Flood Recovery Steps

Is it safe to go back onto the property?

Wait for local officials to say it is safe to return, and assume floodwater is contaminated with sewage, fuel and chemicals. Hidden hazards include weakened ground, submerged debris, snakes and other displaced wildlife, and damaged electrical systems.

Do not enter a building with standing water if the power may be on. Have the utility or a licensed electrician confirm service is off or safe before you touch panels, outlets or well equipment.

It helps to make a short list before you step outside: what needs to be shut off, what needs to be moved, and who needs to be called. People often make poor decisions when they are tired and overwhelmed, and a written list slows you down in a useful way. Take breaks, drink clean water and eat something, since recovery is a long job.

• Wear waterproof boots and gloves and wash well afterward
• Work in pairs and keep a charged phone with you
• Skip the chainsaw on leaning trees and call a qualified crew

What do I do about my well and drinking water?

A flooded well can carry bacteria and other contaminants. Do not drink the water, cook with it or give it to animals until it has been tested and cleared by qualified people.

Your county health department or state agency can tell you how to disinfect a well and where to send a sample. Rules and lab procedures differ by state, so ask them directly what they require.

• Use bottled or otherwise treated water in the meantime
• Keep well and septic equipment off until professionals inspect it
• Ask about testing again after any cleanup

How do I care for animals after a flood?

Move animals to the highest, driest and cleanest ground you have, and look them over for cuts, limping, coughing or diarrhea. Floodwater exposure raises the risk of wounds and illness, so your veterinarian should hear about anything unusual.

Clear fence lines of debris before turning animals out, because wire and posts are often damaged where you cannot see it. Livestock that wander after a flood can be hit by vehicles or end up on a neighbor's land.

Hooves and feet need attention too. Standing in wet mud for days can lead to foot problems in livestock, and wet bedding in a coop or barn invites respiratory and skin trouble. Replace wet bedding promptly, give animals a dry place to lie down, and ask your veterinarian what to watch for in the coming weeks.

• Offer clean feed and water only
• Throw out hay and grain that got wet
• Ask your state veterinarian or extension office about reporting and carcass handling rules

Can I eat what was in the garden?

Extension food safety guidance treats produce that touched floodwater as unsafe for fresh eating. Crops that grow above the soil and were in the water, such as leafy greens, tomatoes and berries, are generally to be discarded, and root crops usually need an expert opinion.

Plan on waiting before you plant again, and ask your extension office how long and what to test for in your area. Canning or freezing floodwater-touched produce does not make it safe. Anything preserved from the garden should follow current tested guidance from the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

Think about stored items as well. Seed, potting mix, compost and soil amendments that sat in floodwater may carry contamination. Dispose of what you cannot clean, and ask your extension office how to handle compost piles that were submerged, since the answer depends on what was in the water and how the pile was used.

• Wash hands and tools after garden cleanup
• Keep kids and pets out of the wet garden
• Have the soil tested before you replant

What should I document and who should I call?

Photograph damage before you move or discard anything, and keep receipts for cleanup and repairs. Notes on fence length, lost feed and damaged buildings will help when you talk to your insurer.

Disaster aid for farms exists in some situations, and it has deadlines and eligibility rules. Contact your local Farm Service Agency office and ask what applies to a small operation.

If there are many repairs to schedule, make a simple sequence: safety hazards first, then water and animal shelter, then fences, then buildings and equipment, and finally garden and cosmetic work. Contractors are often booked up after a regional flood, so get on lists early and ask for written estimates.

• Make a dated list of losses with photos
• Call your county emergency management office for local guidance
• Ask your insurer what they need before you start major repairs

How do I rebuild without repeating the damage?

Once you are safe and stable, look at where water entered and how it moved. Soil, fence and building choices that slow runoff and keep feed and equipment on higher ground pay off in the next storm.

NRCS offices can talk with you about drainage, erosion and conservation planning at no obligation, and your county zoning or floodplain office can explain what rules apply before you rebuild.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Homestead & Small Farm Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.