What do you do if your house is flooded?

You'll also need to contact your insurer (or the landlord, if you rent), document everything, and then clean to prevent further mold damage. If the problem is a broken pipe or a sewage leak, evacuate the facility and find a dry, safe place outside your home. It can be as close as the backyard or as far away as the home of a neighbor or friend. Make sure that all children, pets, and friends who may have been in the house are registered and unharmed.

When thinking about what to do if your house floods, the first thing that probably occurs to you is to clean up the mess. But before doing so, document everything so you can show your insurer the extent of the damage. Use your mobile phone's camera to film or photograph all aspects of the problem. Even if the water in your home is clean, it could be contaminated by wastewater or household chemicals.

Ramírez recommends wearing wading boots and waterproof boots up to the hips or waist. Also, wear rubber gloves to remove water-damaged possessions and avoid contaminants, Ramírez says. Be sure to throw away any food that may have been in contact with flood waters. FEMA recommends boiling water until authorities declare that the water supply is safe.

Maintain good hygiene while cleaning up floods. Minimize contact with flood water or anything that may have been in contact with it. Keep children away from contaminated areas during cleaning operations. All insulation materials, chipboard furniture, mattresses, bed bases, plush toys, pillows, quilts, cushions and furniture coverings that have been exposed to flood water.