Cleaning Up Your Home After A Flood

New Hampshire residents whose homes were damaged by last weekend’s flooding face many tasks as they return to assess the clean-up. More rain is hampering these efforts and may create even more adverse conditions that could lead to additional flooding.

As homeowners prepare to go back into their flood-damaged homes, remember that going back home can be dangerous, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, “Because flooding can cause structural, electrical and other hazards. Physical dangers are not necessarily over after the water goes down. Hazards are not always obvious. They can be potentially life-threatening if precautions are not taken.”

So where do residents start? Concerns focus on cleaning up the mud and debris, financial worries, determining what can be salvaged and working towards making the home habitable again.

UNH Cooperative Extension has a wealth of material to help residents in the storm-ravaged areas of New Hampshire. Cleaning and disinfecting your home is a top priority, along with how to clean soaked bedding, what to do with all the foodstuffs left behind and how to eradicate any growing mildew.

In some cases, the first 48 hours are crucial to saving family heirlooms, photographs and books. On top of it all is the stress of coping with what appears to be a monumental task of returning home.

UNH Cooperative Extension’s Cheshire County office, where the most severe damaged occurred, has additional information available on a variety of topics. The office can be reached by calling 603-352-4550.


If you have additional questions, please contact any of the 10 local Extension offices in each county.