Actions to take after flooding
Important Points to Consider:
- Call your insurance company’s (24 hour) Emergency Helpline as soon as possible. They will be able to provide information on dealing with your claim, and assistance in getting things back to normal. Do not dispose of any goods prior to contacting your insurance company.
- Contact your gas, electricity and water company. Have your power supplies checked before you turn them back on. Wash taps and run them for a few minutes before use.
- Beware of bogus traders. Always check references and if possible get recommendations. Contact your local authority Trading Standards department for advice.
- Some insurance companies will arrange clean-up and disposal of damaged goods. Where this is not part of the service offered by your insurance company, please advise the Council and appropriate arrangements will be made.
- The Council will not collect and dispose of any materials until an insurance assessment has been made.
Before Re-occupying Your Home
The floodwater affecting your home or other property may have been contaminated with sewage and other contaminants. Although this would be very diluted and present a low risk there are a few precautions when dealing with the problem as below.
Cleaning Up the House after the Flood
- Cover open cuts and wounds on exposed skin with a waterproof plaster.
- Remove all soft furnishings and fittings that are damaged beyond repair.
- Remove all dirty water and silt from the property as much as possible, including out of the space under downstairs floorboards if you have these. This may require pumping out. Wear gloves and waterproof boots whilst cleaning up.
- Wash down all hard surfaces with hot soapy water several times until visually clean.
- Use a domestic disinfectant, following manufacturer's directions as to concentrations, to wash over all hard surfaces after cleaning.
- Food preparation surfaces and storage cupboards, refrigerators etc should be washed down with food safe disinfectants such as Milton, Dettox or similar.
- Allow to thoroughly dry - this will also help to destroy any germs left behind.
- Heating and good ventilation will assist the drying process.
Clothing and Bedding
Clothing, bedding and other soft/fabric articles including children's toys etc should be laundered on a hot wash (60ºC and above), which will destroy any germs that may be present. Other soft furnishings that have been contaminated and cannot be put in a washing machine will have to be professionally cleaned or, if this is not possible, may have to be disposed of.
Other Contaminants
If the floodwater contained oil, diesel etc this should in the main be removed with the floodwater and silt. Any remaining oil, diesel etc contamination in accessible areas can be removed by using a detergent solution and washing the surface down after initial cleaning has been carried out. In inaccessible areas such as under floorboards it may present an odour problem but is not necessarily a health hazard. Further advice should be sought from our Environmental Health Service if the odour persists or if you are particularly concerned about it for other reasons.
Returning to your home
It is recommended that you only fully re-occupy your home once the above cleaning has been carried out. There may be additional works to be carried out eventually as advised by your insurance company, housing officer, landlord, builder etc. If you decide to return to your home before this further work is completed you should:
- Try to have some heating on at all times, consider the use of a dehumidifier
- Ensure the property is well ventilated. Leave windows open as much as possible. Remember security though!
- Ensure that if you have air bricks to any under floor spaces that these are unblocked to give cross ventilation to these areas.
Food Preparation and Storage
- Ensure all surfaces that food will come into contact with are sound and disinfected as above. If work tops and other areas show signs of damage, avoid food contact with these areas. Particularly make sure that shelves including in your refrigerator where food is stored are cleaned and disinfected.
- Try to keep any opened food in an enclosed box or tin.
- All crockery, pots and pans should be thoroughly washed with very hot soapy water before using. If any of these are badly chipped or damaged do not use. You could also use a food safe disinfectant e.g. Milton to sanitise them after cleaning.
- Ensure the water taps are cleaned and disinfected before using them for the first time.
- Take particular care in preparing food, always wash your hands before starting.
- Frozen food that has been at ambient temperature for a few hours should be discarded.
If Your Drinking Water Becomes Contaminated
- People whose water comes through a mains supply should follow the advice of the local water company regarding the safety of their water supply. Water companies have a duty to take all necessary steps to protect public health. If a water treatment works becomes flooded alternative supplies are normally available but consumers may be advised to boil water before drinking or temporarily stop using water for domestic purposes.
- If you notice a change in water quality, such as the water becoming discoloured, or there is a change in taste or smell, or if you are unsure, ring your local water company. If in doubt boil all water intended for drinking or use bottled water.
- If you have been advised to boil your water, then boil all water for drinking, brushing teeth, washing food and making ice.
- If your water is a private supply such as a well or spring, then check that it has not be affected by the floodwater. If a private well or spring has been covered by floodwater, if the water changes colour or taste, or you believe the supply has been affected by the flood then boil (or otherwise treat) the water. Continue to boil the water until the supply has been tested and shown to be safe. Boiling water kills harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites that may be present in water. Bring the water to the boil and then allow it to cool before drinking. It can be stored in a clean jug covered by a saucer in a cool place (preferably the fridge). Ice should be made from water prepared for drinking.
- Water from the hot tap is not suitable for drinking.
- Ensure the water taps are cleaned and disinfected before using them for the first time.
- Only safe high quality water should be used for dental surgery.
- If there is a bottle-fed baby in the house make sure their water is boiled and do not use bottled water unless it is recommended by a doctor or health visitor. Some bottled water is unsuitable for babies as it has too many salts for their immature kidneys.
Other Health Issues
If you follow the basic advice above you should not experience any additional health problems. It is possible that the "stress" caused by the incident may well make you feel unwell in some way. This does not necessarily mean that you are suffering from any infection or disease. However, if you are concerned visit your own doctor, who can also arrange counselling for you.
- While in the property floorboards, walls etc will continue to dry out. Any loose material and dust resulting from this should be vacuumed up on a regular basis.
- Very young children should avoid playing directly on timber floorboards or any damaged tiled floors if possible - be aware of the risk of injury from sharp edges on tiles or raised nails in the floorboards until these have been repaired.
- Help for vulnerable and elderly people returning to their houses may be available from the Adult Social Services Department of Derbyshire County Council.
Remember:
DO:
- Wash your hands properly if you have been in contact with floodwater or silt. Take particular care when preparing or eating food.
- Contact your insurance company (if relevant) and make an inventory list of all damaged goods, including food. If you can, take photographic or video pictures.
- Put contaminated flood damaged food in black plastic refuse sacks, seal and put out when your next refuse collection is due. Check with insurers before disposal.
- If you accidentally ingest (swallow) mud or contaminated water and you become ill contact your doctor and tell him your house was flooded.
- Carefully replace manhole covers dislodged by the flood.
DON'T:
- Don’t be tempted to try and salvage damaged food as it may be contaminated with sewage or chemicals left from the floodwater.
- Don’t switch on electrical appliances, which have been in contact with the floodwater unless a competent electrician has checked them. Your local electricity supply company will be checking mains supplies.
- Don’t eat home grown garden or allotment fruit and vegetables that have been covered by floodwater. Leave undamaged vegetables in the ground for at least another two weeks and then only use them after thorough washing and cooking.
- Don’t let young children play on affected grassed or paved areas until they have been cleaned and restored to their normal condition.
Additional Repair Work
- Eventually other necessary works may have been identified by your insurers, builders etc. These will possibly be carried out after the property has substantially dried out. However, if plaster walls and partitions have been affected badly and do not dry out in a sound condition the plaster and boards affected will have to be removed, walls dried out and re-plastered. Otherwise redecoration of sound walls is all that will be necessary.
- Any areas showing signs of mould should be treated - fungicidal products are available from DIY stores.
- After about six months it would be advisable to check timber floors for any evidence of rot or shrinkage. Any necessary repair work can then be made.
- Fitted units, particularly in the kitchen, made of chipboard may not dry out well and will become damaged by absorbed water. Sanitisation of these is difficult and therefore may have to be eventually replaced.
- Check for structural damage to your property and if you think there is damage or danger seek advice from your insurer, builder or the Council's Building Control Officer.
Useful Contacts
| High Peak Borough Council | Tel: 0845 129 77 77
or 01298 28400 |
| High Peak Borough Council out of Hours | Tel: 01298 813848 |
| Derbyshire County Council (Call Derbyshire) | Tel: 08456 058058 |
| Derbyshire County Council (Welfare Rights Benefits Helpline) | Tel: 0845 120 2985 |
| Derbyshire County Council (as Highway Authority) | Tel: 0845 605 8058 |
| Job Centre Plus Social Fund Advice | Tel: 0845 608 8538 |
| Environment Agency Floodline | Tel:0845 988 1188 |
| Severn Trent Water (as Sewerage Undertakers) | Tel: 0800 783 4444 |
| United Utilities (as Sewerage Undertakers) | Tel: 0845 746 2200 |
| National Gas Emergency Line | Tel: 0800 111 999 |
| NHS Direct | Tel: 0845 4647 |
| BT Customer Services | Tel: 0800 800 150 |
| Housing Shelter Line | Tel: 0808 800 4444 |
If you have any further queries regarding the public health implications of flooding or general enquiries relating to flooding please contact the Environmental Health Service on 0845 129 77 77 or 01298 28400.
Acknowledgement
This guidance has been based on the Guidance Notes produced by the Health Protection Agency Service.
