What Should You Do First After Your Home Floods in Japan? Take Photos Before Cleaning

When your home floods, your first instinct may be to start cleaning immediately.

There may be mud on the floor, wet furniture, damaged appliances and things you want to move outside as quickly as possible. But before you start cleaning, there is one important thing to do:

Take photos of the damage first.

Illustration of a flooded home and residential street in Japan after heavy rain

Official disaster guidance in Japan recommends taking photos of your home before you start cleaning or making repairs. The photos can help show what happened, how high the water reached and what was damaged before the evidence disappears.

It sounds simple, but it is easy to forget when you are standing in a wet, muddy home and just want to clean up.

I live in Narita, Chiba. After recent heavy rain, there was flooding around the area where I live, and some roads in the direction of Inbanuma became difficult or impossible to use. My husband normally travels that way, so the flooding suddenly felt much closer to everyday life.

While watching news coverage, I kept hearing the same practical advice about photographing flood damage before cleanup.

I thought about what I would actually do if water entered my own home. I would probably reach for cleaning supplies or trash bags before thinking about my phone.

That is why I want to remember one simple rule: photos first, cleanup second.

What Photos Should You Take After a Flood?

You do not need a special camera. A smartphone is enough.

Before moving damaged belongings or beginning major cleanup, take photos that clearly show the condition of your home.

Useful photos include:

  • the outside of the house

  • the entire affected room

  • the waterline on walls, doors or other surfaces

  • wet furniture and appliances

  • damaged floors and walls

  • close-ups of individual damaged areas

Try to take both wide shots and close-ups.

Checklist showing what to photograph before cleaning a flood-damaged home

A wide photo shows where the damage occurred and how much of the room or property was affected. A close-up can show details that may be difficult to see in the wider image.

For flooding, the water level is particularly useful to document. If there is a visible waterline, photograph it clearly. When possible, including a ruler or measuring tape in the photo can make the flood depth easier to understand.

Japan’s Cabinet Office recommends photographing both the outside and inside of a damaged home before cleanup or repairs. Its guidance also recommends making the depth of flooding visible in photographs.

If furniture, appliances or other belongings are badly damaged, photograph them before throwing them away. If you are unsure whether an item should be kept for an insurance assessment, check with your insurance company or agent before disposing of it.

The goal is not to take perfect photographs. It is to leave a clear record of what the home looked like before cleanup changed the scene.

Why Are Photos Important Before You Start Cleaning?

Flood damage can look very different after only a few hours of cleanup.

Mud gets washed away. Wet belongings are carried outside. Damaged flooring may be removed, and furniture may be discarded.

Once that happens, you cannot recreate the original condition of the home.

Photos may be useful when explaining the damage to your municipality or insurance company. They can also help show the extent of flooding if the visible waterline later disappears.

The General Insurance Association of Japan advises people who need to begin cleanup or repairs to photograph damaged areas as much as possible beforehand. Its guidance recommends photos showing the overall building or damaged belongings as well as the flood height and specific areas of damage.

This does not mean that photographs automatically guarantee financial assistance or insurance coverage. Insurance coverage depends on your individual policy and the circumstances of the damage.

Still, taking a few minutes to document the condition before changing it can save you from wishing later that you had taken a photo.

What Should You Do After Taking Photos?

Once you have documented the damage, think about safety before cleaning.

Floodwater and mud can bring hazards into a home. Wet electrical equipment can be dangerous, and mud may hide broken glass, nails or other sharp objects.

Do not casually touch or switch on electrical appliances that have been wet.

When it is safe to begin cleaning, a simple order to remember is:

Take photos → Check for hazards → Ventilate → Remove mud → Clean → Dry thoroughly

Six-step guide from photographing flood damage to cleaning and drying the home

Wear gloves and sturdy footwear while cleaning. Depending on the condition of the home, a mask and other protective equipment may also be appropriate.

You also do not need to begin by pouring disinfectant everywhere.

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare advises that after a home has flooded, removing soil and mud, cleaning thoroughly and allowing the affected areas to dry are important first steps. If disinfection is necessary, it should be done after cleaning.

Trying to restore an entire home in one day can also be overwhelming. Once immediate hazards have been addressed, working through the damage step by step is more realistic than trying to do everything at once.

What Is a Risai Shomeisho in Japan?

Foreign residents in Japan may hear the term risai shomeisho (罹災証明書) after a typhoon, flood or other disaster.

A risai shomeisho is a disaster victim certificate issued by a local municipality. It documents the level of damage to a residence and may be required when applying for certain types of public disaster assistance.

The exact application process can vary by municipality, so check the official website or disaster information from the city, ward, town or village where you live.

This is another reason why having photographs from before cleanup can be useful. They preserve a record of the condition of the property when the damage was still clearly visible.

Do You Need a Risai Shomeisho for a Home Insurance Claim?

A municipal disaster certificate and an insurance claim are separate processes.

According to the General Insurance Association of Japan, a risai shomeisho issued by a local government is generally not required when making a non-life insurance claim.

Whether flood damage to your home is actually covered depends on your insurance contract.

If your home has been damaged, contact your insurance company or agent and confirm your coverage and the claim procedure before making assumptions about what will be reimbursed.

It is also worth being cautious about businesses that appear after disasters and claim that home repairs will be “free because insurance will pay.”

The General Insurance Association of Japan has warned about problems involving businesses that solicit repair work by telling homeowners that insurance can be used, as well as companies offering to handle insurance claims on the homeowner’s behalf.

If someone approaches you after a disaster, you do not need to make an immediate decision. Check with your own insurer first.

The One Thing I Want to Remember After a Flood

Seeing flooded roads near where I live made me realize how quickly an ordinary day can change after heavy rain.

My home was not flooded, but watching what was happening nearby made me think seriously about what I would do if it happened to us.

I doubt I would calmly remember every disaster checklist.

I would probably look at the muddy floor and wet belongings and think, “I need to clean this up.”

So rather than trying to memorize everything, there is one first step I want to keep in mind:

Take photos before you start cleaning.

Photograph the outside of the home, the affected rooms, the flood height and damaged belongings. Once you have a record, check for hazards and then move on to cleanup and drying safely.

Taking those photos may only take a few minutes.

After the mud is gone and damaged belongings have been removed, however, the original condition cannot be recreated.

For anyone living in Japan during typhoon and heavy-rain season, “photos first, cleanup second” is a simple rule worth remembering.

References 

Cabinet Office, Government of Japan — Guidance on recording damage to a home before cleanup or repairs

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare — Infection prevention, cleaning and drying guidance for flooded homes

General Insurance Association of Japan — Guidance on photographing flood damage, insurance claims and disaster-related repair solicitations

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