Central Ohio has been battered by heavy rain over the past several weeks. When the ground becomes this saturated, even basements that have never flooded before may begin to leak or flood.

Cleaning up a flooded basement can be dangerous. If your basement has flooded during this season of relentless rainfall, it's important to follow several key steps to protect yourself and your family.

Safety First: Shut off The Power & Appliances

Even a small amount of water in the basement can pose a risk of electric shock. It's typically best to wait until the water recedes before attempting to clean up the basement. In an emergency scenario, shut off the main power breaker before walking in a flooded basement. 

If you smell a gas odor, do not touch any electric appliances or switches to avoid igniting the gas. Evacuate the home immediately and call the fire department and local gas company a safe distance away from the home. 

If your furnace or appliances became wet due to the flood, call a qualified service technician to inspect them before use. Be sure to replace your furnace filter with a clean, dry filter as well. 

Cleaning Up a Flooded Basement

Flood water may be contaminated with sewage. Be sure to wear proper protective clothing when cleaning up a flooded basement. This includes tall rubber boots, gloves, long sleeves, and pants. Keep pets and children away from the flooded area.

Toss any food that became wet. If your home lost power, discard food from the refrigerator that was not refrigerated for 6 hours or more, and frozen foods that thawed for more than 4 hours. Clean dishes and jars with a disinfectant solution and wash in the dishwasher if possible. discard any medicine and personal hygiene products that came into contact with floodwater as well. 

To clean up the walls and floors, wash them down with clean water, then warm, soapy water. Disinfect areas and equipment that were underwater with a solution of 8 tablespoons of liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Never mix ammonia with bleach! Allow everything to air dry. Open doors and windows and turn on the furnace or air conditioner (when safe to use), fans, and dehumidifiers to speed up the drying process. 

Machine-washable fabric items can generally be washed after being flooded. If you're not sure if an item can be washed, it's best to discard it. Drywall and wood in a finished basement should be discarded to avoid mold growth. Some wood paneling may be salvageable if it is cleaned and dried properly.

Information source: The City of Columbus, What to Do if Your Basement Floods

Preventing Floods in the Future

Cleaning up a flooded basement is never fun, but it's a critical step to prevent mold growth and protect you and your family's health. The only thing worse than cleaning up a flooded basement is having to clean it up again the next time heavy rains cause it to flood. 

Mid-State Basement Systems can provide a long-term solution to prevent your basement from flooding in the future. Depending on the conditions of your basement, this typically includes a waterproofing system, sump pump, and dehumidifier.

When you're ready to explore your options for a basement waterproofing solution, you can count on us to be there to help!