Cleaning a flood-damaged home is a lot like triage in a medical emergency, says Daniel Waldstein, a North Dakota State University Extension Service area specialist in Minot.

Triage is the process of determining the priority of patients’ treatment based on the severity of their condition. Prioritizing also is important when tackling the daunting task of cleaning a flood-damaged home, according to Waldstein.

The first step is to examine the exterior of your home to make sure it is structurally sound and safe to enter, he says. Before entering, you also should make sure the utilities, such as electricity and gas, are shut off.

Waldstein, an area Extension specialist at the North Central Research Extension Center, has developed a series of seven videos with cleanup tips he is using as he restores his own flood-damaged home. The videos are posted on NDSU’s flood website at http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/flood/home/flood-damaged-home-introduction.

The videos provide advice on tools and safety equipment you’ll need, such as safety glasses, gloves, a respirator, hard hat, rubber boots, pry bars, hammers, utility knife, scoop shovel and fans for ventilation; where to start; and how to prioritize the cleanup work.

The videos also deal with specific issues, such as basement cleanup; removing flooring; removing waste efficiently; and how to separate the waste, such as construction materials, household trash, hazardous materials, appliances, and trees and other yard waste, and where to place it on the boulevard so city crews can collect it easily.

For more information on flood cleanup, visit the flood website at http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/flood/.

NDSU Agriculture Communication - Aug. 3, 2011