Topic outline

  • FEMA Guide to the Repair of Flood Damaged Structures

    Credits: 6 PDH

    PDH Course Description:

    This course introduces the principles and practices of repairing a flooded home. The initial visit to a flood-damaged home, can be overwhelming. However, a number of straightforward principles can be applied to assist with the flood restoration effort. There are many health hazards associated with flooded homes that this course identifies.

    Once the flood has subsided from a flooded home, a series of events is set into motion which gets progressively worse as time passes. The home does start to dry. However, the severity of damage from mold, mildew and rotting wood can be minimized by repairing flood damage as soon as possible. After the flood, the hazards of working in a flood damaged home include, biological hazards, unstable structures, damaged and possibly live electrical and gas utilities and unhealthy working conditions in general. The first work to be done on a flooded home is to establish a safe working environment.

    This course introduces the basic elements of flooded home repair. This course demonstrates the steps to be taken and the order in which they should be taken to remediate the flood damage and to safely restore the home to a habitable condition. This course is based on the FEMA publication “Repairing Your Flooded Home”.

    Topics:

    • Understanding the hazards associated with working in a flooded home
    • Being able to work on a flooded home and avoid health hazards
    • Knowing the tools and equipment needed to repair a flooded home
    • Knowing how to make a visual inspection for structural hazards
    • Understanding of how to safely restore power to the home
    • Knowing how to avoid hazards of gas
    • Understanding how to physically remove contamination from the flooded home
    • Knowing how to safely drain trapped water from ceilings and walls
    • Understanding how to properly drain a flooded basement
    • Knowing how to promote drying of the home
    • Understanding how to safely remove debris
    • Knowing how to check for damaged water pipes
    • Knowing how to properly wash, clean dry electrical components
    • Knowing how to evaluate the sewage system for clogging
    • Understanding what systems of the home should be inspected or repaired by qualified contractors
    • Know how to repair the heating and AC system of a flooded home
    • Being introduced to documentation for insurance claims
    • Understanding the basic concepts of preparing for the next flood

    To take this course:

    1.) Enroll in Course: Click Here:
    (must be logged into your user account)


    2.) Study: Once enrolled, click below to begin the course:

    Download the Study Guide

    3.) Test: Once you've thoroughly read the course materials, please click below to take the final examination.

    Take the final exam

    4.) Certificate: A passing grade of 70% or higher on the exam, is required to receive the certificate of completion for this PDH course.
         NOTE: After the exam is completed, you will need to return to this page, in order to print (download) the certificate of completion.

    Print the Certificate of Completion

    Intended Audience: This course is intended for Geotechnical, Civil, Environmental, Water Resources, and other engineers whose job description requires a general knowledge concerning the repair of flood damaged homes..
    Publication Source: US FEMA

    D. Allen Hughes, PE

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