One should take safety and health measures while coming back to home after the floods. Even if, there has been no perceptible damage to the house due to flood water, safety and health measures should be taken. Often preventive, these help in reducing family health risks. Following checklists can be useful for rearranging the house with safety and health precautions.

Dry Out Your House

If flood or storm water has entered your home, dry it out as soon as possible. Follow these steps:

• If you have electricity and an electrician has determined that it's safe to turn it on, use a "wet-dry" shop vacuum (or the vacuum function of a carpet steam cleaner), an electric-powered water transfer pump, or sump pump to remove standing water. If you are operating equipment in wet areas, be sure to wear rubber boots. 
• If you do not have electricity, or it is not safe to turn it on, you can use a portable generator to power equipment to remove standing water. Note that you must use a gasoline-powered pump, generator, pressure washer, or any other gasoline-powered tools to clean your home, never operate the gasoline engine inside a home, basement, garage, carport, porch, or other enclosed or partially enclosed structures, even if the windows and doors are open. Such improper use can create dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide and cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
• If weather permits, open windows and doors of the house to aid in the drying-out process. 
• Use fans and dehumidifiers to remove excess moisture. F and should be placed at a window or door to blow the air outwards rather than inwards, so not to spread the mold.
• Have your home heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system checked and cleaned by a maintenance or service professional who is experienced in mold clean-up before you turn it on. If the HVAC system was flooded with water, turning on the mold-contaminated HVAC will spread mold throughout the house. Professional cleaning will kill the mold and prevent later mold growth. When the service determines that your system is clean and if it is safe to do so, you can turn it on and use it to help remove excess moisture from your home.
• Prevent water outdoors from re-entering your home. For example, rain water from gutters or the roof should drain away from the house; the ground around the house should slope away from the house to keep basements and crawl spaces dry.
• Ensure that crawl spaces in basements have proper drainage to limit water seepage. Ventilate to allow the area to dry out.

After a Flood: Cleanup of Flood Water

When returning to your home after a hurricane or flood, be aware that flood water may contain sewage. Protect yourself and your family by following these steps:

• Keep children and pets out of the affected area until cleanup has been completed.
• Wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, and goggles during cleanup of affected area.
• Remove and discard items that cannot be washed and disinfected (such as, mattresses, carpeting, carpet padding, rugs, upholstered furniture, cosmetics, stuffed animals, baby toys, pillows, foam-rubber items, books, wall coverings, and most paper products)..
• Remove and discard drywall and insulation that has been contaminated with sewage or flood waters.
• Thoroughly clean all hard surfaces (such as flooring, concrete, moulding, wood and metal furniture, countertops, appliances, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures) with hot water and laundry or dish detergent, then disinfect with a solution of 1 cup of household bleach to 5 gallons of water. (Note: this solution should not be used for drinking, cooking, or personal hygiene.)
• Help the drying process by using fans, air conditioning units, and dehumidifiers.
• After completing the cleanup, wash your hands with soap and water. Use water that has been boiled for 1 minute (allow the water to cool before washing your hands). 
• Wash all clothes worn during the cleanup in hot water and detergent. These clothes should be washed separately from uncontaminated clothes and linens.
• Wash clothes contaminated with flood or sewage water in hot water and detergent. It is recommended that a Laundromat be used for washing large quantities of clothes and linens until your onsite waste-water system has been professionally inspected and serviced. 
• Seek immediate medical attention if you become injured or ill.

Protect Yourself from Mold

After natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods, excess moisture and standing water contribute to the growth of mold in homes and other buildings. When returning to a home that has been flooded, be aware that mold may be present and may be a health risk for your family.

People at Greatest Risk from Mold

The following groups of people may be at greater risk than others for mold:

• Infants and children.
• The elderly.
• People with asthma, allergies, and other respiratory (breathing) conditions.
• People with weakened immune systems (such as people with HIV infection, cancer patients taking chemotherapy, and people who have received an organ transplant).

Possible Health Effects of Mold Exposure

• Stuffy nose, irritated eyes, or wheezing can occur in people who are sensitive to molds.
• Wheezing, difficulty in breathing, and shortness of breath can be an allergic reaction to mold and can sometimes be severe.
• Skin reactions can develop. 
• Mold infections can develop in the lungs of people with weakened immune systems and with chronic lung diseases such as obstructive lung disease. 

Treating Symptoms of Mold Exposure

If you or your family members have health problems after exposure to mold, contact your doctor or other health care provider.

Cleaning Up Mold

After drying out your house and taking protective measures, remove items that cannot be cleaned, and then clean your home and household items. Removal and cleaning are important because even dead mold may cause allergic reactions in some people. Follow the following steps to clear up the mold.

• Make sure the working area is well ventilated.
• Remove all porous items that have been wet for more than 48 hours and that cannot be thoroughly cleaned and dried. These items can remain a source of mold growth and should be removed from the home. When in doubt, take it out! However, homeowners may want to temporarily store items outside of the home until insurance claims can be filed. 
• Porous, non-cleanable items include carpeting and carpet padding, upholstery, wallpaper, drywall, floor and ceiling tiles, insulation material, clothing, leather, paper, wood, or food.
• Clean nonporous surfaces such as walls, floors, and counter surfaces with soap and water. (Use non-ammonia soap or detergent.) Use a stiff brush on rough surface materials such as concrete. 

Preventing Mold from Coming Back

The key to preventing mold from coming back is to control moisture. Mold spores are found in outdoor air, so mold can grow again if conditions are suitable indoors. Previously damp areas must be kept completely dry.

• Clean fabrics (curtains, upholstery, bedding, etc.) often and keep them dry. 
• Store clean fabric items in well-ventilated areas.
• Reduce moisture in the air with dehumidifiers, open windows, or air conditioners, especially in hot weather.
• Keep the humidity in your home between 40% and 60%.Humidity in the home can be measured with a household humidity sensor available at your local hardware store.
• Reduce condensation on cold surfaces by insulating. Examples include insulating air-conditioning ducts, cold water pipes, etc.
• Routinely check potential problem spots such as the bathroom and laundry for moisture and moldy odors.
• Fix leaks in pipes, and investigate any damp areas around tubs and sinks.
• Vacuum and clean surfaces frequently.
• Seek the advice of a mold remediation company if mold growth persists.

Immunizations

Outbreaks of communicable diseases after floods are unusual. However, the rates of diseases that were present before a flood may increase because of decreased sanitation or overcrowding among displaced persons. Increases in infectious diseases that were not present in the community before the flood are not usually a problem. If you receive a puncture wound or a wound contaminated with feces, soil, or saliva, have a doctor or health department determine whether a tetanus booster is necessary based on individual records.
Specific recommendations for vaccinations should be made on a case-by-case basis, or as determined by local and state health departments.

For Further information on flood preparedness, rescue, evacuation and relief, look at the following links:

1. http://www.pep.bc.ca/hazard_preparedness/flooding_preparedness.html
2. http://www.pweng.slco.org/flood/html/fpman_01.htm
3. http://www.bcoem.org/flood.htm
4. http://www.accem.org/floodprep.html
5. http://www.dem.dcc.state.nc.us/PIO/99huraw/AFTERTHEFLOOD.htm
6. http://www.create-your-healthy-home.com/flood-cleanup.htm
7. http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Fire/Emergency+
   Management/Flood+Health+Concerns.htm