Flood Cleanup

Recommended Guidlines for Clean-Up and Disinfection After Flooding

We must assume that all flood waters are polluted with sewage. Private sewage disposal systems may overflow and the sewage mix with the flood waters. Public sewers may overflow because of infiltration of high ground water or because of leaking manholes or connected storm drains, cellar drains and roof drains. Public sewage treatment plants may be flooded causing untreated sewage to by-pass the treatment. Because of this, health officials will inspect flooded areas and determine the extent of the disaster and public health implications of the flooding. These guidelines are designed to help the local officials and residents in the clean-up and disinfection process. If clarification or additional information is required, please feel free to call the North Central District Health Department at (860) 745-0383.

Precautions to be taken by flood workers and area residents:

• Flood workers and residents should be cautioned to guard against infection. They should not put their hands near their mouths after handling any possibly polluted surfaces or polluted water until their hands have been washed with soap and clean water. Further, they should not handle food or food products without first cleaning their hands. If a worker or resident is cut by contaminated debris, that resident or worker is advised to contact his physician to determine whether his tetanus immunization is current.
• Flooded cellars: After these are drained or pumped out, wash them down with a hose with clean water and brush and scrub them. Then finish up by applying, with a brush, broom or rags, a disinfecting solution of bleach and water. This can be made up with one cup of bleach in 16 gallons of water (2 ounce/gallon). Do not pour a lot of bleach into a lot of cellar water as the strength of the disinfectant will be rapidly wasted by the dilution. Clean out the cellar or house first.
• Discard whatever cannot be cleaned and dried such as badly soaked mattresses and upholstered material.
• Boil everything that can be boiled such as clothing and bedding.

Clean the following flooded furnishings:

Curtains:

1. Wash with hot water and soap or detergent when the fabric will not be injured by water, or dry clean.
2. Dry thoroughly in open air and sunshine.
3.  Press with hot iron.

Rugs:

1. Flush off with clear water while still on floor.
2. Dry thoroughly in sunshine.
3. Use a mild soap and lukewarm water to shampoo - then rinse and dry.

Furniture:

1. Wash with strong soap and water all surfaces that can be reached and will not be harmed such as wood, metal, leather, cane and composition materials.
2. Upholstered materials: Wash whatever materials can be surface-washed and dry thoroughly, preferably in open air and sunshine.
    

Flooded Clothing: Wash all washable fabrics with hot water and soap or detergent. For fabrics that would be injured by hot water, dry thoroughly, in the sunshine, and sterilize by pressing with a hot iron or by dry cleaning.

Flooded Foodstuffs: No foodstuffs subject to contamination from flood waters should be used unless such foodstuffs have been stored in commercial, hermetically sealed containers, in which case the outside should be thoroughly washed and then sterilized with boiling water or disinfectant. It is best to Aplay it safe@ and discard any questionable foodstuffs, including all screw-top and crown-top glass containers, cork bottles and home canned rubber ring sealed jars.