EPA recommends the following procedures be followed when pumping basements to avoid serious damage, collapse or injury to occupants:

• Begin pumping when floodwaters are no longer covering the ground outside.
• Pump out 1 foot of water. Mark the water level and wait overnight.
• Check the water level the next day. If the level went back up (covered your mark) it is still too early to drain your basement.
• Wait 24 hours, and then pump the water down 1 foot again. Check the level the next day.
• When the water in the basement stops returning to your mark, pump out two to 3 feet and wait overnight.
• Repeat daily until all the water is out of the basement.
  It is understandable that people are anxious to return home and begin the cleanup but we urge caution, as the expense of rebuilding collapsed walls could be more than the cost of cleanup from the flood.

• DHS Flood Tool Kit
• DHS Flood Website
• DNR Well & Flooding Information
• DHS Mold Website
• DHS Controlling Mold and Moisture Toolkit

• FoodSafety.gov’s “Food Safety during Power Outage”
• CDC’s “Eat Safe Food” fact sheet

Generator Safety – Carbon Monoxide

• Wisconsin Department of Health Services “Using Generators Safely” fact sheet (Spanish and Hmong available here)

• Residents should reach out to the Rock County Public Health Department to coordinate well water testing if you have had flooding around your well casing or in a basement that may have impacted the water distribution system.

 Other Resources

• Emergency Management | Rock County, WI
• Hanover Boil Water Advisory and Hanover Boil Water Map of Affected Areas
• Town of Rock
• City of Janesville
  • July 2nd MARC Resource Event
• Village of Orfordville

• Tornado and Flood Damage Dashboard
  • Estimated 6/22/2024 tornado path
  • Reported damaged
  • Estimated cost of damage

 We can be reached by phone at 608-757-5440 or by filling out our contact form.