Flood Damage Cleanup

Flood cleanup is a different job from a plumbing loss, even when the same room is wet. Water that crossed ground carries soil, silt, fertilizer, road residue and whatever else was on the surface it crossed, and that makes it contaminated water under every restoration standard. Material that cannot be cleaned has to come out rather than dry in place.

Oregon knows this pattern well. Atmospheric rivers push tropical moisture into the Pacific Northwest and can drop several inches of rain in a day, sending small creeks over their banks and overwhelming storm drainage in Portland, Salem, Eugene and the coastal communities. Snowmelt in the Cascades and Coast Range can do the same thing in spring. When the water recedes, it typically leaves a layer of silt that dries into a hard crust and keeps moisture pressed against framing, drywall and flooring.

Cleanup therefore happens in a sequence that many homeowners get backwards. Mud and debris come out first, before drying equipment goes in, because a fan blowing across wet silt is a fan blowing contamination around the room. Surfaces that stay are washed and disinfected. Only after that does drying begin, and only after drying does repair become worthwhile.

Contents recovered from a flooded area are assessed one at a time. Solid, non-porous items can usually be cleaned and disinfected. Porous items that absorbed contaminated water, such as upholstered furniture, mattresses and cardboard, are typically a loss, and removing them early avoids the smell and mold that follow.

What Flood Damage Cleanup Covers

• Pumping and removal of floodwater from lower levels and crawl spaces
• Mud, silt and debris removal before drying begins
• Removal of unsalvageable porous materials exposed to contaminated water
• Washing, disinfecting and deodorizing of surfaces that remain
• Structural drying once the space is clean
• Documentation for flood claims, including photographs and moisture records

Warning Signs to Watch For

• A visible high-water line on siding, drywall or foundation walls
• Silt or grit left across floors after water receded
• A crawl space that stayed wet after nearby creeks or drains overflowed
• Storm drains or gutters backing up into a yard or garage
• Siding and sheathing that has begun to swell or delaminate
• Persistent damp odor after outdoor flooding, especially near vents

How the Work Is Done

1. 1

   Assess and document

   Water level, contamination extent and structural damage are recorded with photographs before anything is moved, which is what a flood claim rests on.

2. 2

   Pump out remaining water

   Standing water is pumped from the lowest areas, and the source of ongoing entry is identified so water is not reintroduced during the job.

3. 3

   Remove mud, silt and debris

   Flood-deposited soil is shoveled and vacuumed out, and porous materials that absorbed contaminated water are removed and disposed of.

4. 4

   Clean and disinfect

   Remaining surfaces are washed, then treated with antimicrobial products. Odor treatment follows, since contaminated water leaves a persistent smell in structure.

5. 5

   Dry, verify and repair

   Structural drying runs with daily readings until a dry standard is reached. Repairs, from drywall to siding, come last.

When to Call Immediately

Call as soon as the water begins to recede, and treat any structure that was flooded as unsafe until it has been checked. Floodwater can undermine floors, hide electrical hazards and leave surfaces slick with contamination.

Call before you throw anything away. Documentation matters for a flood claim, and photographs of each affected room, taken before material is removed, are what support it. Documents, electronics and valuables should be photographed where they sit.

Call if the outdoor flooding was accompanied by a sewage backup or if the water sat for more than a day. Both change the cleanup standard, and both make mold growth far more likely within the first few days.

Flood Damage Cleanup Across Oregon

Independent providers in our network work these communities every day. Start with a call and describe where you are.

Frequently Asked Questions