CDC offers tips for returning to a flooded home

As the waters recede, those displaced by the flood are returning home, ready to assess the damage and begin the cleaning process. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention offers a number of suggestions for how to keep your home and family safe from contaminants that the flood may have left behind:

• Keep children and pets out of the affected area until cleanup has been completed.
• Wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, and goggles during cleanup of affected area.
• Remove and discard items that cannot be washed and disinfected.
• Remove and discard drywall and insulation that has been contaminated with sewage or flood waters.
• Thoroughly clean all hard surfaces with hot water and laundry or dish detergent.

nHelp the drying process by using fans, air conditioning units, and dehumidifiers.

• After completing the cleanup, wash your hands with soap and warm water. Use water that has been boiled for 1 minute (allow the water to cool before washing your hands).
• Wash all clothes worn during the cleanup in hot water and detergent. These clothes should be washed separately from uncontaminated clothes and linens.
• Wash clothes contaminated with flood or sewage water in hot water and detergent. It is recommended that a laundromat be used for washing large quantities of clothes and linens until your onsite waste-water system has been professionally inspected and serviced.
• Seek immediate medical attention if you become injured or ill.
• Have your onsite waste-water system professionally inspected and serviced if you suspect damage.

Source: http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/cleanupwater.asp