Flood Clean Up-care Package.

Updated on April 20, 2013
M.H. asks from La Grange, IL
11 answers

I have never had to do any type of clean up for flooding. But unfortuatly my brothers house was surrounded by water and ultimately took in 6 inches of water.

I want to help and do someting sicne my husband and I feel so powerless with what happened. I was thinking about geting him a clean up care package that I will drop off later today. What do you recomend, what are some odd things that they might need that I could put together and bring to them?

Rubber Gloves
Sponges
Buckets
Garbage bags..
Bleach

what else would they need?

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So What Happened?

Thanks for the ideas. It has been very helpful.

Featured Answers

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❤.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

What you have stated then maybe add a big cooler you bring them stocked w/sodas, bottle water, sliced cheese, lunchmeat, bread, chips.

Maybe call a flood restoration company & ask what they do exactly so you
can possibly provide some materials for them to help clean.

1 mom found this helpful

More Answers

E.N.

answers from Knoxville on

loan them some fans to help dry things out (box or stand fans)
untreated charcoal bricks absorb moisture.

Are they going to have to tear up carpet? remove old wet insulation from under the house/ walls? replace drywall? paint with a mildew barrier paint?
If so, a Lowes or Home Depot card would come in handy
Oh, and gift cards for eating out at local restaurants!

7 moms found this helpful

X.O.

answers from Chicago on

If they have flood insurance they might not be out the cost of replacing their household goods, but could probably really use some gift cards so they don't have to worry about meals.

4 moms found this helpful
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E.W.

answers from Chicago on

What about some rubber boots since they'll be standing in water?
Or even some face masks - you don't want to breathe in any mold!
I would def do a gift card to a restaurant and/or Home Depot/Menards...I would also get some odor absorbers - you can typically find them by the air freshners at Target/Walmart - they will help absorb the odor from the water (and mold, etc.).
Does he have kids? If so, I would also offer to help watch them so they can get work done :)

3 moms found this helpful
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S.T.

answers from New York on

Our area was affected by Superstorm Sandy so I learned about this! Rubber boots, lots of clean white socks to change into as they get damp and gross (sometimes they get so gross they are simply thrown out). Scrub brushes of different sizes - one on a pole for the floor, a pry bar or two (to pull off saturated sheetrock) and razor cutters (to cut the sheetrock). Non-perishable health snack foods like nuts, dried fruit, crackers, bottled water, gatorade type drink. Lots of contractor-grade large trash bags - there are never enough. Paper towels, windex, spray bottles, jugs of white vinegar (cleans surfaces and doesn't smell bad). Large plastic bins - to use to put things in that are being saved but no longer have a cabinet or place to be stored.

Good luck mama - it's a lot of work and frustrating. But this is a good idea to bring this stuff.

3 moms found this helpful

D.K.

answers from Sioux City on

A good supply of razors for a knife if he is taking up carpet.

2 moms found this helpful
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A.L.

answers from Austin on

Maybe, rolls of quarters? A girlfriend of mine - her house just flooded. The house isn't too bad, but the laundry is piling up, and the washing machine and dryer were damaged. My friend had massive amounts of stuff that had to be laundered quickly before they molded - floor pillows. Dog beds. The kids' stuffed animals; a couple of blankets; long curtains... She spent a lot of time at the laundromat. She wanted to do as much as she could, all at once, instead of spending all day at someone else's house, just doing laundry.

Or, maybe you could just offer to sit with their stuff at the laundromat for a couple of hours for them?

2 moms found this helpful

Y.M.

answers from Iowa City on

A shop vac if he doesn't have one.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.P.

answers from Chicago on

I would add, mop, broom, and I prefer brown bottle lysol it will help to prevent mold.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.E.

answers from Chicago on

Fans tons of fans and dehumidifies borrow as much as u can. They need man power. Helping rip up carpet or floor or baseboards and drywall if it was finished. He needs help getting everything out and to the garbage. He needs money so they can have an inspected come and see if there's mold after three days. After 72 hours of water if not dried there will be mold. It goes in the walls in the insulation he woul needs masks so they don't breathe in the insulation dust and mold. Feel free to ask any questions we have done this a bi too often. Dry vac or extra pumps to get water out if it is still there and deep. Tons of bleach and a drill to drill holes or saw to cut walls so you can get fans and dehumidifies I. There. Extension cords for all this too. Hope that helps. It's all I can think of right now. J.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

Gift cards for food. Sounds like he can't cook. I also bought my brother soft pretzels and soda when he moved into his new home previously owned by a hoarder.

1 mom found this helpful
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