Key facts: Is it safe to stay
- Sewage needs thorough cleaning to protect people, especially small children, according to Washington's Department of Health.
- The EPA says people with asthma or weak immune systems ought to avoid both moldy sites and flood cleanup.
- Never turn on wet electrical appliances, state health guidance warns.
- Not having a working toilet or clean water can decide this question on its own.
Decision table
A quick way to think it through
| Situation | Usually | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Small clean leak, one room, power fine | Stay | The rest of the house remains usable |
| Drying equipment running in one area | Usually stay | Noise and warmth are annoying, not dangerous |
| Water near panel or wiring | Leave until checked | Risk of shock or fire |
| Sagging ceilings or soft floors | Avoid that area, and maybe leave | Collapse risk |
| Sewage on the main living level | Usually leave | Contamination and no plumbing |
| Floodwater inside the home | Usually leave | Contaminants, power and structural concerns |
| Mold in a large area or a smell that makes you ill | Consider leaving | Especially if someone is sensitive |
| No working toilet or clean water | Plan to leave | Basic needs are not met |
Deciding
The four questions that decide it
The first question is electricity. If water has reached the panel, wiring or outlets, and you cannot isolate those circuits safely, the home is not safe until someone qualified has looked at it. The same goes for gas. If you smell it, leave and call the utility or 911 from outside.
The second question is contamination. Clean water from a supply line is not usually a health hazard in itself at the start, whereas sewage and floodwater are. Washington's health department stresses keeping children and pets away from sewage until cleanup has been done, and a whole-floor spill can make that impossible in a small home.
The third is how sound the building is. Sagging ceilings, sloping or soft floors, and door frames that have suddenly moved are signs to take seriously. Stay away from those places until they have been inspected.
The fourth is whether the place still works for daily life. A home with no working toilet, no safe water, no heat in January or no quiet place to sleep may be technically safe but impossible to live in for very long. That is an acceptable reason to leave in its own right.
Equipment is noisy but not usually a reason to leave
Who is at risk
People who should be more careful
The EPA singles out several of these groups around flood cleanup and moldy sites, and the rest are common sense.
- Babies and small childrenThey crawl on floors and put things in their mouths. The EPA says children should not do flood cleanup.
- Older adultsTrip hazards from cords and hoses, along with cold or damp rooms, can be bigger concerns.
- People with asthmaThe EPA says they ought to avoid moldy sites and flood cleanup.
- People with weak immune systemsThe EPA gives them the same advice. Let the contractor know early.
- Pregnant peopleThe EPA says they ought to leave flood cleanup to others.
- PetsKeep them away from contaminated areas, hoses and drying equipment.
Air quality
Air quality during the work
Demolition and drying can stir up dust, mold spores and other particles. If the area is contaminated or if mold is present, ask how it will be contained: plastic sheeting over doorways, filtered air machines and keeping the home's forced-air system off, for example. Do not run a furnace or air handler if its ducts took on water until someone has looked at them, since it can spread what is in them through the house.
If you stay, keep closed off the rooms where work is under way, and use a separate entrance if you can. Tell the contractor if someone in the house develops headaches or breathing symptoms, and speak to a doctor. Generators and gasoline pumps must stay outdoors because of carbon monoxide, and working carbon monoxide alarms are worth checking any time such equipment is nearby.
Leaving
If you decide to leave, even for a night
- 1
Make the home safe
Close the water main and turn off the circuits you can safely reach.
- 2
Take what you need
Medicines, documents, chargers and enough clothes for a few days.
- 3
Tell your insurer
Ask if your policy has additional living expense coverage, and keep your receipts.
- 4
Secure the house
Lock up, and check what access the contractor needs.
- 5
Check back carefully
Return only after someone has said it is safe, and be careful of sagging ceilings.
- 6
Keep notes
Write down dates, times and who said what.
Where you stay
Insurance and where you stay
Many home policies include additional living expense or loss-of-use coverage when a covered loss makes a home unfit to live in. Whether yours applies depends on the policy and on what caused the damage. Flood policies have their own limits, and the National Flood Insurance Program's standard policies are different from home policies on many points. The state Insurance Commissioner's site is a good place to start, as is your own agent. Ask early, and keep your receipts. Do not assume that either a yes or a no applies to you until you have asked.
Local concerns
Local things to think about in Lake Stevens
In winter, leaving a house unheated can create a second problem. Pipes might freeze during a cold spell, and cold slows drying. If you leave, ask if the heat can stay on. If the lake or the outlet channel is high, check your route out in advance, since Hartford Drive has been overtopped in the past. If your home is on septic and the ground is saturated, you may not be able to use your plumbing normally, and that alone may be a reason to stay somewhere else.
When you call
What to tell the contractor about the household
- Who is at home, and whether anyone has health concerns.
- Whether you plan to stay during the work.
- Pets, and whether they can be kept away from the work area.
- Whether you still have a working bathroom and safe water.
- Whether there is any electrical or gas concern you have noticed.
FAQ
Questions about staying at home during water damage
Can I sleep in a house with air movers running?
Usually yes, if the work area is separate and there is no contamination. They are loud, and the room may be warm. Ask whether anything can be adjusted at night, without leaving the drying plan short.
Can I stay home with a baby during water damage work?
For a small clean leak, possibly. With sewage, floodwater or mold, it is safer to stay elsewhere until the cleanup is finished. Babies spend time on the floor and are at greater risk. Speak with your pediatrician if you are unsure.
Is it safe to use the bathroom during a backup?
No, not until the line has been cleared. Using the plumbing can add to the overflow, so stop all water use. If you cannot use the toilet or wash safely, plan to stay somewhere else for now.
Will my insurance pay for a hotel?
Some policies pay additional living expenses after a covered loss, but it depends on your coverage and the cause. Ask your insurer before you book anything, if you can, and hold on to all your receipts.
Is a musty smell a reason to leave the house?
A mild smell alone usually is not, but it means moisture needs looking into. If it is strong, or someone has symptoms, or you know mold is widespread, consider leaving and talk to a doctor. Fix the moisture either way.
When is it safe to go back after a flood?
When authorities say that the area is safe, the electrics and gas have been checked, and the structure looks sound. Wear gloves and boots when you return and stay out of any rooms with standing water until the power is confirmed off.
Sources and citations
- [1]Sewage spills: cleaning them up (Washington State Department of Health)
- [2]Flood cleanup (Washington State Department of Health)
- [3]Floods: cleaning a basement (Washington State Department of Health)
- [4]Mold (Washington State Department of Health)
- [5]Flood cleanup to protect indoor air and your health (US EPA)
- [6]A brief guide to mold, moisture and your home (US EPA)
- [7]Flood insurance (Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner)
