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This page is general information, not medical advice. If you have been exposed to contaminated water, or you develop symptoms after a flood, speak to a doctor. A physician who knows your history is the right source for anything specific to you.
The risks worth knowing about
Physical injury. Statistically the most likely harm and the least discussed. Electrical contact, slips on wet concrete and stairs, cuts from debris under opaque water, and strain from lifting saturated material. Most flood injuries happen during cleanup rather than during the flood.
Gastrointestinal illness. Contaminated water carries bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Transmission is usually hand-to-mouth rather than through skin, which is why washing thoroughly matters more than most people expect.
Wound infection. An existing cut or scrape exposed to contaminated water is a meaningful route in. Cover wounds before entering, and if a wound is exposed, clean it and get advice.
Respiratory irritation. From aerosolised contaminants during cleanup, from mold spores in a basement that stayed wet, and from cleaning products used in a poorly ventilated space.
Carbon monoxide. The most immediately dangerous item here, and it is entirely preventable. It comes from generators, fuel-powered pumps, or pressure washers run indoors or too near an opening. Never operate combustion equipment in a basement.
Chemical exposure. Paint, solvents, pool chemicals, and lawn treatments are commonly stored on basement floors and release into the water.
Who should stay out entirely
- Anyone immunocompromised, on immunosuppressive medication, or in cancer treatment.
- People with chronic respiratory conditions, including asthma and COPD.
- Pregnant people.
- Young children and infants.
- Older adults, particularly with mobility or balance concerns.
- Anyone with an open wound that cannot be reliably covered.
This is not caution for its own sake. These groups face materially higher risk from the same exposure, and there is nothing in a flooded basement that requires their presence.
Basic protective measures
Waterproof boots and gloves at minimum. Eye protection if there is any chance of splashing. Cover any cuts before entering. Do not eat, drink, or smoke in the area, and do not touch your face.
Wash hands and forearms thoroughly with soap after any contact, before eating, and before leaving the area. Remove and wash clothing separately from household laundry, and shower after extended work.
For sewage or floodwater, respiratory protection and proper protective equipment are appropriate — which is a large part of why this work is usually contracted out rather than done personally.
Mold, in proportion
Mold needs moisture, an organic food source, and time. Basements supply the second readily, so controlling the first quickly is the entire strategy.
Most people exposed to typical indoor mold experience nothing or mild allergic symptoms. Risk is higher for people with asthma, allergies, or immune compromise. Claims about specific illnesses caused by specific molds are contested and worth treating carefully — the useful response is removing the moisture rather than identifying the species.
When to seek medical attention
Symptoms after exposure worth a call to a doctor include persistent gastrointestinal upset, fever, a wound that becomes red, warm, swollen, or increasingly painful, and new or worsening respiratory symptoms.
Seek immediate care for any suspected electrical contact, even if you feel fine afterwards, and for suspected carbon monoxide exposure — headache, dizziness, nausea, or confusion in anyone who has been near running combustion equipment.
Tetanus vaccination status is also worth checking with your doctor if you sustain a wound during cleanup.
Related pages
For contamination categories, see is the water contaminated. For entry safety, see is it safe to go down there. For mold specifically, see mold after a basement flood.