Hurricane cleanup and mold¶

Cleanup injures more people than most storms do, and mold can make a flooded house unlivable within days. This page helps you clean up safely, sort debris the way your local government wants it, and dry out your home before mold takes hold.

If you only do three things¶

1. Wear an N95 or similar mask, gloves, boots, and eye protection any time you handle wet or moldy material.
2. Get the house drying within 24 to 48 hours of the water leaving.
3. Pace yourself, drink water, and rest. Heat illness and heart attacks are common during cleanup.

Protective gear¶

Floodwater leaves behind sewage, chemicals, mold, and sharp objects. Dress for it.

• N95 or better mask, especially when you disturb mold or dust.
• Heavy work gloves, and waterproof gloves for wet material.
• Sturdy boots with thick soles. Rubber boots for wet areas.
• Safety glasses or goggles.
• Long sleeves and long pants.
• Hearing protection when running a chainsaw or generator.

Wash up well when you finish, and keep cleanup clothes away from clean ones. If you have asthma, a weakened immune system, or are pregnant, stay out of moldy areas and let someone else do that part.

Heat illness¶

Cleanup usually happens in the hottest part of the year with no air conditioning. Heat exhaustion creeps up on people who feel fine an hour earlier.

• Drink water before you are thirsty and keep drinking.
• Work in the early morning and evening. Rest in the shade during the middle of the day.
• Take a break every hour, even if you feel fine.
• Watch each other for heavy sweating, cramps, dizziness, and nausea.

Chainsaw safety¶

Chainsaws cause many of the serious injuries after a hurricane, and most happen to people who rarely use one.

• Wear chaps, gloves, eye and ear protection, and a helmet if branches are overhead.
• Keep both hands on the saw and both feet on the ground. Never cut above shoulder height or from a ladder.
• Watch for kickback. Cut with the lower part of the bar, not the tip.
• Bent branches and leaning trunks are under tension and can snap back when cut. If you are not sure how a limb will move, leave it for a professional.
• Never cut a tree that is touching a power line. Call the utility.

If you have never run a chainsaw, this is not the time to learn.

Ladder safety¶

Falls from ladders and roofs put many people in the hospital after storms. Set the ladder on firm, level ground and have someone hold it. Keep three points of contact and do not lean out sideways. Stay off a wet or damaged roof entirely, and never work near power lines from a ladder.

Sorting debris¶

Many local governments send different trucks for different kinds of debris. If you mix the piles, they may sit at the curb for weeks. Put debris at the curb, not in the road, and clear of mailboxes, hydrants, meters, and power lines. A common set of separate piles looks like this:

Tape refrigerator and freezer doors shut, or remove the doors, so children cannot get trapped inside. Do not burn debris. Check your local government's website for its exact rules, because they vary and change after each storm.

Dry the house within 24 to 48 hours¶

Mold starts to grow within a day or two of a surface getting wet. Speed matters more than perfection.

• Shut off power to wet areas at the breaker before you start.
• Open every window and door if the weather is dry.
• Pump or bail standing water out.
• Move wet items outside to dry or to be thrown out.
• Run fans and dehumidifiers if you have power or a generator. Point fans out the windows to pull moist air outside.
• Pull up wet carpet and pad and take them outside.
• Open cabinet doors and closets. Remove baseboards so air reaches the wall cavity.

Remove wet drywall and insulation¶

Drywall and fiberglass insulation soak up water and hold it against the studs. Cut out the drywall 30 centimeters (1 foot) or more above the highest water line, all the way around the flooded rooms. Pull out wet insulation and bag it. Leave the wall open until the studs are dry to the touch and a moisture meter, if you have one, reads normal.

Wet carpet, padding, mattresses, upholstered furniture, and particleboard usually cannot be saved. Photograph them for insurance, then throw them out. Solid wood, metal, glass, and hard plastic can often be cleaned.

Clean, then disinfect¶

Cleaning and disinfecting are two steps, not one. Disinfectant does not work on a dirty surface.

1. Scrub hard surfaces with detergent and water to remove mud and organic matter.
2. Rinse with clean water.
3. Disinfect with a bleach solution mixed according to the label, or a commercial disinfectant. Let it sit wet for the time the label states.
4. Let everything dry completely.

Mold¶

Mold looks like fuzzy or slimy patches in black, green, or white, and it often smells musty before you see it. Small areas on hard surfaces can be cleaned with detergent and water, then dried. Porous items like drywall, ceiling tiles, and carpet with mold on them should go out.

Do not paint or caulk over mold. It keeps growing underneath. Do not use a household vacuum on it either, since that spreads spores through the house.

When to call professionals¶

Some jobs are beyond a homeowner and a wet vac. Call for help when:

• Mold covers a large area, or keeps coming back after cleaning.
• Sewage has backed up inside the home.
• The electrical panel or wiring got wet.
• The heating and air conditioning system was flooded, since running it spreads mold through every room.
• A large tree is on the roof or tangled with wires.
• Structural damage makes any part of the house unsafe.

Check licenses before you hire anyone. Our page on avoiding scams tells you how.

Pace yourself¶

Recovery is a marathon. Working until you drop leads to injuries, and the house will still be there tomorrow. Set a stopping time each day, eat real meals, and sleep.

Accept help from neighbors and volunteers when it is offered. The coping page has more on getting through the long haul.

Related guides¶

• Returning home after a hurricane
• Generator and carbon monoxide safety
• Insurance claims and disaster assistance
• Avoiding scams after a hurricane
• Medical and first aid supplies