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How to Keep Children and Pets Away from a Flooded Basement

Children pets flooded basement safety is a household matter, because the people and animals most at risk from a flooded basement are the ones least able to judge the danger. A child may not understand that water can carry electricity, and a pet may walk into floodwater out of curiosity or thirst. The safety rule for the household is the same as for the adult who found the water, but it needs to be stated clearly and enforced, because children and pets will not enforce it themselves.

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Basements are uncommon across most of California, and they exist mainly in older homes and some hillside areas, so this guidance applies to a smaller group of homes. For those homes, though, a flooded basement is a danger to everyone in the household, not only to the person who found it. The [basement flooding cleanup](/basement-flooding-cleanup/) page describes the cleanup service in general terms.

Why children are at risk

Children are at risk from a flooded basement because they may not understand that water can be dangerous, and because they are smaller, so even shallow water can reach them more easily. A child who steps into floodwater can be electrocuted by submerged outlets and panels, and a child who falls in a flooded room may be unable to get up. Floodwater is not safe water, and it can carry contaminants that a child should not touch or swallow.

Tell children clearly that the basement is out of bounds, and explain in simple terms that the water is dangerous. A clear instruction, given once, is better than a warning given after a child has already gone down. Close the basement door if you can do so from dry ground.

Why pets are at risk

Pets are at risk because they may walk into floodwater out of curiosity, or drink it out of thirst, and they cannot be told why the water is dangerous. A pet that steps into water carrying electricity can be harmed, and a pet that drinks floodwater can be harmed by what the water carries. Keep pets on the upper floors, away from the basement door, and do not let them near the water for any reason.

If a pet has been in floodwater, keep it away from the room and seek advice from a veterinarian. Do not try to wash a pet in floodwater, and do not let a pet drink from a flooded room. The safety rule applies to animals as well as to people.

How to Keep Children and Pets Away from a Flooded Basement — California basement water damage guide

Close the door and block the stairs

Close the basement door if you can do so from dry ground, and keep it closed until a professional has dealt with the room. A closed door is the simplest barrier, and it keeps children and pets from wandering down the stairs. If the door cannot be closed, or if there is no door, keep the stairs blocked and keep the household on the upper floors.

Tell everyone in the home that the room is out of bounds, and check that the instruction has been understood. A household that knows the rule can act together, and a household that does not know it can wander into danger.

Tell everyone in the home

Tell everyone in the home that the basement is out of bounds until a professional has dealt with it, and that includes children, tenants, lodgers, and visitors. A visitor who does not know the house may walk downstairs without knowing the water is there, and a tenant may not know the safety rule. A clear instruction, given once, is the best protection.

If the home has a babysitter, a cleaner, or anyone else who visits regularly, tell them too. The safety rule applies to everyone who enters the home, not only to the people who live there.

What to do if a child or pet enters the water

If a child or pet has entered floodwater, get them out without entering the water yourself if you can do so safely from dry ground, and call for medical help if there is any doubt. Do not enter a flooded basement to rescue someone, because the rescuer can become a second victim. Call the emergency services if a person is in danger in the water.

Afterwards, keep the child or pet away from the room and seek medical or veterinary advice. Floodwater is not safe water, and contact with it should be avoided. The safety rule is absolute: never enter a flooded basement.

While waiting for help

While waiting for help, keep the household on dry ground and keep the basement door closed. Move belongings that are on dry ground away from the stairs and the basement door, so that water cannot reach them if it rises further. Do not carry items out of a flooded room. The [basement flooding cleanup](/basement-flooding-cleanup/) page describes the cleanup service in general terms.

Call a professional to arrange a visit, and describe what you have noted from a safe distance. Stay out of the water, and let the professional deal with the room.

Key Takeaways

Children are at risk from a flooded basement because they may not understand that water can be dangerous, and because they are smaller, so even shallow water can reach them more easily.
Pets are at risk because they may walk into floodwater out of curiosity, or drink it out of thirst, and they cannot be told why the water is dangerous.
Close the basement door if you can do so from dry ground, and keep it closed until a professional has dealt with the room.
Tell everyone in the home that the basement is out of bounds until a professional has dealt with it, and that includes children, tenants, lodgers, and visitors.
If a child or pet has entered floodwater, get them out without entering the water yourself if you can do so safely from dry ground, and call for medical help if there is any doubt.
While waiting for help, keep the household on dry ground and keep the basement door closed.

Your Next Step

If this guide matches what you found at home, the next step is a visit — not a guess. Call and describe what you found, and the visit is arranged from what you describe. The Basement Flooding Cleanup page explains what that service covers, the Basement Flooding Cleanup page covers a related part of the job, and the services hub lists every service in one place.

While you wait, do not enter a flooded basement and do not touch switches, plugs or appliances in standing water. Floodwater is not safe water — keep pets and children clear of it.

Keep the guides on this site bookmarked: the first guide, the signs guide, and the preparation guide cover the checks worth repeating — after moving in, and after heavy rain.

Basement water damage help is available across California. See basement water damage cleanup in East Village, CA for one local example, or find your town on the service areas page.