Greiner said electric motor cleaning chores should be left to electricians and repairpeople. Motors damaged by moisture and clogged with silt can be burned out by careless starting.
Don't even enter the flooded home until both the electricity and gas have been shut off, Greiner said. In towns, electricity should be shut off for the entire neighborhood by the electric company. In rural areas, the electricity should be switched off at the meter outside the house.
Remove covers from all switches, convenience outlets, light outlets and junction boxes that have been submerged. If silt has collected in a junction box, he suggests removing screws and pulling the receptacle, switch and wires out about two inches from the box. Then clean it, but do not remove electrical connections. Leaving the boxes open will speed drying.
Remove all fuses and the cover from the entrance panel and carefully clean off the mud. Greiner said wires should not be disconnected. Do not clean wet, mud-filled boxes with "live" wires in the box. All electricity must be off.
Once clean-up is finished and the wires are dried, have an electrician inspect the system before restoring power.
Some household appliances--such as radios, televisions and electric water heaters--should be left for servicepeople to recondition. Other appliances may be dismantled, cleaned and dried at home. Special attention should be paid to control switches, thermostats, electrical elements or motors, cords and plugs. Moving parts should be lubricated after cleaning with a light machine oil.
Most important, be safe. Do not use electricity until the wiring and electrical equipment have been inspected by an electrician.
Tom Greiner, Extension Agricultural Engineer, Iowa State University Extension