Mud-Out Recommendations

Mud-out is much more complicated than it appears on the surface. The following information should be considered before entering a flood disaster area.

Immunizations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a part of the Department of Health and Human Services, regularly updates information and recommendations on its Web site at www.cdc.gov.

The risk of tetanus among emergency responders can best be minimized by following standard immunization recommendations. To download the CDC's Tetanus Prevention information, click here.

Property Owner Job Order Approval

In any disaster response, litigation liability is a concern. Before any work is started on site, a Property Owner Job Order Approval must be filled out and signed by the owner with specific details of the job spelled out on the form.

Download a PDF of the Property Owner Job Order Approval form here.

Safety Guidelines for Workers

1. Workers should have health insurance.
2. Workers should know their limits and monitor their condition. Many well-intentioned volunteers have been injured or even killed during operations simply because they did not pay attention to their own physical and mental limitations. Fatigue leads to injury. Workers should stay rested, maintain proper nutrition, and drink water regularly.
3. Workers should use the buddy system—always work in pairs or in a group.
4. Teams should be rotated on a regular basis. The length of exposure of active volunteers should be monitored carefully.
5. Workers should be alert for hazards, such as sharp objects, dust, hazardous materials, power lines, leaking natural and LP gas, high water, fire hazards, and unstable structures.
6. If water is present, check the depth before entering. Never enter rising water.
7. Wear safety equipment and clothing appropriate to the job.
   Helmet or hard hat
   Goggles
   Dust mask
   Work gloves
   Rubber boots
   Heavy duty rubber gloves
   Tyvek coverall

Cleaning/Disinfecting

Anyone who sustains a cut while cleaning and has not had a tetanus shot within the past five years should get one.

Many houses will experience mold growth.

To view the CDC's Mold After a Disaster Web page,  click here.

To view the CDC's Mold Cleanup and Removal Guide, click here.

For more information on mold, call 1 888 293-7020.

While cleaning mold, anyone who is allergic to mold may experience a stuffy nose, irritated eyes, wheezing, skin irritation, difficulty breathing, or shortness of breath. People with weakened immune systems and chronic lung diseases may develop mold infections in their lungs. If any health-related problems appear after working around mold, contact a doctor or other health care provider immediately.

For maximum protection, wear a N95 designated face mask or NIOSH-approved respirator, rubber boots, rubber gloves, goggles, and a soft hat or hard hat (if there is danger of falling debris or electrical hazards) when working with moldy materials. Be sure to throw away all porous items that have been wet since these can remain a source of future mold, even if they are not moldy now. Further information on cleaning mold is available at http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/floods or by calling 1 888 293-7020.

Mud-out Equipment List 

Mud-out Cleaning Helpful Hints

1. Explain to the homeowner what you will be doing when you mud-out a home.
2. Explain to the homeowner the health hazard that may be present if the interior walls have had water and mud between them. Explain that the type of mold that grows from flood waters and mud can cause serious lung problems.  Whenever possible give the homeowner a brochure from the CDC or some other reputable source of information to help them understand the risks involved. Remember to have the owner sign a Property Owner Job Order Approval before work is begun.
3. Walk carefully through the structure. Floors may be slippery or weakened.
4. Follow recommended FEMA and local health department guidelines in allowing homeowner to decide which articles are to be salvaged and which are to be thrown away.
5. Be sensitive to the homeowner’s loss, which will most often will be everything due to contamination.
6. Remove and dispose of all floor coverings.
7. Remove all built-in cabinets if the water line extends on the cabinets.
8. Mattresses and upholstered furniture should be removed and disposed.  
9. Advise owner to let the area dry thoroughly before beginning repairs. Drying time may take a few weeks to several months. The facilities may need to be inspected by government building inspectors. Check with the local government building authority for guidelines.