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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesIf heavy rain is flooding your home, protect people first: follow evacuation orders, stay out of floodwater, and wait for officials to clear the area before returning. After reentry is declared safe, photograph damage, notify your flood insurer, preserve receipts and records, and clean up only with appropriate protection. FEMA assistance may be available, but neither insurance coverage nor federal aid is automatic.
This guidance is U.S.-centered. Local emergency orders, health advisories, utility instructions, building rules, and your insurance policy take precedence over general advice. The response is different while water is rising than it is after authorities approve reentry.
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While heavy rain and floodwater are still dangerous
Evacuate when officials order it
Monitor local emergency alerts and leave promptly if authorities issue an evacuation order. Do not drive around barricades or ignore a road closure. Bridges and low-water crossings can become unsafe before a neighborhood appears flooded.
Never enter or cross floodwater
Do not walk, swim, or drive through floodwater. It can hide open manholes, sharp debris, unstable ground, sewage, chemicals, and electrical current. Ready.gov’s warning is direct: “Do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters. Turn Around. Don’t Drown!” Waterproof work boots and heavy-duty gloves are useful later during cleared cleanup, but no footwear makes moving floodwater safe.
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- Six inches of fast-moving water can knock a person down.
- One foot of moving water can sweep a vehicle away.
- Stay off bridges over fast-moving water and keep away from submerged roads.
If you are trapped inside
Move to the highest level of the building. Do not climb into a closed attic, where rising water can trap you; use an accessible upper floor or roof only as directed by emergency responders. Call emergency services when possible and communicate your location.
If you are trapped in a vehicle
If rapidly moving water is entering the vehicle, Ready.gov advises staying inside and moving to the roof if the water continues rising. Do not attempt to walk through the current to reach safety. Follow dispatcher or responder instructions.
Do not reenter until authorities say it is safe
Wait for an official reentry notice, even if rain has stopped and water appears to be receding. Avoid unnecessary driving because roads, bridges, and utility systems may remain damaged. Keep children and pets away from the property until hazards have been assessed.
Check for electrical danger from a distance
Standing water and wet wiring can energize floors, appliances, and metal surfaces. Do not touch wet electrical equipment, switches, outlets, or cords while standing in water. Turn off the main power only if you can do so without entering water or touching wet equipment; otherwise, have the utility or a qualified electrician disconnect it.
Assume water may be contaminated
Floodwater can contain sewage and other contaminants. Do not assume tap water is drinkable after a flood. Ask the local health department whether to boil, disinfect, or avoid the water, and follow any boil-water or do-not-use notice. Use bottled water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, and preparing infant formula until officials confirm the supply is safe.
Look for animals and hidden hazards
Flooded buildings may contain displaced snakes, rodents, insects, or other animals. Open doors carefully, do not reach into dark spaces, and leave wildlife removal to trained personnel. Watch for unstable ceilings, broken glass, nails, gas odors, and weakened floors.
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Make the property safe before starting recovery work
Use protective clothing appropriate to the task
For cleared cleanup, Ready.gov recommends heavy work gloves, protective clothing, boots, and an appropriate mask or face covering when handling mold or debris. Wear eye protection when splashing or dusty debris is possible, and wash exposed skin and clothing afterward. Treat protective gear as a barrier against specific cleanup hazards, not as permission to wade through floodwater.
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Children should not participate in disaster cleanup. People with asthma, other lung conditions, or immune suppression should not enter buildings with indoor water leaks or visible or smelled mold. Ask a qualified remediation professional or public-health authority for site-specific advice when contamination or structural damage is extensive.
Use generators and fuel-burning equipment outdoors
Never run a generator, pump, pressure washer, or other gasoline-powered machine inside a home, basement, garage, crawl space, or enclosed porch. FEMA’s February 2025 information sheet says to operate generators and other fuel-burning equipment outdoors and at least 20 feet from windows, doors, or garages. Exhaust can contain lethal carbon monoxide even when an opening appears ventilated. Keep the equipment away from wet areas and have damaged electrical systems inspected before reconnecting power.
Document damage before moving or discarding property
When it is safe and practical, create a visual and written record before major cleanup changes the scene. Documentation helps an adjuster understand what happened and helps you track expenses.
- Photograph and video each affected room from several angles.
- Capture close-ups of damaged walls, floors, ceilings, appliances, furniture, vehicles, and personal property.
- Photograph serial numbers, model numbers, labels, and visible waterlines where they can be recorded safely.
- Make an inventory listing the item, approximate age, purchase price, current condition, and estimated replacement cost.
- Save photos, videos, receipts, estimates, inspection reports, contractor communications, and emergency messages in more than one location.
- Keep damaged items until the insurer or adjuster says they may be discarded, unless leaving them creates a health or safety hazard. Photograph them first and record why they had to be removed.
Do not endanger yourself to obtain a picture or preserve property. A safe, dated record is more useful than an unsafe attempt to document every item.
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Call the flood insurer as soon as practicable to open a claim. Ask for the claim number, adjuster contact information, inspection process, documentation requirements, deadlines, and instructions for emergency measures. Ask whether work should wait for an inspection or whether you may begin limited mitigation to prevent additional damage.
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- Write down the date, time, representative, and substance of every call.
- Ask how to submit photos, inventories, receipts, estimates, and proof of ownership.
- Keep receipts for pumps, protective equipment, temporary repairs, lodging, storage, and other flood-related expenses, but do not assume any expense is covered.
- Do not sign a broad repair contract or assignment of benefits without understanding its terms.
Coverage depends on the policy, cause of loss, exclusions, limits, deductible, and proof requirements. A flood insurance claim is not a promise that every damaged belonging or temporary expense will be reimbursed.
Know the limited loss-avoidance benefit described by FEMA
A FEMA National Flood Insurance Program loss-avoidance sheet dated May 2018 describes up to $1,000 for eligible expenses to protect insured property and up to $1,000 to move it. The amounts are conditional limits in that dated document, not guaranteed payments or a statement of every current policy. Eligibility, covered property, labor documentation, and submission rules must be confirmed with the adjuster under the policy in force.
If you rely on this type of benefit, keep itemized receipts and labor records and submit them as instructed. Do not spend money solely because an older maximum appears available.
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Register for possible federal assistance separately
Register with FEMA for additional assistance if your location and circumstances qualify. FEMA assistance and flood insurance are separate programs: registering does not establish eligibility, replace an insurance claim, or guarantee payment. Follow the application deadline and provide the requested identity, occupancy, ownership, insurance, and damage information. A household may need to pursue insurance first or document that insurance does not cover a particular loss.
Use the disaster number and application confirmation in your records. Keep copies of every form and notice, and report changes in contact information so inspectors or caseworkers can reach you.
Clean up in a controlled sequence
Remove immediate hazards first
After clearance, address gas odors, unstable structures, exposed wiring, sewage, and standing water with the appropriate utility, building official, electrician, plumber, or remediation professional. Do not improvise around a hazard because it appears small.
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Separate salvageable and unsalvageable items
Move items only when doing so is safe and does not destroy evidence needed for the claim. Keep a discard log with the item, reason for disposal, date, and photographs. Follow public-health instructions for contaminated materials and local rules for debris placement.
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Control moisture and mold
Ventilate and dry the structure only when outdoor conditions, electrical systems, and air quality make it safe. Mold can develop quickly in wet materials. People with asthma, other lung disease, or immune suppression should stay out of buildings with leaks or visible or smelled mold. For extensive growth, sewage contamination, or hidden moisture, seek a qualified assessment rather than relying on a consumer product as a substitute for inspection.
Protect workers and household members
Use gloves, boots, protective clothing, and suitable face protection for debris and mold tasks. Wash hands before eating or touching your face, launder contaminated clothing separately, and keep children and pets away from work zones. Stop if anyone develops breathing trouble, dizziness, skin irritation, or other concerning symptoms and seek medical advice.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Plan financially for the weeks after the flood
Track every flood-related cost
Maintain a running spreadsheet or notebook for emergency purchases, transportation, temporary housing, storage, cleaning, inspections, and repairs. Record the date, vendor, purpose, amount, payment method, and whether an insurer, FEMA, or another program has been asked to reimburse it. Separate ordinary household spending from disaster expenses.
Protect cash flow while claims are pending
Prioritize safe shelter, food, medication, utilities, and transportation. Contact lenders, landlords, utility providers, and creditors early if the flood affects your ability to pay. Ask about hardship arrangements in writing and avoid high-cost borrowing until you know which expenses are eligible for assistance.
Review future flood-insurance timing
Ready.gov says flood insurance typically takes up to 30 days to take effect. That is a general U.S. statement, not a determination for an individual policy; waiting periods, renewal rules, lender requirements, and exceptions vary. Insurance generally cannot be purchased after water is already rising to cover that event, so review coverage during recovery rather than waiting for the next storm.
Common mistakes that increase danger or delay payment
- Entering water because it looks shallow or slow.
- Operating a generator in a garage or near doors and windows.
- Turning on power before a qualified inspection.
- Drinking or cooking with tap water before the health department clears it.
- Discarding damaged property without photographs, an inventory, or insurer instructions.
- Assuming a flood policy covers every item, living expense, or cleanup bill.
- Confusing FEMA registration with guaranteed assistance.
- Sending children or medically vulnerable adults into moldy or debris-filled rooms.
- Hiring a contractor without checking licensing, scope, insurance, payment terms, and whether the insurer requires an estimate or approval.
A practical decision checklist
| Situation | Best next action |
|---|---|
| Water is rising or an evacuation order is active | Leave as directed; never walk, swim, or drive through floodwater. |
| You are trapped in a building | Move to the highest accessible level; avoid a closed attic and call for help. |
| You are trapped in a vehicle with rising water | Stay inside and move to the roof if water enters and continues rising, following responder instructions. |
| Officials have not cleared reentry | Stay out and avoid unnecessary travel. |
| Reentry is cleared but power or wiring is wet | Do not touch equipment; arrange a safe shutoff and qualified inspection. |
| Damage is visible and the area is safe | Photograph, inventory, preserve records, and contact the flood insurer. |
| Cleanup involves mold, sewage, or major structural damage | Use protective equipment and obtain site-specific professional or public-health guidance. |
| You need financial help beyond insurance | Register with FEMA if applicable and verify program eligibility and deadlines. |
What to remember
The correct order is life safety, official clearance, hazard control, documentation, insurance notification, and then cleanup. Floodwater is never made safe by boots or caution alone. Preserve evidence without putting yourself at risk, treat every reimbursement figure as conditional until your policy or program confirms it, and use local officials for decisions about reentry, drinking water, electricity, and contaminated materials.
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