Environmental Health Center

California Flood Recovery Scripts

This is an Environminute Disaster Advisory from the National Safety Council and the Governors Office of Emergency Services.

Removing silt and helping your home "breathe" are keys to a good cleanup and a good dry-out. The Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration says if stormwater is draining and leaving silt behind, pressure wash the inside of your home. Since your home is already wet, you will not add to the problem by pressure washing the inside of the house right now. So, go ahead and try that on cabinets and baseboards. And then concentrate on the dry-out. One thing that will help tremendously to speed drying is to remove all the little coves and baseboards. That will help get a little more air circulating behind the walls and into the insulation of your home. And, throw out wall-to-wall carpet that's been under stormwater.

This Environminute Disaster Advisory was brought to you by the Teresa and H. John Heinz III Foundation.

For information on floods and indoor air issues, visit our Flood Waters Fact Sheet.

For more information on the Flood Recovery Radio PSAs, e-mail hochc@nsc.org.