Recovering Together: Safety and Cleanup After the King Salmon Flooding
Do not return to your home until it is safe to do so under the direction of Local authorities and aid organizations
Returning home after a flood can be distressing and complicated, this guide will help keep you and your family safe.
Recovering Together: Safety and Cleanup After the King Salmon Flooding
The recent historic flooding in our King Salmon community has been devastating, and as the water recedes, the urge to get home and start cleaning is strong. However, cleaning after a flood is very different from normal housework. To keep your family and neighbors safe, please follow these vital recovery steps.
1. Safety First: Before You Enter
Your safety is the priority. Do not return home until local authorities say it is safe to do so.
Check the Structure: If you see standing water against the outside walls, do not enter; wait until you are sure the roof and walls are stable.
Utility Hazards: Never enter your home until you are certain the electricity is turned off. Do not walk through standing water to reach a power switch; call your utility company for help.
Fire Safety: Use flashlights to inspect the building rather than lighters or matches, as gas may be present.
Wildlife: Floodwaters can drive wild animals or lost pets into buildings. Do not try to trap them yourself—call Animal Control. If you are bitten by a snake, call 9-1-1 immediately.
2. Document Everything
Before you touch a single item, take pictures and videos. Make a detailed list of all damage to the building and your belongings for insurance purposes and to register your flood damage.
3. The Race Against Mold
Mold grows incredibly quickly in damp environments. If you cannot dry your home and belongings within 24 to 48 hours, you must act as though you have mold
Protect Yourself: Always wear goggles, a mask, rubber gloves, and boots when handling mud or moldy items
Remove Water and Mud: Use a wet vac for standing water and shovel out mud before it dries
What to Keep vs. Toss: * Throw out anything that cannot be cleaned and dried within 48 hours.
Throw out porous items like baby toys, cosmetics, medicines, and food touched by floodwater.
Save items like photographs and books by freezing them; you can clean them later when you have more time.
Cleaning Hard Surfaces: Wash with soap and clean water, rinse, and then wipe with a bleach solution (1 cup unscented bleach to 1 gallon of water). Never mix bleach with ammonia.
Flood Cleanup & Stopping Mold
Cleaning after a flood is different from normal cleaning. Take steps to keep yourself and your family safe.
4. Protecting Your Health: Water and Food
Floodwater often contains "bad germs," sewage, and hazardous chemicals like pesticides or gas.
Water Safety: Assume tap water is unsafe until authorities tell you otherwise. If told to do so, boil water for at least one minute to kill germs.
Food Safety: Throw away any food touched by floodwater, except for undamaged metal cans or pouches, which can be disinfected. If the power was out for more than 6–8 hours, throw away all refrigerated or frozen food. When in doubt, throw it out!.
Carbon Monoxide Warning: Never use generators, pressure washers, or charcoal grills indoors. They create odorless, colorless carbon monoxide gas that can be fatal to people and pets.
5. Looking Out for the Vulnerable
Children: Do not let children play in floodwaters or help with cleanup.
Health Conditions: People with asthma, lung conditions, or weakened immune systems should not enter buildings where mold is visible or can be smelled.
Renters: If you rent and find mold, notify your landlord immediately—they are responsible for the cleanup. If they do not fix the problem, contact a city or county health inspector.