Flood Readiness During Hurricane Season

EPA sent this bulletin at 05/26/2026 11:00 AM EDT

US EPA Emergencies and Indoor Air Quality

Don't Let Hurricanes Dampen Your Day!

Protect Your Health and Indoor Air Quality

This hurricane season, take the time to prepare your home for unexpected floods. The Atlantic and central Pacific hurricane season (including Hawaii) officially runs from June 1 to November 30. The best time to prepare is NOW! 

Flood water that enters your home can make the air inside unhealthy. Mold can grow on wood, drywall, carpet and furniture if they remain wet for more than 24-48 hours. Breathing in mold may make you sick. Flood water can contain bacteria, chemicals, or other hazards that may negatively affect your health. Hurricanes can also severely damage buildings and leave communities without power. Be prepared and learn how to stay safe if you experience flooding and power outages this hurricane season!

Stay safe when cleaning up after a flood

Who should stay away – Children, women 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.

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:

Goggles (without vent holes)

N-95 respirators

Long-sleeved shirts

Protective gloves

Long pants

Boots or work shoes

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 at high levels 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.

Where to Safely Use a Fuel-Powered Generator

Learn more about how to stay safe as you clean up after a flood.

Check out EPA’s webinar on Flood Cleanup.

Clean and dry everything that got wet

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 dry 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, such as bleach, on clean surfaces that do not absorb water to kill microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria and mold. Read and follow all instructions to safely use the product. Do not mix chemicals together.

Learn more about cleaning up after a flood.

When is flood cleanup complete?

After cleanup, there should not be 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.