Flood Advice

by the editor on 01.08.07

Help and resources for anyone affected by flooding

If you’ve been affected by flooding, the advice on this page will help you to minimise the damage and inconvenience you suffer.

1.) Follow advice, such as evacuation notifications and procedures, given by the Environment Agency and your local council. The Environment Agency’s 24-hour Floodline is available on 0845 988 1188.

2.) Remember that floodwater may be contaminated with oil, sewage, plants or animals. Be careful what you touch and look out for signs of pollution.

3.) Once the flood water begins to recede, open all your windows as soon as the weather permits. This will help to dry your house.

4.) DO NOT touch your home’s electrics until they have been inspected, either by your supply company or by an approved electrician.

5.) If an electrician needs to replace internal wiring they must be ‘Part P – Buildings Regulations’ registered.

6.) By mid-afternoon, the air outside will be moist. If your wiring has been checked and your heating is working, set it to a low temperature and close your windows.

7.) Drying your possessions too quickly may cause them further damage – allow them to dry gradually where possible. Resist the temptation to place them directly on a source of heat which could pose a fire hazard.

8.) When salvaging valuable photographs or paperwork, remove excess water and leave them to dry naturally. Don’t try to separate bundles of soggy paper.

9.) If bad weather stops you opening the windows, try to get hold of one de-humidifier for every two affected rooms and leave them running as much as possible.

10.) Clean out and thoroughly disinfect fridges and freezers as soon as possible. Throw all of their contents away, but remember to keep a list if you have the relevant insurance cover. If possible, take photographs.

11.) Store damaged furniture and fittings in a dry place. They may be repairable, and if not they may have a salvage value. Either way, your insurer will certainly want to inspect them.

12.) Remove all soaked rubber-backed carpets and leave them in the garden as these will have to be replaced. Leave hessian-backed carpets down on the floor to dry, as they will shrink if lifted. Once they are dry, the carpets can be lifted to dry the areas underneath.

13.) Clear out any mud or silt that has collected in airbricks. This will aid ventilation under floorboards and prevent rot. If you have a wooden suspended floor, get someone to help you lift the floorboards and ventilate the under-floor area with a de-humidifier until it is properly dried.

14.) It may take months for a property to dry out fully - do not attempt to redecorate straight away. It is important to check with a decorator or other expert to ensure that the walls and other surfaces are sound and fully dried out. They may also need to be treated to prevent mould.

There’s a lot of other useful help and resources elsewhere online. We’re gathering together the best links that we’ve found in the column on the right. If you know of a good resource that we’ve missed, please email editor@living.morethan.com and we’ll add it to the list.