Hurricanes bring wind and water often in the shape of floodwaters that overtake homes and damage property. It's critical to remove, dry or replace wet building materials immediately.  

Below is a simple checklist to help you get started on assessing damage in your home after the flood and begin taking charge of the cleanup.  

• Check for building stability before entry - sticking doors at the top may indicate a ceiling at risk of collapse. 

• Take pictures of damage throughout the building and around the property. Assess stability of plaster and drywall - any bulging or swelling ceilings indicate damage that should be removed. Press upward on drywall ceilings. If nail heads appear, drywall will need to be re-nailed but can be saved. 

• Clean and disinfect hot air, air conditioning and ventilation ducts before use to avoid spread of airborne germs and mold spores. 

• Check appliance wires for missing or disintegrated wire insulation. 

• Ground all appliances with a three-pronged plugs. 

• Dry and oil all appliance motors. 

• Two weeks after flood water subsides, drain wells, sanitize well and water lines and test water. 

• Check foundation for any loose or missing blocks, bricks, stones or mortar. 

• Empty basement water 1/3 per day to avoid structural damage to foundation by rapid pressure change. 

• Test water before using. 

• Remove wet drywall and insulation well above the high water mark.

• Clean, disinfect and dry all wall cavities that came into contact with floodwater. 

• Use fans and sunlight to dry out interior spaces. 

• Remove all wet carpets, curtains and fabrics. Allow to air dry completely. 

• Wash and disinfect all surfaces, including cupboard interiors, with a solution of 1/2 cup bleach to 2 gallons of water. 

• Clean and disinfect concrete surfaces using a mixture of TSP (trisodium phosphate) and water. Mix according to manufacturer's directions and apply to entire surface. 

• Control standing water and mosquitoes by applying a larvae control product to standing water or a film of vegetable oil to the surface. 

• Wash down and disinfect all doors.

• To avoid warping, dry all wood doors by removing from hinges, laying flat with wood shims between and allowing to air dry completely.

• Remove all knobs and hardware first and disinfect. 

• Clean and disinfect windows, sills and tracks. 

• Remove sliding doors and windows before cleaning and disinfecting the sliders and the tracks. 

• Remove wallpaper and coverings that came into contact with floodwaters.

• Don't repaint or repair until drying is complete and humidity levels in the home have dropped.