We are thanking our lucky stars that our house stayed dry, but our hearts go out to our friends, families and many others whose homes are among the large number of victims of the record flooding here in Rhode Island. Whether it's a few inches or a few feet, water in your basement is a serious matter. Here are a few tips and resources for how to deal with the situation before and after the waters recede.
Turn off the gas and electricity to flooded areas of the house. If the gas does not turn off automatically or you cannot safely turn off the electricity, contact the electric and gas companies to turn them off remotely. The systems should be inspected by a professional before they are turned back on.
Pump and dry the space. Pumping water too quickly from the basement or pumping before the waters outside have receded can cause damage to the walls so use caution. Smaller amounts of water can be cleaned with a wet vacuum or a mop. Use a dehumidifier and fans to circulate dry air through the house. The faster everything dries, the better the chance of avoiding permanent damage.
Photograph the damage. Once the water is gone you may want to get started on cleaning and repair immediately, but be sure to keep a record for your insurance company so that you can get reimbursement if you are entitled to it. A phone call to your insurance company is a good idea to find out the best way to keep track of everything.
Clean & Disinfect. Flood waters can be full of contaminants so be sure to clean everything including walls and floors with hot water and bleach (mix ¼ - ¾ cups bleach for every gallon of water). Dishes can be cleaned with a bleach mixture, but silverware should be sanitized by boiling them in water as the chemicals in bleach can damage the metals. Textiles, rugs and upholstered furniture should be thoroughly dried, outside if possible, but mattresses should be thrown away. Seek advice from a professional cleaner if necessary.
Repair. Mold inside walls can have serious health effects so be sure to replace drywall and insulation if necessary and take precautions for thoroughly drying the walls. Carpeting and tile should probably be removed so they can be properly cleaned and the subfloor can dry, but again seek advice from a professional on the best way to dry out your flooring materials.
SOME RESOURCES:
• Providence Journal Article, “What to do about a basement that has been flooded”
• floodsafety.org, “Cleaning Up After a Flood”
• Environmental Protection Agency, “Flood Cleanup and the Air in Your Home”
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “After a Hurricane or Flood: Cleanup of Flood Water”
MORE FLOOD CLEANUP ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
• How To: Clean Up Safely After a Flood
• Good Question: Green Cleanup for a Flooded Basement
• Uh Oh, Flood! Dealing with Disaster in Your Home
Image: Sarah Rainwater
10 No-Fail Decor Tricks & Tips for Small Spaces
Beth's Romantic & Retro Residence
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Shaw's Original Fir...
How to Bake a Potato: Three Easy Methods
How To Cook Tender, Chewy Wheat Berries on the Stovetop
This gets printed and put in my hot tips binder. Thanks, AT!
Wet Vac!
Don't forget to wear a respirator and rubber gloves while cleaning.
When the tornado hit my office and they hired professionals to salvage as much as possible, they removed the base board and cut holes in the wall there. Then they directed powerful fans at the holes to help dry out the wall cavities.
Is your last name really Rainwater? Syncrhonicity!
I am very glad the rain is ending. I hope this is the last of the big storms for a bit.
I'm kinda shocked my basement has stayed dry up in NH. I work for the commuter rail and all of this rain has caused a lot of headaches for us!
Second the wet vac - have been using it regularly this year as well as putting some heavy mileage on the dehumidifier. We also got some white fuzzy mold growing on the concrete floor after the last round and rented a mold bomb fogger from Home Depot. It coats everything by aerosolizing the liquid. Unfortunately, it flooded again a few days later, so we may need to recoat the floors since I probably wet-vac'ed a lot of it up.
http://homedepotrents.com/moldcontrol.asp
My husband and I purchased a 120 year-old home in Cambridge last March fully knowing that the basement had water issues. The sellers installed the B-Dry system prior to our taking ownership and I am pleased to report that after WAY TOO MUCH rain, we've remained dry (knock on wood). We live 1 block from a major river on a small, densely populated street with serious drainage issues. I am in no way affiliated with this company, and I've never before experienced flooding in any home, I am just giving you my experience with the product. Thus far, all positive.
For emergency pumping help, call your local fire department's non-emergency number. In my town (an NYC burb), they come out with massive pumps and help flooded residents.
Youngowneroldhome: Yes, I have BDry's French drains in my basement too (Arlington). If there are regular, ongoing water issues in a house, these quite expensive systems are worth every penny.
My home's water problems led to a nasty termite infestation. I knew this when I bought it...but not how bad it was!
Don't just get the water out, prevent it from coming back. A deep swale and a waterproof membrane on the porch has kept my basement dry through a couple of tortuous wet summers and snowpocalypse, but you might need a different solution.