Flood Response
- After a Flood
- Flood Insurance
- Recover and Rebuild
- Preparing for Future Floods
- Flood-Related Best Practices
In response to the recent and expected Midwest floods, FEMA has compiled a short list of resources to assist with recovery as well as mitigation efforts. Click here for more about Spring Flooding.
FEMA officials encourage residents to continue monitoring weather reports and remain cautious. In addition, residents should:
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Heed all local warnings. Listen to news and directions from their local and state officials. If told to evacuate, do so.
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Have a family disaster plan. Identify evacuation routes and a site away from the disaster area where family members can meet.
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Even if you haven't been affected by past flooding, you still need to be prepared.
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Disaster officials suggest having "go kits," that include a battery-powered radio, nonperishable food, bottled water, a flashlight with extra batteries and essential prescription medicine.
View the FloodSmart Midwest Flood Fact Sheet (PDF 98KB, TXT 8KB)
Sign up to receive Updates During Disasters e-mail updates
After a Flood
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After a Flood: The First Steps. L-198
Tips for staying healthy, cleaning up and repairing, and getting help after a flood.
I have water in my basement. How should I pump it out?
Residents with basements flooded by the recent storms are urged to use caution when pumping them out. Draining the water too fast could cause the collapse of the cellar walls, floors, and foundation. The water must be drained slowly to equalize pressure on both sides of the wall.
Officials recommend the following procedures be followed when pumping basements to avoid serious damage, collapse, or injury to occupants:
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Begin pumping when floodwaters are no longer covering the ground outside.
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Pump out one foot of water. Mark the water level and wait overnight.
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Check the water level the next day. If the level went back up (covered your mark) it is still too early to drain your basement.
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Wait 24 hours, and then pump the water down one foot again. Check the level the next day.
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When the water in the basement stops returning to your mark, pump out two to three feet and wait overnight.
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Repeat daily until all the water is out of the basement.
What can I do about mold?
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have additional facts sheets available on mold clean up and remediation as well as other resources.
Flood Insurance
How do I file an insurance claim?
What is the National Flood Insurance Program?
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FloodSmart.gov: The official site of the National Flood Insurance Program
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Summary of Coverage (English and Spanish)
Recover and Rebuild
How do I begin rebuilding?
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Repairing Your Flooded Home (FEMA 234)
FEMA and the American Red Cross prepared this step-by-step guide to repairing your home and how to get help after a flood disaster.
IRS Assistance
- This page contains links to Iowa, Indiana and Wisconsin news releases on the Midwest floods.
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Around the Nation
This page has news releases specific to each State.
How can my family heirlooms and other valuables be restored?
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The American Institute for Conservation (AIC) has additional information on conserving and caring for your personal valuables.
Preparing for Future Floods
What can be done to prepare for future flood events?
- Hazard Map Resources
- FEMA Map Service Center
- Information and Guidance on Building Safer
Safer building design, construction, engineering and floodproofing guidance for architects, builders, design professionals, engineers, home installers, surveyors and state and local officials.
How Does Mitigation Help?
Mitigation is the effort to reduce the loss of life and property by lessening the impact of disasters. A recent study by the Multihazard Mitigation Council shows that each dollar spent on mitigation saves an average of four dollars. FEMA’s Mitigation Directorate implements numerous Congressionally-authorized programs that address the effects of natural hazards through mitigation activities.
- What is Mitigation?
- Mitigation's Value to Society Fact Sheet
- HAZUS: FEMA’s Software Program for Estimating Potential Losses from Disasters
- Obtain hazard-specific documents on the FEMA Library
What kind of Federal Financial Assistance is there?
- Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program
- Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)
- HMGP Fact Sheet
- Fact sheets on Additional Mitigation Programs and Activities
- Index of FEMA Grants and Assistance Programs
Flood-Related Best Practices
Communities all across the U.S. that have experienced flooding disasters have documented their recovery efforts and success to share with others in the form of best practices. Here is a sampling of these best practices related to flood recovery and flood insurance. Click here to search for additional best practices.
Flood Insurance related Best Practices
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Adobe Acrobat (PDF)Last Modified: Tuesday, 14-Apr-2009 11:09:26 EDT