Home Recovery: What Comes Next

Drying Tips

• Continue the drying-out process. Lower the humidity by:
  • Opening the house, weather permitting. If conditions are more humid outside the structure, opening it up may draw moisture into the home.
  • Opening doors, cabinets, closets, and drawers (don't force them if they're swollen shut; open the back of dressers or similar furniture to air them out.).
  • Using fans. Don't use the central air or heat if the vents were underwater until they've been cleaned.
  • Running dehumidifiers.
  • Using desiccants where there is little air movement (chemical packs, clay cat litter, etc.).
• There are also contractors that specialize in water damage restoration.
• Be patient. Even after the surfaces appear dry, materials will not be dry all the way through. Beginning repairs, reassembly, or painting before the process is complete will not pay off.

Drying Ceiling, Walls & Floors

Below are some general techniques for systematically drying out the ceilings, walls and floors of your home. Specifics will depend on what material they're made of.

• Ceilings: Drain ceilings carefully. If wallboard ceilings were submerged by floodwater, it should be replaced. Unless there are too many sags and cracks, plaster ceilings will eventually dry out. Insulation should be removed to dry out joists.
• Walls: Generally, baseboards should be removed to check the walls for water. Walls of some materials may need to have drain holes drilled between each stud. If necessary, drill a few inches above the floor to check for water or allow it to drain freely from each wall cavity between the studs. Remove insulation.
  • Vinyl wall coverings retard the drying process and should be removed. Paneling should be pried away from the bottom of the wall to drain and dry out the walls beneath.
• Floors: Floor coverings need to be removed so that air can circulate above and below to dry them out. That includes vapor barriers, insulation, etc. in crawl spaces below. Be sure to reinstall them when floors and foundations are completely dry.

Types of Materials

• Concrete block walls drain on their own and water won't damage them.
• Wallboard. Water will wick up through wallboard, causing it to become soggy and fragile. Even after it dries, it is permanently contaminated from the inside out. Wallboard saturated by floodwater should be disposed of. 
• Plaster should not have to be replaced, but it takes a long time to dry out properly. If it separates from the wooden laths, the wall will have to be replaced.
• Insulation
  • Fiberglass batts must be removed.
  • Cellulose should be replaced. It can lose its antifungal and fire retardant properties.
  • Styrofoam holds up best. It may only need to be hosed off.
• Wood dries out naturally and generally retains its shape. Wood posts and studs should not need to be replaced, if they are thoroughly dried out. Plywood and laminates can separate when drying. Saturated hollow doors usually come apart after a flood.

Electrical and Mechanical Equipment

Electrical and mechanical equipment, cables and devices affected by the flood will require replacement unless specifically suited to be in wet locations. Certain items, such as panels, wiring, motors, etc., may be permitted to be cleaned, inspected and reused. Consult with the Building and Code Enforcement Division regarding which equipment and components may be reused.

Sorting the Contents

Building contents can generally be sorted into 3 categories: debris and garbage, discard items, and save items. Whether you save it or discard it, document it.

• Save: Move items that you want to save to a dry, safe location. The longer items remain in water, the more severely they will be damaged.
• Discard: Move unwanted items to be discarded outside to dry until inventoried and losses documented. Things such as wall-to-wall carpets, carpet backing and pads, mattresses, and upholstered furniture can't really be disinfected. Usually they should be disposed of.
• Garbage: Dispose of food that has thawed, was contaminated by floodwater, and/or anything that will spoil immediately. Seal it in plastic garbage bags or containers. Piles of garbage create a health hazard, so you'll want to dispose of them as soon as possible. Be sure to document losses and notify the adjustor that immediate disposal is necessary.

Restore Utilities

Electric services that were disconnected require an inspection by St. Charles County prior to reconnection.

Clean-Up Process

• Every flooded part of the house and its contents will need to be cleaned and disinfected, including walls, floors, studs, and sills.
• Take one room at a time.
• Using a two-bucket method works best: one with a cleaning solution and one for rinsing. Change out the rinse water frequently.