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Plumbing and drainage

Keep everyone away from sewage or contaminated floodwater

Sewage and floodwater can contain biological, chemical, structural, and electrical hazards that ordinary household cleanup products and footwear do not control.

A qualified professional should handle this work

When it usually needs attention

Ongoing home-care habit

Activate for a sewer backup, sewage release, or potentially contaminated floodwater; FEMA guidance controls the event route rather than a recurring date.

When this guide applies

This is an event-response card available to every home; it does not assert that a backup or flood has occurred.

What to do

Move people and pets away, avoid contact and cross-contamination, note the source and affected rooms from a safe dry location, notify the responsible owner or authority, and use qualified cleanup and plumbing routes before re-entry.

Applies when: This is an event-response card available to every home; it does not assert that a backup or flood has occurred.

Who should handle it: Residents protect occupants and report; source control, extraction, sanitation, material removal, electrical clearance, shared drains, insurance, and legal notices belong to the responsible owner and qualified authorities or providers.

Tools

  • Phone used from a safe dry location
  • Emergency, utility, owner, insurer, and qualified cleanup contacts

Parts and supplies

  • Barrier or sign to prevent entry
  • No cleanup supply until the hazard assessment identifies it

Safety gear

  • Avoid entry and exposure; consumer gloves, boots, or masks do not clear sewage, flood, electrical, or structural hazards

Before you start

  • Keep children, pets, older adults, and medically vulnerable people out
  • Check active emergency and public-health instructions

Power, water, or fuel shutoffs

  • Do not cross water to reach a valve, breaker, appliance, or pump
  • Use utility or emergency shutdown help when the route is not unquestionably dry and safe

Cleaner or chemical limits

Do not enter to apply bleach, disinfectant, drain cleaner, acid, detergent, fragrance, pesticide, or degreaser; never mix cleanup chemicals.

Stop and get help when

  • Do not enter standing water, touch wet electricity, run contaminated HVAC, use a wet vacuum, flush more water, or disturb unstable material
  • Leave for gas odor, structural movement, active electrical danger, rising water, or evacuation orders

Who to call: Use emergency services for immediate danger and the responsible owner plus utility, plumber, qualified water-restoration/remediation provider, electrician, public health, and structural service as needed.

Reviewed sources