Water Extraction Guides · Emergency Response & Drying

What Not to Do After Flooding in Louisiana

After a flood, the mistakes people make are usually made with the best intentions. They rush in to save belongings, they switch things on to see whether they still work, they try to clean up water that should be left to a professional, and they assume a room is safe because it looks dry. Each of those mistakes can turn a bad situation into a dangerous one, and each one is avoidable once you know what to watch for.

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This guide covers the common mistakes after flooding, and the safer first steps to take instead. The flood water extraction service page covers the service, and homes in Alexandria and Houma face the same temptations after a flood as homes anywhere else in the state.

Do not enter floodwater

The most common mistake after a flood is entering the water. Floodwater is not safe water: it can carry sewage, chemicals, fuel, and debris, and it should be treated as Category 3 black water. Do not walk through it, do not touch it with bare hands, and do not let children or pets play in it. The water may look shallow and harmless, but what it carries is not visible, and contact with it should be avoided.

Do not enter a flooded building at all if the water is deep, still rising, or the structure looks damaged. A flooded house can hide structural damage that is not visible from the doorway, and a saturated ceiling or wall can be weaker than it looks. If the home looks unstable, stay out entirely and wait for a professional assessment.

Do not drive through flooded roads, and do not walk through floodwater outside either. Floodwater outside the home can hide debris, open drains, and live electrical hazards, and moving water can be far stronger than it looks. Wait until the water has gone down and the area has been judged safe.

Do not touch electrics near water

The second most common mistake is handling electrics in or near standing water. Do not touch outlets, switches, or appliances that have been in water, do not switch anything on to see whether it still works, and do not use a household vacuum on standing water. Electrical hazards in floodwater are not always visible, and a floor that looks safe can hide a live risk.

Do not reach for a power shutoff through standing water, and do not feel for a switch in the dark. If you can reach the main shutoff from a dry place and you are certain it is safe to do so, that is one option, but if there is any doubt, leave the power alone. The same rule applies to gas appliances: do not light anything, and if you smell gas, leave the property and call for help from outside.

Electronics that have been in floodwater should not be switched on, and they should be handled as part of the professional assessment rather than tested at home. An item that looks dry on the outside can still hold water inside, and switching it on can cause damage or injury.

What Not to Do After Flooding in Louisiana — Louisiana water guide

Do not try to clean up sewage or floodwater yourself

Sewage and floodwater are Category 3 black water, and cleaning them up is professional-only. Do not try to extract floodwater yourself, do not mop it up with household tools, and do not try to save carpet, rugs, or soft furnishings that have soaked in it. Keep everyone out of the affected area until it has been assessed, and let a professional handle the cleanup.

Do not drink floodwater, do not use it to wash, and do not eat food that has been in floodwater. Do not use floodwater to clean anything, and do not let children or pets near it. The water is not safe for contact, and the safest step is to stay away from it entirely.

Our sewage water removal page covers the sewage stage in general terms. The rule is simple and without exception: contaminated water is professional-only, and the homeowner's job is to stay safe, document what they can from a safe place, and call for help.

Food safety deserves its own warning after a flood, because floodwater can reach kitchens, pantries, and stored food in ways that are easy to miss. Do not eat food that has been in floodwater, do not use floodwater to wash food or dishes, and do not assume that food in sealed packaging is safe if the packaging itself was in the water. When in doubt, leave the food alone and ask, since the risk is not visible and the safest step is to avoid contact entirely.

Do not assume a room is dry because it looks dry

A room that looks dry is not necessarily dry. Floors can feel dry on the surface while the padding or subfloor underneath is still wet, walls can look dry while moisture remains inside, and a musty smell can linger long after the visible water is gone. Declaring a room dry too early is one of the most common mistakes after a flood, and it is the one that causes the most trouble weeks later.

Drying is checked over time rather than judged by touch, and Louisiana's humidity makes the drying stage take particular care. Do not put damp items back into a space that is still drying, do not cover a wet floor with rugs, and do not refinish or repaint a wall that has not been checked and found dry.

Homes in Metairie and Bossier City face the same temptation to call a room dry too soon, and the same rule applies: let the drying be checked, and do not rush it. Availability is confirmed on the call. Call (877) 624-0105 to talk through what you found.

The safer first steps, in order

The safer first steps are simple and in order: stay out of the water, stay away from electrics, call for help before any cleanup begins, and document what you can from a safe place. Take photos of the water and everything it has touched, note the time you found it, and keep a list of affected items. Do not move wet items until you have been told to, and do not throw anything away until it has been seen.

Keep a record of the event: the date, the time, photos of the affected areas, and notes about the source if you know it. That record helps a professional judge the space and is useful if questions about the loss come up later. Photos taken before anything is moved are the most useful of all.

Finally, remember that the first minutes are about people, not property. Stay safe, keep everyone out of the water, and call for help. The house can wait; the people in it cannot.

Keep a record of the flood as well as the water itself: the date, the time you found the water, photos of the affected areas, and notes about what was moved. That record helps a professional judge the space and is useful if questions about the loss come up later. A flood that is documented carefully, with photos taken before anything is moved, is a flood whose aftermath is far easier to understand.

Key Takeaways

The most common mistake after a flood is entering the water.
The second most common mistake is handling electrics in or near standing water.
Sewage and floodwater are Category 3 black water, and cleaning them up is professional-only.
A room that looks dry is not necessarily dry.
The safer first steps are simple and in order: stay out of the water, stay away from electrics, call for help before any cleanup begins, and document what you can from a safe place.

Questions About What Not to Do After Flooding in Louisiana

What is the biggest mistake people make after a flood?

Entering the water. Floodwater is not safe water and should be treated as Category 3 black water, yet the instinct is to rush in and start saving belongings. Stay out of the water, keep children and pets out of the flooded rooms, and do not try to clean it up yourself. Call for help before any cleanup begins.

Can I switch on appliances that were in floodwater?

No. Do not switch on any electrical item that has been in water, and do not touch outlets, switches, or appliances that have been in water. Electrical hazards in floodwater are not always visible, and an item that looks dry on the outside can still hold water inside. Let a professional assess the equipment.

Why should I not clean up floodwater myself?

Floodwater can carry sewage, chemicals, fuel, and debris, and it is treated as Category 3 black water, which means professional-only cleanup. Household tools cannot deal with contaminated water safely, and contact with it should be avoided. The homeowner's job is to stay safe, document what they can from a safe place, and call for help.

How do I know when a room is really dry after a flood?

A room is not dry because it feels dry to the touch. Floors can feel dry on the surface while the padding or subfloor underneath is still wet, and walls can look dry while moisture remains inside. Drying is checked over time rather than judged by touch, and a room should not be considered dry until it has been checked.

Your Next Step

If this guide matches what you found at home, the next step is a visit — not a guess. Call and describe what you found, and the visit is arranged from what you describe. The Flood Water Extraction page explains what that service covers, and the water removal page explains what that service covers when water has spread to more than one room.

Do not enter flooded rooms while you wait, and if water is leaking, turn off the shut-off valve for that fixture where you can reach it safely from dry ground.

Keep the guides on this site bookmarked: the first guide, the signs guide, and the preparation guide cover the checks worth repeating — after moving in, and after bringing used fixtures home.

Water extraction help is available across Louisiana. See water extraction in West Monroe, LA for one local example, or find your town on the service areas page.