Flooding

After a flooding incident

The following help and advice will help you get back to normal as quickly as possible after a flood.

When floodwater recedes, it may leave a muddy deposit, as well as the distress of clearing up there may be structural damage to your property.
Remember that while sandbags help to keep water out, they will also keep it in as the water goes down. The Yellow Pages lists details of qualified assistance such as plumbers and electricians as well as suppliers of cleaning materials and equipment. This can be found under "flood damage".

• It may be necessary to contact utility suppliers to reconnect supplies.
• Always wear rubber gloves to clean surfaces or move objects that have been in contact with the floodwater - the water will have been contaminated with sewage and other pollution.
• Do not use electrical circuits or equipment exposed to flood water until checked by a qualified electrician.
• Do not dispose of damaged goods until your insurers have had a chance to inspect them.
• 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.

Contact your Doctor if you become ill after accidentally ingesting (swallowing) mud or contaminated water and tell him your house was flooded.

Insurance

Contact your insurance company immediately if your home has flooded, the majority of household policies provide insurance cover for flooding.

Tenants

If you are a tenant and have taken out contents insurance, household contents, fixtures and fittings should be covered; it is normally the responsibility of your landlord to provide building insurance. However you are advised to check your policy.

Please note: If you are uninsured you will most likely be responsible for covering all costs of flood damage. Remember to keep records of flood damage (photos etc).

Cleaning Up

Do not re-enter your house until all floodwater has been removed. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service may be able to help you with pumping floodwater out of your house.

• Remember others may also need this help so you may have to wait your turn.
• Remember there is no point pumping out rising water it will come straight back in!

If traffic is causing waves to further flood your property contact Avon and Somerset Police, alternatively if flooding is being caused by a public sewer, in the first instance contact Wessex Water.

Recommended measures

It is also recommended the following measures are taken:

• Ventilate your building after flooding - less damp is less damage.
• Put on protective clothing before starting any clean-up.
• Remove all soft furnishings and fittings that are damaged beyond repair.
• Remove dirty water and silt from the property including the space under the ground floor if you have wooden floors. This space may need pumping out.
• Wash down all hard surfaces with hot soapy water.
• Use a domestic disinfectant (following manufacturer's directions as to concentrations) to wash over all hard surfaces after cleaning.
• Clothing, bedding and other soft/fabric articles including children's toys etc should be laundered at the highest temperature as indicated on manufacturer's instructions. If this is less than 82 degrees Centigrade the articles may still contain bacteria.
• Other soft furnishings that have been contaminated and cannot be put in a washing machine on a hot wash (as above) will have to be professionally cleaned or if this is not possible may have to be disposed of.
• Seek professional advice (structural engineer) if your property is damaged.
  

If floodwater has damaged your property

• If you are the property owner and insured, your insurers will most probably appoint a structural engineer or loss adjuster to carry out an assessment of your property and arrange repairs.
• If you are uninsured you may have to arrange this yourself. If you are a tenant, you may be responsible for the repairs, depending on your property owner. Contact the Citizens Advice Bureau for further advice.
• If your home is uninhabitable, and you are insured, your insurers may help you arrange emergency accommodation.

Reducing the Risk of Infection

General advice on protecting health following flooding and sewage contamination of the environment:

• Do not use food which the floodwater has reached. It may be contaminated.
• Any utensils which have been in the floodwater must be cleaned and boiled in fresh water before use.
• Experience from previous flooding has shown that any risk to health is small if proper precautions are followed. You do not need any booster immunisations or antibiotics.
• Floodwater and sewage often leaves a muddy deposit that may contain bacteria and other micro-organisms.
• If anyone in your family does become ill you should deal with it in the way you normally would.
• Use protective clothing such as wellington boots and household rubber gloves if involved in the clean up to minimise the risk of infection.
• Cover any cuts with waterproof plaster.
• The single most important precaution is washing your hands after any contact with flood water or sludge and particularly before eating or preparing food.
  

Food preparation and storage

• Do not eat any food that has been covered by or come into contact with sewage or floodwater.
• Wash your hands before and after preparing food.
• Ensure all surfaces that food will come into contact with are sound and disinfected. If work tops and other areas show signs of damage, avoid food contact with these areas. Particularly make sure that the shelves including those in your refrigerator where food is stored are cleaned and disinfected.
• Food preparation surfaces should be wiped down using hot tap water containing washing-up-liquid, and dishes and other utensils should also be washed in hot tap water containing washing-up-liquid. You could also use food safe disinfectant to sanitise the surfaces, dishes and other utensils.
• All crockery, pots and pans should be thoroughly washed and rinsed with hot soapy water before using. If any of these are badly chipped or damaged do not use. You could use a food safe disinfectant to sanitise them after cleaning.
• Frozen food that has been at ambient temperature for a few hours should be discarded in an appropriate manner. Check with insurers before disposal.
• Do not be tempted to try and salvage damaged food - including tins as they may be contaminated with sewage and chemicals left from the floodwater.

Gardens and Play Areas

Do not let young children play on affected areas until they have been cleaned down and restored to their normal condition.
Children should always wash their hands after playing outdoors, especially before eating or preparing food.

Garden Vegetable Produce

Do not eat garden or allotment vegetables that have been covered by sewerage or floodwater.
Although any health risk may be small, it is better to dispose of any contaminated produce and start again.