Health and safety tips for flooded properties /Flood recovery resources - King County, Washington

Flood recovery resources - King County, Washington

Heavy rainfall and flooding in King County have caused sewage overflows in many areas, and in flooded buildings mold can quickly set in.

Before you set foot in a flooded building, take these steps to protect yourself from electrocution, mold, and potential exposure to contaminants.

Entering a building or home that has been flooded

• If there is still standing water, turn off power, gas, and water before re-entering (do NOT touch electrical equipment while touching water- call your utility for an emergency disconnect). Find instructions on turning off utilities here.

• Avoid touching flood water directly.

• After touching anything that flood water has also touched, and wash your hands and clothes with plenty of soap and clean running water.

• Wear an N95 mask, gloves, goggles, and protective gear when cleaning.

• Mold can grow within 24-48 hours after a flood. Open windows and doors and pump out water after flood waters recede.

Dealing with flooded septic or private water systems

• Flooded private water system or well? Only use bottled, boiled (rolling boil for 1 minute), or treated water, including for washing hands, bathing, and brushing your teeth. Find more information on floods and private water systems here.

• Flooded septic system? Don’t use your septic system during a flood and disinfect it after the flood. After flooding subsides, call a maintainer to check that the flooding did not damage your septic system. Go here for a list of maintainers. Find more information on floods and septic systems from the Washington State Department of Health.

Keep your family safe from getting sick from floodwater

• Eating or drinking anything contaminated by floodwater can make you sick, causing fever, headache, body aches, nausea, stomach cramps, and diarrhea.

• Talk to a healthcare provider if you have any of the following:

  • Diarrhea that lasts for more than 3 days

  • Diarrhea along with a fever higher than 102˚F/38.9˚C

  • Bloody diarrhea

  • So much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down and you pass very little urine

• Don’t eat or drink anything that might have been contaminated by flood water, including fruit or vegetables from gardens.

• Do not allow children or pets to play in floodwater areas, or with toys that have been contaminated by floodwater and have not been disinfected.

• Avoid touching ALL surface water during a major flood event, as sewage can impact lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, and even Puget Sound.

Resources & Links

Q&A: Protect your health after a flood

Flooded Homes – What Can I Keep?

Garden safety after a flood

8 Tips to Clean Mold | Mold | CDC (available in 12 languages)

More flooding recovery information in Spanish, Vietnamese, Khmer, and English: kingcounty.gov/floodrecovery

Flooding updates and resources and other emergency news in King County: King County Emergency News

Flood recovery resources

After a flood, there are many health and safety risks to know about when returning home. Anything touched by floodwater may be contaminated, mold develops after 24-48 hours, and flood damage might expose lead and asbestos. Print and share these resources to help keep you, your family, and your community safe after a flood.