Flood Damage CleanupAfter Rivers, Rain and Surge

A clean-water leak can often be dried in place. Floodwater is generally considered contaminated, so soaked carpet, pad, insulation and much of the drywall it touched are removed. What stays is cleaned first, since drying over silt traps the contamination inside.

Flood usually means a separate NFIP or private policy, and new policies often take 30 days to begin.^[2] Read our flood or water damage insurance guide and check your location page for local rivers and history.

Flood mud can hold sewage, oil and chemicals, so wear waterproof boots, gloves and a well-fitted respirator, and wash thoroughly afterward. Keep children and pets away. Older homes bring extra risk when finishes are torn out, because dust from lead paint or asbestos can spread. If you are unsure, stop and have it tested.

River flooding usually gives some warning but stays high for days. Storm surge arrives with the storm and leaves salt behind. Flash flooding from heavy rain can rise and fall within hours, and often hits homes nobody thought of as at risk. Each one changes the timeline and the cleanup, so tell the contractor what happened as well as how deep the water got.