After a flood

After a flood, it is important to restore your home to good order as soon as possible to protect your health and prevent further damage to property and belongings. Immediate action is important. 

Use extreme caution when returning to your home after a flood. Find out how to safely enter your home after a flood event.

• Contact your insurance company for claims information before you clean up.
• Any alteration within 30 metres of a watercourse or a wetland requires a Watercourse and Wetland Alteration permit; find out if you need one by contacting [email protected] or 506-457-4850. 
• Permit fees are waived for flood-affected residents in local service districts and municipalities, contact your Regional Service Commission or the Department of Environment and Local Government for more information. 
• Check for additional permits you may require by contacting your municipality or Regional Service Commission.
• You may be eligible for Disaster Financial Assistance.

Whether you do the work yourself or hire a contractor, this handy checklist will help you organize the cleanup.

• Put your own safety first. Avoid electrical shock. If you are experiencing flooding and need your electricity source disconnected or reconnected, please call NB Power at 1-800-663-6272. 
• Record details of damage, with photos or video if possible. Contact your insurance agent immediately and register your flood damages. 
• Set up a step-by-step plan to remove all water, mud and other debris; dispose of contaminated household goods, and rinse away contamination inside the home. 
• Be prepared to make difficult decisions about what to keep and what to throw out. Make sure the building is structurally safe. Look for buckled walls or floors. Watch for holes in the floor, broken glass and other potentially dangerous debris. If in doubt, contact a professional.

Private water supplies, like wells, affected by flooding should not be used until they have been disinfected and tested. Until tests indicate a safe water supply, water for drinking, making juices and ice cubes, washing fruits and vegetables, cooking or dental hygiene should be brought to rolling boil for at least one minute and then stored in clean covered containers. 

For infant formula, continue to boil the water for two minutes as per the manufacturer’s instructions or use single serve ready-to-feed formula. You may boil water ahead of time, cool it and then store in clean covered containers for future use.

Do not use your well water, for any purpose whatsoever – even if it has been boiled, if:

• your well is currently under water
• it has a persistent odour or discolouration even after letting the water run, and/or you think that your well may be affected by chemicals such as furnace oil, gasoline or agricultural chemicals. If this is the case, you should contact the nearest regional office of the Department of Environment and Local Government at 506-453-2690 for further information.

Water sampling kits may be picked up at designated Service New Brunswick centres (publication).

If your drinking water well has been impacted by flooding, you should boil your water until the well is chlorinated and test results show the water is free from harmful bacteria.  Since water samples cannot be taken or analyzed until the well has been flushed of chlorine, the government recommends well owners follow these steps:

• ten days after floodwater has receded in your area, chlorinate your well. Learn how to chlorinate your well water (publication). 
• after chlorinating and subsequently flushing your water system, wait seven days before collecting a water sample for analysis
• sample kits may be obtained from and returned to the same Service New Brunswick location
• sample your well water according to the kit instructions
• ensure that you have your property identification number and, if the well was constructed in 1994 or after, a well identification number

After being received at the lab, bacteriological analysis and reporting can take up to four business days. All private well results are received by the Department of Health and mailed to owners. Only for positive results a Public Health Inspector will call the private well owner directly to discuss

Immediate action is important as your house and furnishings are less likely to grow mould if contents are dried within 48 hours of water receding. To avoid the health hazards of mildew and mould, follow these important tips:

• avoid skin contact with contaminated material during clean-up - be sure to wear personal protective equipment, such as gloves, a mask and goggles to protect eyes, nose, mouth and skin and wash your hands frequently with clean warm water and soap
• use a good soap or detergent, and lots of hot water when cleaning
• prevent toxic fumes by not mixing cleaning products together, especially bleach and ammonia
• when electricity is safe to use, use fans and dehumidifiers to remove moisture
• after cleaning, open doors and windows to air thoroughly and help the drying process

Water-soaked walls and insulation should be removed, and the space and studding allowed to dry thoroughly. Walls constructed of Gyproc, plaster or wood will dry out in time but insulation in these walls is no longer effective - As insulation becomes water soaked the weight causes it to settle and compact at the bottom, leaving a large portion of the wall no longer insulated.

Caution: Obtain approval from assessors, insurance agents and other relevant agencies before discarding or destroying any furniture or equipment.

Household hazardous products, such as pesticides, can also cause problems. Contaminated items and surfaces should also be cleaned. Although small amounts of household hazardous products or agricultural products can be placed in plastic bags and discarded with domestic garbage, significant quantities should be handled differently, under the advice of the Department of the Environment.

Appliances and food contact surfaces should be cleaned as follows:

• ensure electrical power is turned off
• clean the unit thoroughly with a detergent solution, rinse with clean water that has been previously boiled, then wash with a solution containing one-half cup of Javex or similar product in nine litres (two gallons) of water
• allow to dry with door kept open

Note: Any appliance that has been partially or wholly immersed in water is no longer insulated. It cannot be dried without removal. A qualified service technician should be contacted before the appliance is put into service.

It is important to use a good soap or detergent and lots of hot water when cleaning. 
 
Walls, solid floors, and ceilings should be thoroughly scrubbed with a good detergent or soap and water. Avoid household bleach. Organic content and pH in flood waters as well as contact time required for bleach to kill microorganisms may render bleach ineffective. For significant flood or water damage, you may need to consult with an air quality specialist or professional cleaner. 
 
Water and wastes can be removed by pumping, pails, shovels, etc. Wastes should be buried at least 15 metres away from the source of any water supply. Lime may be used to cover wastes before covering with soil. This advice applies to all waste disposals in the following section. Oil or petroleum products are usually removed with Varsol or similar products. 
 
After cleaning, open doors and windows to air thoroughly and help the drying process.

Solid wood or metal furniture can be cleaned with a household detergent solution, wiping clean and then wiping dry. Furniture should be left to dry outside before furniture polish may be applied where needed. Upholstered furniture and mattresses affected by flooding should not be used.

Do not heat your home to more than four degrees Celsius until all water is removed.

If you use pumps or heaters powered by gasoline, kerosene or propane, buy and install a carbon-monoxide sensor. Combustion devices can produce large amounts of lethal carbon monoxide when they are not tuned-up or are improperly ventilated.

Whether you use a wood, gas or electrical heating system, you must have it thoroughly inspected by a qualified technician before using it again. If they have been soaked, replace the furnace blower motor, switches and controls. Flooded forced-air heating ducts and return-duct pans should be either cleaned or replaced.

Replace filters and insulation inside furnaces, water heaters, refrigerators and freezers if they have been wet. However, it is often cheaper to replace this equipment.

If your power has been turned off by NB Power, you must contact your local electrical inspector or licensed electrical contractor before NB Power will turn on your electrical supply. For electricity disconnection and reconnection after a flood, contact the appropriate service provider for your area:

• Visit NB Power or call 1-800-663-6272
• Visit Saint John Energy or call 506-658-5252

• Use extreme caution when returning home to a flood damaged area
• Stay clear of wires
• Do not assume that any part of a flooded electrical installation/appliance is safe
• Disconnect power prior to inspecting electrical devices
• Call a licensed electrical contractor for repairs to electrical appliances/installations to ensure your safety when you re-energize your electrical system
• Do not energize any electrical equipment if it has been under water. These items may work and appear safe but once they have been under water, they could cause electrocution or fire

To prevent a fire and electrical hazard, you may need to replace/repair the following:

• light switches, thermostats, outlets, light fixtures, electric heaters, ceiling fans, etc.
• furnace burner and blower motor, ignition transformer, elements
• hot water tank (electric, oil, or propane)
• electrical appliances, sump pump, water pumps and related equipment, washer, dryer, dehumidifier, vacuum, tools, exercise equipment - there are many switches, motors, and transformers that will be corroded
• breakers, fuses, fuse holders

If your gas meter was turned off, it may only be turned back on by a qualified technician. Read more about what to do. 

The Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health offers the following details and recommendations to those that plant their own food gardens:

• In general, if you do not see signs of chemical contamination, such as staining or sheens, vegetation that does not look well, or notice chemical odors, then chemical contamination is not likely to be a concern
• A minimum waiting period of 30 days after flood water is no longer present is recommended before planting edible plants
• Tillage, sunlight, air, and soil microbiological activity over time will contribute to the breakdown of most contaminants
• Foods intended for raw consumption, in particular leafy greens and root vegetables, are especially at risk if the recommended waiting period is not followed. 
• Raised beds filled with at least 30 cm of soil that has not been flooded may be used as an alternative
• Well water that may have been impacted by flooding should be tested prior to using for watering gardens