Storm season contaminates gear without a single fire: floodwater is a suspension of sewage, fuel, pesticides, and whatever the current picked up — and gear soaked in it needs decontamination treated as seriously as smoke exposure.
What is actually in floodwater?
Sanitary sewer overflow (biologicals from E. coli to hepatitis), fuel and oil sheen from flooded vehicles and tanks, agricultural chemistry in rural drainages — anhydrous, herbicides, livestock runoff — and construction debris chemistry from flooded structures. Every August deployment sees some of it.
What does post-flood gear care require?
- Segregate soaked gear immediately — bag it; floodwater-soaked gear does not ride home loose in the cab.
- Rinse gross contamination out before it dries into the fabric — dried sewage is harder chemistry to remove.
- Clean and disinfect per manufacturer instructions: biological contamination triggers the disinfection provisions, not just a routine wash.
- Document the exposure — floodwater exposures belong in the gear record and, for the wearer, in your exposure reporting.
- When in doubt, send it in: saturation-level contamination is advanced-clean territory.
Should turnouts even be the flood PPE?
Often not — water rescue and flood work have purpose-built PPE, and using structural gear soaks a thermal ensemble in exactly what it handles worst. Departments that run water calls regularly should equip for it and save the turnouts for fire. If turnouts are what you have, decon is the price.
FAQ
Can floodwater damage the gear itself?
Extended saturation stresses barriers, corrodes hardware, and can drive contamination into layers — another argument for purpose-built water PPE.
Does Heiman ISP handle post-flood decon?
Yes — biological and chemical decon with documentation. Contact us promptly after the event.