Returning Home and Cleaning Up
- Make safety your first and last priority.
- Do not return home until you are told by officials that local conditions and the structure of your home are safe.
- Do not use flooded appliances, electrical outlets, switch boxes or fuse/breaker panels until they have been checked by your local utility. Arrange for qualified workers to reconnect gas, pump or electrical supplies.
- Leave and contact the gas company immediately if there is a smell of gas.
- Rinse away contamination inside the home and dispose of the rinse water.
- Clean and dry out your house and salvageable possessions as quickly as possible.
- Household items that have been contaminated by sewage, or that have been wet for a long time, will have to be bagged, tagged and discarded according to local regulations.
- Any food, including those in boxes, jars or cans, that came in contact with flood water must also be discarded.
- Mold can be harmful and needs to be addressed, sometimes by a professional. Contact the Canadian Mortage and Housing Corporation at 1-800-668-2642 for the name of a trained investigator in your area who has completed the CMHC Residential Indoor Air Quality Investigator program.
- It is recommended that homeowners with private wells for drinking water test the supply. As a precaution, people should boil their water for three minutes. Test kits are available at the Department of Environment district offices.
- Contact your insurance agent as soon as possible. Make a list and include photographs or videotape all damages and items that had to be disposed of after flooding.
- Keep a record of all flood-related activity, such as the amount of time spent cleaning and keep copies of all invoices and receipts.
- Once the water recedes, homeowners are encouraged to check their on-site septic systems. If the system is not working, contact the local environment office. Homeowners should also check their oil tanks to ensure they are still secure.
- If you are in need of financial assistance to meet basic needs you can apply for Income Assistance by contacting the local office of the Department of Community Services. All requests are assessed on an individual basis to determine need. In the event that a person is not eligible, staff can advise of other community supports that may be able to help.
More information:
Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation – Fighting Mold
Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation – Indoor Air Quality Q&A
Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation- Cleaning up your House after a Flood
Cost is $3.95 Cdn
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