Floodwater Is Not Clean Water
A burst pipe releases clean water from your own plumbing. A creek or river flood does not. It carries whatever it passed through on the way to your property.
EPA says floodwater can contain bacteria, chemicals and sewage-related microorganisms, and that wood, drywall, carpet and furniture that stay wet can grow mold. That is the reason the cleanup rules for a flood are stricter than for a plumbing leak.
Protect yourself before you start
EPA recommends an N-95 respirator, goggles without vent holes, gloves, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and boots or work shoes (EPA). Older buildings may also contain asbestos or lead, so disturbing old materials can be a hazard of its own.
Do Not Drain Everything at Once
When flooding is widespread, the ground around the house may still be saturated. NYS Homeland Security and Emergency Services advises draining a flooded basement in stages after the surrounding water has subsided. Pumping all at once can load the foundation unevenly, which is a structural question for a professional, not something to guess at.
What to Keep and What to Throw Away After Floodwater
Because floodwater is contaminated, the question is different from a clean-water leak. The New York State Department of Health covers what can usually be saved and what to discard, and EPA gives the general rule.
Often worth cleaning and drying
- Hard, non-porous items that can be cleaned and dried (EPA)
- Some fabrics that can be laundered
- Valuable items, which a specialist may be able to restore
Usually discarded
- Porous materials that absorb a lot of water and cannot be dried (EPA)
- Wallboard and insulation that were underwater or stay saturated (NYS Department of Health)
- Anything you are unsure about, until it has been assessed
Clean surfaces gently with water and detergent first. Use disinfectant only on clean, non-absorbent surfaces, follow the label, and never mix cleaning products or add bleach to other chemicals (EPA).
If You Have a Private Well
A flood can reach a private well even when the water never enters the house. The New York State Department of Health has a guide to restoring and testing a private well after a flood. In summary, it says to keep the pump off until the well has been checked, use bottled water for drinking and cooking until then, have the well disinfected, and have the water tested by a certified laboratory before you rely on it. The same guide recommends testing again some weeks later.
Dry the Structure, Not Just the Visible Water
Once the water is out, wet materials hold moisture. EPA advises drying water-damaged areas and items within 24–48 hours where possible, because damp materials that dry in that window usually do not grow mold. That is a target worth working toward. It is not a promise that mold cannot grow, and it is not a deadline after which mold appears.
Drying a flooded structure completely usually takes several days to weeks (EPA), and a moisture meter is how you know the job is done rather than guessing from how a wall looks.
If mold turns up
Mold after a flood is common enough to plan for. On a New York mold project, H&H performs either the mold assessment or the mold remediation — never both on the same project. See mold services.
What H&H Does After a Flood
H&H Environmental has operated since 2005. For flood water damage, the work falls into these parts. Each is described as a service, not a promise about timing, because every flooded property is different.
Water extraction. Standing water is removed. (Emergency water extraction)
Removal of wet or damaged materials, where necessary. Materials that cannot be dried are taken out so they do not keep moisture against the structure.
Structural drying and dehumidification. The structure and the air are dried. (Structural drying)
Antimicrobial treatment. Used where it is appropriate.
Monitoring. Drying is monitored so the work continues until the structure is dry.
Documentation and insurance. We work directly with your insurance carrier and provide documentation and direct billing for covered losses. Whether a loss is covered is decided by your policy and your carrier, not by H&H. (Insurance help)
H&H also handles sewage cleanup, and storm and flood damage. The full list is on the water damage restoration page.