Doing it Yourself

Temporary weather barriers like roof, window, and door tarps need to be secured before cleaning up your home to prevent additional rain or other weather concerns from entering the home during the cleanup process. Check out this video on how to install temporary weather barriers.

You can also read more about OSHA’s guidance on:

• Portable Ladder Safety 
  (2 pp, 79K, About PDF), and
• Roof Tarping Safety  
  (2 pp, 632K, About PDF)

Use caution when removing standing water from your home. If the water is several feet deep, removing water too quickly may make the walls and floor crack and collapse, causing structural damage. Follow the guidance in this video to remove standing water, mud, and silt from your home.

For more information on flood claims for insurance and disaster assistance, visit FEMA's How Do I Start My Flood Claim?

This video will help you determine how to remove and clean drywall, plaster, and wood paneling.

Related Videos

• Lead-Based Paint Tips: Determine the hazards of lead-based paint before removing interior walls.
• What To Wear: Determine what mask you should wear while removing wall material.

This video will help you determine if/how to remove flooded flooring.

Additional videos:

• Asbestos Tips: Determine if your home may have asbestos-containing materials. 
• What To Wear: Determine what mask you should wear during floor cleanup and removal.

Before refinishing and replacing walls and flooring, everything in the home needs to be completely dry to prevent future mold growth and to prevent materials from losing their structural integrity. Use this video to determine if your home is dry and ready for rebuilding.