Disasters · US
Flood
How to prepare your home for flooding, stay out of floodwater, and clean up safely.
Before
- Check your flood risk on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center and sign up for local alerts. 1
- Homeowner's insurance does not cover flooding, and flood policies can take up to 30 days to start. Buy early. 1
- Keep originals of key documents in a waterproof container, with password-protected digital copies. 1
- Move valuables higher, clear drains and gutters, and consider a battery-backed sump pump. 1
During
- Six inches of moving water can knock you down. One foot can sweep a vehicle away. 1
- Never walk, swim or drive through floodwater. Turn around, don't drown. 1
- Leave immediately if told to evacuate. Never drive around barricades. 1
- Trapped in a building: go to the highest level, but not into a closed attic. 1
- Car in fast water: stay inside. If water rises inside, get on the roof. 1
After
- Go home only when authorities say it's safe. 1
- Don't touch wet electrical equipment, and don't wade in floodwater. It can be contaminated or electrified. 1
- Throw out any food that touched floodwater, including home-canned food. 2
- Wear gloves, boots and a mask when cleaning mold. Children should not do cleanup. 1
Know your risk first
Flooding can happen almost anywhere. Look up your address on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center and sign up for your community’s warning system. 1 Standard homeowner’s insurance does not cover flood damage, and a new flood policy can take up to 30 days to take effect, so buy it well before a storm is forecast. 1
The water is stronger than it looks
FEMA’s numbers are worth memorizing: six inches of moving water can knock an adult down, and one foot can carry a vehicle away. 1 Most flood deaths happen when people try to walk or drive through water. If a road is flooded or barricaded, turn around.
Food after a flood
Throw away any food that may have touched flood or stormwater. That includes food in cardboard, food in packages that aren’t waterproof, screw-cap and snap-lid containers, and home-canned food, because it can’t be disinfected. Throw out bulging, opened or damaged cans too. When in doubt, throw it out. 2