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Flooded House in Louisiana: First Steps After the Water Recedes

When floodwater finally recedes, the house it leaves behind can look deceptively manageable. The water is gone from the floor, the rooms are accessible again, and the urge to start cleaning up right away is strong. But a house that has been flooded is not safe just because the water has left. The structure is soaked, the water that was in it was not clean, and there may be hazards you cannot see: weakened floors, contaminated surfaces, damaged wiring and gas lines.

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This guide covers the first steps after the water recedes, in order: safety first, documenting the damage in general terms, and calling a professional. It applies to homes in Baton Rouge and Shreveport as much as anywhere else in Louisiana. The flood damage cleanup page explains the professional cleanup sequence in general terms.

Safety first: floodwater is not safe water

Floodwater is not safe water. It may carry sewage, chemicals, fuel and debris, and everything it touched is contaminated until it has been properly cleaned. Do not assume a room is safe because the water has gone. Floors may be weakened, walls may be holding water, and electrical fittings that were submerged may still be dangerous. Do not enter a flooded building while water is still inside it, and do not return to a flooded house until you have been told it is safe to do so by the relevant authorities or a professional.

Before entering, check the outside of the house from a safe distance: look for structural damage, a shifted foundation, a sagging roofline, or gas and electrical damage. If you smell gas, leave the area and call 911 first, then the gas utility. Do not switch lights on or off, do not touch the breaker panel if it is wet, and do not use any electrical appliance in a house that has been flooded until a professional has checked the electrics. If the house has been evacuated, follow the instructions of the authorities about when it is safe to return.

Do not enter a flooded building

The rule bears repeating because it is the one people are most tempted to break. A flooded building can hide hazards that are not visible from the doorway: a floor that has weakened under the weight of the water, a ceiling that is holding water, a submerged object, or a live electrical fitting. Water that looks shallow can still be dangerous, and a building that looks sound from the outside can be damaged inside. Wait until the water has receded and the building has been checked before going in, and go in with someone else, not alone.

When you do enter, wear sturdy shoes and gloves, and avoid touching your face. Keep children and pets out of the house until it has been cleaned and dried. Open doors and windows to let air move through, if it is safe to do so, and take photographs of every room before you move anything. The photographs are your record of what the flood did, and they are far easier to take before the cleanup begins than after it. The water damage restoration page describes what a professional visit generally covers once the house is accessible.

Flooded House in Louisiana: First Steps After the Water Recedes — Louisiana water damage guide

Document damage in general terms for insurance

Document everything you can see, in general terms, before anything is moved or thrown away. Photograph each room from several angles, the water line on the walls, damaged furniture and belongings, and any structural damage you can see. Note the date and the time, and write a short list of the rooms affected and the items damaged. Keep damaged items where they can be inspected, unless a professional tells you to discard something that is a clear health hazard, such as sewage-soaked material.

Keep your notes and photographs together, along with any receipts you have for valuable items and any home inventory you keep. This record is useful when you speak to your insurer, and it helps the restoration professional understand what happened. General guidance only: coverage itself is a matter between you and your insurer, and no one can promise what a policy will cover. What you can do is make the record clear, complete and taken early, while the evidence is still there to photograph.

Call a professional

Call a flood damage restoration professional once the house is accessible and safe to enter. Describe what happened in plain terms: how high the water reached, which rooms were affected, how long the water was in the house, and what you can see now that it has receded. A professional visit generally starts with an inspection, then removal of any remaining water, then drying, cleaning and repair. Floodwater is treated as contaminated water, so the cleanup is professional-only work, and the sequence is shaped by what the inspection finds.

While you wait, keep the house ventilated if it is safe to do so, keep everyone out of rooms that are still wet or damaged, and do not throw things away before they have been photographed. For homes in Lafayette and Lake Charles, as across Louisiana, the first steps after the water recedes are the same: safety first, do not enter until it is safe, document what you see, and call a professional. The house can be dried and repaired, but only in the right order, and only once it is safe to work in.

Ventilation and drying while you wait

While you wait for help after a flood, ventilation can help, if it is safe to do so. Open doors and windows to let air move through the house, provided the weather has cleared and the house is safe to enter. Air movement helps the surfaces begin to dry, and it helps clear the damp smell that hangs in a flooded house. Do not use fans, heaters or any electrical equipment in a room with standing water, and do not switch anything on or off in a wet room. If the house has no power, or the electrics have been affected, leave the equipment alone entirely.

Do not try to dry the house yourself with household equipment, and do not assume the house is drying because the air feels fresher. The moisture inside the structure is still there, and it needs the professional drying process to remove it. For homes in Shreveport and Lafayette, the structural drying and dehumidification page explains the drying step in general terms, and ventilation while you wait is the most you should do until the professional arrives and the drying begins properly.

Key Takeaways

Floodwater is not safe water.
The rule bears repeating because it is the one people are most tempted to break.
Document everything you can see, in general terms, before anything is moved or thrown away.
Call a flood damage restoration professional once the house is accessible and safe to enter.
While you wait for help after a flood, ventilation can help, if it is safe to do so.

Questions About Flooded House in Louisiana: First Steps After the Water Recedes

Is it safe to go back into my house after floodwater recedes?

Not until it is safe to do so. Do not enter a flooded building while water is still inside it, and follow the instructions of the authorities about when to return. Floors may be weakened, walls may hold water, and submerged electrical fittings may still be dangerous.

What should I photograph after a flood?

Photograph every room from several angles, the water line on the walls, damaged furniture and belongings, and any structural damage you can see. Take the photographs before you move anything, and note the date and time.

Should I throw away flood-damaged items straight away?

No. Keep damaged items where they can be inspected, and photograph them first. Only discard something if a professional tells you it is a clear health hazard, such as sewage-soaked material. Your insurer and the restoration professional need to see what was damaged.

Is floodwater safe to touch once it has receded?

No. Floodwater may carry sewage, chemicals and debris, and everything it touched stays contaminated until it has been properly cleaned. Wear sturdy shoes and gloves, avoid touching your face, and keep children and pets out until the house has been cleaned and dried.

Your Next Step

If this guide matches what you found at home, the next step is a visit — not a guess. Call and describe what you found, and the visit is arranged from what you describe. The Emergency Water Removal page explains what that service covers, and the water damage restoration page explains how the full sequence works when water has reached more than one room.

Do not enter flooded rooms while you wait, and if water is leaking, turn off the shut-off valve for that fixture where you can reach it safely from dry ground.

Keep the guides on this site bookmarked: the first guide, the signs guide, and the preparation guide cover the checks worth repeating — after moving in, and after bringing used fixtures home.

Water damage help is available across Louisiana. See water damage restoration in East Houma, Houma, LA for one local example, or find your town on the service areas page.