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FLOOD08132
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Last modified
1/25/2010 7:13:44 PM
Creation date
10/5/2006 3:25:08 AM
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Template:
Floodplain Documents
County
Statewide
Community
Nationwide
Basin
Statewide
Title
Repairing Your Flooded Home
Date
8/1/1992
Prepared By
FEMA, American Red Cross
Floodplain - Doc Type
Educational/Technical/Reference Information
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<br />fWiiffP <br />~.,~"-- <br />y' Restore the Utilities <br />"""""~~ <br /> <br />Electrical Safety <br /> <br />. Use only the electrically operated <br />tools you need, one at a time, to <br />avoid overloading a few working <br />circuits. <br />. If appliances or motors have got- <br />ten wet, have them taken apart, <br />cleaned, and dried before plug- <br />ging them back in again. <br />. Make sure all appliances are <br />properly grounded. This is most <br />important if there was damage to <br />the wiring from the flood or dur- <br />ing the cleaning. <br />Mud or dirt in a grounded outlet <br />or adapter may prevent the <br />grounding system from working, <br />and you could be electrocuted. If <br />you are unsure if your electrical <br />system is properly grounded, call <br />an electrician. <br />When in doubt, call an electri- <br />cian. Electrocution is a major <br />killer in floods. <br /> <br />Important <br /> <br />It is very important that your utility <br />systems and appliances be turned <br />back on the correct way. A leaky gas <br />pipe, an ungrounded electrical appli~ <br />ance, or contaminated water is a <br />serious safety and health hazard. If <br />you are not comfortable working <br />on your utilities or appliances, <br />call a professional. <br /> <br />22 <br /> <br />Electrical System <br />Check with your building or <br />electrical inspector to see how <br />much work you can do on your <br />wiring. Many local codes require <br />that a licensed electrician do the <br />work, or that a municipal inspec- <br />tor check the system before you <br />can turn the power back on. <br />The electrical system should <br />be tackled in 2 pans: the main <br />breaker or fuse box and the cir- <br />cuits. If the main box got wet, it <br />should be checked and cleaned <br />by an electrician before you turn <br />the power back on. You should <br />have the electrician move your <br />main box above flood level for <br />future protection. <br />Meanwhile, if you are com- <br />fortable working with electrical <br />fixtures and wiring, you can <br />clean the flooded circuits. <br />Otherwise call an electrician. <br /> <br />To clean a flooded circuit, fol- <br />low these steps in order, <br />1. Check the switch at the main <br />breaker or fuse box to make <br />sure that the power is still off <br />(see box, page 5.) Take out <br />the fuses or switch off the <br />breakers to the circuits you <br />will be working on. <br />2. As noted at the end of Step 2, <br />everything should be un- <br />plugged and all light bulbs <br />should be removed. The <br />switches and outlets should <br />be pulled out of the wall. <br />Check the switches and out- <br />lets and their boxes for mud <br />and dirt, which can cause a <br />short or overheating. Hose or <br />wash any mud out of the <br />boxes. <br /> <br />3. If you see a lot of mud, dirt, <br />or saltwater corrosion in the <br />switches or outlets, replace <br />them. If you want to keep the <br />switches and outlets that were <br />flooded, rinse them thorough- <br />ly in a pail of water. Let them <br />dry for at least 24 hours. <br />4. Check the condition of the <br />wire that goes to each switch <br />and each outlet. Replace any <br />fabric-covered wire. Plastic- <br />covered wire does not need <br />to be removed unless it has <br />been flooded with salt water. <br />Aluminum wiring may be <br />severely corroded by salt <br />water, so all aluminum wiring <br />that has been flooded by salt <br />water should be replaced <br />before proceeding. <br />5. After everything has dried out, <br />check to make sure the fuses <br />are still out or the breakers <br />are still switched off. Then <br />reinstall the switches and out- <br />lets or install new ones. <br /> <br />If your main breaker or fuse <br />box was not flooded, or if it has <br />been cleaned and checked by an <br />electrician, you can test each cir- <br />cuit once it is cleaned. <br /> <br />To test a cleaned circuit: <br />1. Make sure nothing is plugged <br />in and no wall switches are <br />turned on. <br />2_ Install one fuse or turn one <br />breaker to ON. Install the <br />main fuse or turn on the main <br />breaker. Some fuse boxes <br />have a main switch-a handle <br />on the outside of the box. It is <br />easier to use the handle than <br />to take out and replace the <br />main fuses. <br />
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