After a Flood

When floodwaters recede, cleanup and recovery can begin. The resources below can help you start navigating that process.

If you suspect flooding inside your home has been caused by wastewater, instead of by stormwater, please visit our Sanitary Sewer Backup webpage and report the backup to our Engineering Operations team.

Clean Safely 

If floodwaters entered your home during a flood event, follow the steps below to start the restoration process. If you have flood insurance, contact your agent and determine what needs to be documented prior to clean up. For additional safety guidance, review the CDC’s Guidelines for Cleaning Safely After a Disaster.

• Equip yourself with proper safety gear before you begin cleaning. This includes protective clothing, work gloves, boots, goggles and a face mask if cleaning mold.
• Remove drywall and insulation that was contaminated with floodwater.
• Remove contaminated items that cannot be washed and cleaned with a bleach solution. These include things such as mattresses, pillows, carpeting, carpet padding, stuffed toys, etc.
• People with lung conditions or with suppressed immune systems should not enter buildings with possible mold growth. Additionally, children should not take part in cleanup work.

Large or Possibly Hazardous Items Disposal

If you are unsure how to dispose of a flood damaged item, visit the City’s Trash and Recycling Disposal webpage for guidance.

Report Flooding

Report flooding and damage to private property or public lands in the City of Madison. Even if a homeowner reported flooding to 2-1-1, FEMA, or a City official, the City needs standardized information to improve the stormwater system and to reduce flooding damage in the future. Learn about our tips for creating a comprehensive flood report.

Report Damaged Trees, Power Lines

If a tree was damaged during a storm, please report tree damage.

Lights out, power line down, or other emergency, call MG&E at 608-509-4338 or Alliant Energy at 800-255-4268, whichever provides power to your home.

Sandbag Collection, Disposal

Once the threat of flooding has past, learn how to properly dispose of your sandbags.

Sanitary Sewer Backups

If you suspect flooding inside your home has been caused by wastewater, instead of by stormwater, please visit our Sanitary Sewer Backup webpage and report the backup to our Engineering Operations team.