the damage they cause.
• Restore the utilities: Your work will be much easier if you have heat, electricity, clean water, and sewage disposal.
• Clean up: Official documents and family treasures can often be salvaged and preserved with special care. Throw away food, including packaged items contaminated by floodwater.
• Ventilate and dry: Use fans to dry your home. Keep the windows and doors open as much as possible too.
• Hire credentialed contractors: It’s important to hire licensed and insured professionals to perform restoration work.
• Rebuild: Once your home is dry and clean, you can begin rebuilding.
