Safety Tips: Cleaning Up After a Flood

When returning to your home after a flood, cleaning up can be overwhelming. 

To protect yourself against diseases and other hazards following a flood, the McHenry County Department of Health recommends residents take the following steps: 

• Keeping your hands clean helps you avoid getting sick. Wash hands with soap and water. Make sure children follow these same precautions.
• Do not eat any food that has come in contact with flood water.
• If the power was out, the refrigerator will keep foods cold for about four hours (if door remained closed); a full freezer — two days. A good rule of thumb: when in doubt, throw it out.
• Keep children and pets out of the affected area until cleanup has been completed.
• To reduce your risk of injury, wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, and goggles during cleanup of affected area.
• Remove and discard items that cannot be washed and disinfected (such as, mattresses, carpeting, carpet padding, rugs, upholstered furniture, cosmetics, stuffed animals, baby toys, pillows, foam-rubber items, books, wall coverings, and most paper products).
• Remove and discard drywall and insulation that has been contaminated with sewage or flood waters.
• Thoroughly clean all hard surfaces (such as flooring, concrete, molding, wood and metal furniture, countertops, appliances, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures) with hot water and laundry or dish detergent.
• Help the drying process by using fans, air conditioning units, and dehumidifiers.

Drinking Water Could Be Contaminated

The McHenry County Department of Health advises residents that in addition to structural damage, flood water can contaminate both food and drinking water with bacteria, viruses and other organisms.

If you become ill — or experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps — report your condition to your physician or the MCDH. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if you receive a puncture or severe wound while in contact with contaminated flood water, you should be evaluated immediately by a healthcare provider and receive a tetanus shot if it’s been more than five (5) year since your last booster.

If your private well casing has been submerged, the water could be contaminated so used bottled water or water previously stored in the refrigerator for drinking, brushing teeth, preparing food or baby formula until well water has been tested.  MCDH will perform testing at no charge for flooded private water wells after flood waters have receded.

If coliform bacteria is present, the well will need to be disinfected.  Instructions can be found on the MCDH website (www.mcdh.info). If you have to use tap water, boil it vigorously for at least five (5) minutes. 

More details on clean up and disinfection is available at http://www.idph.state.il.us/floodinfo/index.htm.  For more information about floodwater clean-up and recovery, call the Department’s Environmental Health Division at 815-334-4585

Source: McHenry County Department of Health