A site-level documentation sequence for the first hours after a flood event — broader than a single-machine checklist, covering the whole affected area before individual equipment assessment begins.
Purpose
Evidence preserved in the first 24 hours is often irreplaceable — waterlines recede, contamination gets cleaned up, and site condition changes quickly. This checklist exists to make sure that evidence is captured before it's lost, extending the same discipline as the Handbook's own 24-Hour Checklist article to a site-wide scope.
When to Use
Immediately upon safe site access after a flood event
Before any cleanup, drying, or equipment movement begins
Classification
Engineering Discipline
General / Multi-discipline
Machine Types
All affected equipment
Industries
All
Required Inputs
Confirmed safe site access (structural and electrical safety cleared)
Camera and notepad or the Machine Investigation Questionnaire
A site layout or equipment list, if available
Expected Outputs
A dated, photographed record of site-wide as-found condition — the foundation for prioritizing which individual assets need the Electric Motor Inspection Checklist (or equivalent) first.
The Checklist
Overall site photographs taken before any water is removed or equipment moved
Waterline height documented at multiple reference points across the site
Flood water characteristics noted — clean, contaminated, or brackish (affects expected corrosion rate)
Every piece of potentially affected equipment identified and photographed individually
Equipment prioritized by criticality for detailed individual assessment
Electrical panels and control systems specifically flagged for isolation before re-energizing anything
Structural condition of the building/enclosure itself noted, if relevant
Exposure duration estimated and recorded, with its source (direct observation vs. reported)
Procedure
Confirm site safety before entry.
Photograph the whole site before touching anything.
Work through the checklist systematically, area by area.
Hand off the prioritized equipment list to individual asset-level inspection (e.g., the Electric Motor Inspection Checklist).
Acceptance Criteria
FactA complete record has photographic evidence for every checklist item — a checklist item marked complete with no corresponding photo is incomplete, regardless of what the notes say.
Engineering Notes
Note
Water characteristics (clean vs. contaminated vs. brackish) materially affect expected corrosion progression — always record this even when it seems obvious at the time, since memory of it fades faster than the physical evidence does.
Typical Mistakes
Common Mistake
Starting cleanup before the site-wide photographic record is complete — once water is removed, waterline evidence is gone.
Common Mistake
Assessing only the equipment that "looks bad" — equipment that appears unaffected can still have internal damage and should still be documented and queued for inspection.
