Stay Safe and Recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton
In light of the devastation caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, we want to take a moment to express our sympathy to those who have been directly affected. We know this is a challenging time for many, and our thoughts are with you as the difficult process of recovery begins.
Whether or not your community was impacted, we encourage you to share the following flood cleanup information to maintain safe and healthy indoor environments once home.
 The EPA’s Flooded Homes website, which is also available in Spanish, features short videos with step-by-step guidance on how to safely clean up your home. You can also search for answers to many of your questions about flooded homes using the webpage’s search bar or visiting Frequent Questions about Flooded Homes.
Stay Safe When Cleaning Up
Who should stay away – Children, people who are pregnant, and those with breathing problems like asthma or who have weakened immune systems should stay away from moldy sites and should not participate in flood cleanup.
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Personal Protective Equipment – Flood cleanup can be difficult and dangerous work. If you decide to do the cleanup yourself, wear personal protective equipment to protect your health including:
- N-95 respirators
- Goggles (without vent holes)
- Long pants
- Long-sleeve shirts
- Protective gloves
- Boots or work shoes
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Be aware of the risk of electrocution – Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water. If it is safe to do so, turn off the electricity to prevent electric shock.
Fuel-powered, portable generators – Fuel-powered portable generators produce deadly carbon monoxide gas. You cannot see or smell CO, but it could kill you in minutes if you breathe it in. Operate fuel-powered, portable generators safely. Only use generators OUTSIDE and at least 20 feet away from buildings. NEVER use a fuel-powered portable generator inside your home, garage, shed or similar enclosed areas.
 Check out the EPA's Power Outages and Indoor Air Quality video for more tips on safety during a power outage.
 Learn more about Power Outages and Indoor Air Quality.
Clean and Dry Everything that Got Wet
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Dry your house completely – Drying can take a long time, usually several days to weeks. Keep the air moving with open doors and windows. If you have power, set up fans, dehumidifiers or heaters throughout the house to speed up the drying process. Learn more about how to dry your home completely.
Water-soaked items and debris – You can usually clean and dry materials that do not soak up water. You should throw away materials that soak up a lot of water and can’t be cleaned and dried.
Learn more about how to sort water-soaked materials.
Cleaning methods – Avoid stirring up dust or scrubbing surfaces. Clean surfaces gently using a cloth dampened with clean water and detergent.
If needed, you can also use an EPA-registered disinfectant or sanitizer on clean surfaces that do not absorb water to kill microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria and mold. Read and follow all instructions about how to safely use the product. Do not mix chemicals together.
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Learn more about cleaning up after a flood.
When is Flood Cleanup Complete?
It can sometimes be difficult to tell when a flooded home is completely clean and dry. Some signs to look for include:
- Materials that cannot be cleaned and dried have been removed.
- Essential equipment, such as air handling equipment, has been replaced if needed.
- The house and everything in it have dried completely.
- The remaining surfaces and materials have been cleaned.
After cleanup, there should be no signs of water damage or mold growth. If you still see or smell mold, or experience health symptoms that get worse when you return home, there may be more cleanup to do. Consider consulting a qualified remediation professional for help. Learn more about hiring a professional for flood cleanup.
Learn more about protecting your health and indoor air quality during flood cleanup: Flood Cleanup to Protect Indoor Air and Your Health.
Flood Cleanup Videos
NOTE: If you need Spanish captions, click the CC button on the player to turn them on.
Coming Home
Doing It Yourself
Protecting Your Health
Additional Resources
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