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THE FLOODWARN ADVICE
We aim to help uk residents, businesses and local government and all agencies that manage flood risk.
So you have just been flooded:
First steps
The period after a flood in your home or business is usually the most stressful of all and with that comes the reality, that 'it happened to me'
You can make a plan of action that will help you get through this
distressing time.
IF YOU HAVE HOUSEHOLD INSURANCE read on:-
If you have not done so, ring your insurance company immediately - they will send a loss adjuster as soon as they can.
Try to 'stop' and make a plan. e.g. Photograph everything – structure, appliances, furniture and contents, watermarks etc. If you or your family have had to move out or need to leave the area, make realistic decisions based upon the fact many houses will take 6 months, 1 year or even longer depending on type of construction, to dry and become habitable – this is often not a two week problem! Depends on damage
You may have to live in your house while the loss adjuster arrives and tells you what will happen. In the meantime make a list of what has been damaged and keep it somewhere safe.
If you have a camera (a cheap disposable one will do) or a video camcorder take a few pictures of everything.
Recover valuables, keepsakes etc.. and put them somewhere safe. Use rubber gloves when you are handing them and put them in bags or boxes in a safe place, most articles can be professionally restored, do not throw away or damage further.
Your insurance company via your loss adjusters will arrange for a professional cleaning company to come and undertake all of the work in the following section or if the damage is severe appoint a 'strip out' contractor to remove flood damaged walls and floors plus damaged goods. This will include kitchen units, and all electrical fittings
The following section is for those with:-
NO HOUSEHOLD FLOOD INSURANCE ?
But the following is good advice for everyone.
Basic Advice
Local supplies of disinfectant, brushes, driers, generators, pumps, builders and tradesmen will run out very fast if flooding has been widespread. Make a full list of emergency cleaning items to get ahead of the game by arranging for someone to collect these for you from perhaps well outside the local area.
When the flood water subsides it is vital to clear standing water as quickly as possible.
Many people tend to wring their hands thinking they need to show the Insurance Loss Adjuster "just how bad it is" and perceive little urgency. Bricks and concrete floors soak up water relatively slowly, but conversely take months to dry out if they have been left standing in water for a long period. (1 inch per month) Fast action at this stage will save months of drying time later. (Very deep water however should be cleared by max one third each day).
Get everything that is wet out of the house. Never try to vac-dry carpets where the
underlay or flooring below is wet. Carpets are likely to be contaminated. All drying has to be done by exposing the bottom layer of the structure. Laminate floors must be taken up. Traditional floorboards should be lifted in a limited pattern to allow pumping and or ventilation of the sub floor. The boards and joists will usually dry satisfactorily.
Chipboard floors may recover but if immersed in water for several days they will swell badly and never recover and are very unsafe to walk on when wet. If they need to be scrapped then remove them immediately to aid ventilation to the joists and sub-ground below.
If scrubbing with disinfectant is needed this is the next job. It is pointless to dry concrete floors and then introduce more water in cleaning at a later date. Disinfect very thoroughly since if not the smell will forever linger. Disinfectant will kill mould that may form as soon as 'wet areas' change to 'damp areas'. Mould and mildew are more dangerous to health than commonly perceived.
If Kitchen Units are wrecked (which is highly likely) then these should be dismantled also. If the units are recoverable however my advice is not to see this as a 'new insurance kitchen opportunity' your priority is to get back in your house, not refit your kitchen!
Staircases will usually dry out but need ventilation to the underside if possible. Doors will vary in construction but once twisted will not often straighten. Removing doors help ventilation.
General flooding information
• When floodwater recedes, it may leave a muddy deposit. As well as clearing up, there may be structural damage to your property.
• Sandbags may help to keep water out but they will also keep it in as the water goes down.
• 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.
• 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.
• Don't use electrical circuits or equipment exposed to flood water until checked by a
qualified electrician.
• Don't 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.
• Help for vulnerable and elderly people returning to their houses is available. Contact your local council or social services department and check on elderly and frail neighbours and friends, they may need help.
• Contact your Doctor if you become ill after accidentally swallowing mud or contaminated water and tell him your house was flooded.
Electricity
Check your internal wiring
• Regardless of whether your power has been switched on or off while your property has been flooded, customers need to get their internal wiring checked by an approved electrician. This is especially important where flood water has been above the level of electrical equipment within the property; remember that your wiring may run under the floor screed and so even if your sockets were above the water level, there may be permanent damage to your electrics
• You will need to ensure you use a qualified electrician. Please check the local Yellow Pages for an approved electrician and ensure they are 'Part P – Buildings Regulations' registered if they need to replace internal wiring.
• Avoid touching electrical equipment that has been in contact with water and avoid
plugging it in to a supply until it has been inspected by an electrician.
Electricity meter
• If your meter has been underwater or damaged by the flood waters you need to get it checked by your electricity supplier. Take a meter reading for future reference
Insurance
• Contact your insurance company immediately if your home has flooded as the majority of household policies provide insurance cover for flooding.
• 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.
• If you are uninsured you will most likely be responsible for covering all costs of flood damage. Remember to keep records of damage (photos etc).
Cleaning Up -
When returning to your home after a flood, be aware that flood water may contain
sewage. Protect yourself and your family by following these steps.
Where the inside of your home is affected:
• If there has been a backflow of sewage into the house, wear rubber boots and
waterproof gloves during clean-up.
• Keep children and pets out of the affected area until clean-up has been completed.
Walls, hard-surfaced floors, and many other household surfaces should be cleaned
with soap and water and disinfected with a solution of 1 cup of bleach to 5 gallons
of water.
• Wash all linens and clothing in hot water or dry-clean them. For items that cannot
be washed or dry cleaned, such as mattresses and upholstered furniture, air dry
them in the sun and then spray them thoroughly with a disinfectant. Steam clean all
carpeting.
• Remove and discard all soft furnishings, fittings, wall coverings, cloth, rugs, and
drywall (also include mattresses, carpeting, carpet padding, rugs, upholstered
furniture, cosmetics, stuffed animals, baby toys, pillows, foam-rubber items, books,
wall coverings, and most paper products) 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 to be pumped out.
• Wash down all hard surfaces with hot soapy water until they look clean.
• Allow to thoroughly dry - this will also help to destroy germs left behind.
• Heating and good ventilation will assist the drying process. Help the drying process
by using fans, air conditioning units, and dehumidifiers. Please review the advice on
the safe use of emergency generators later in this web page.
• Thoroughly clean all hard surfaces (such as flooring, concrete, mouldings, wood
and metal furniture, countertops, appliances, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures)
with hot water and laundry or dish detergent, then disinfect with a solution of 1 cup
of household bleach to 5 gallons of water. (Note: this solution should not be used
for drinking, cooking, or personal hygiene).
• After completing the clean-up, wash your hands with soap and water.
When Will I Be Able to Return to my 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. Your insurance company
may not allow you to return until your home has been fully dried out, repaired and
reinstated. This is often to satisfy the contractors health and safety concerns but also beware of moving too far away as it is important to be able to easily supervise work on your home over the coming months
If you do 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; these
can be rented from tool hire companies although demand is likely to be high.
• Ensure the property is well ventilated. Leave windows open as much as possible but be mindful of security.
• Ensure that if you have air-bricks to any under floor spaces that these are
unblocked to give cross ventilation to these areas.
If flood water has damaged your property
• If you are the property owner and you're 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. See Useful Numbers at the bottom of this page.
• If your home is uninhabitable and you are insured, your insurers may help you arrange emergency accommodation.
• If you are uninsured or a tenant and are made homeless, contact your local council.
Reducing the Risk of Infection
Is there a Risk of Infection?
The floodwater affecting your home or other property may have been contaminated with sewage, animal waste and other contaminants. However infection problems arising from floods in the UK are actually rare. Although harmful micro-organisms in flood water are very diluted and present a low risk there are a few precautions to be aware of when dealing with flooding, which should prevent unnecessary additional health problems. If you follow the basic advice below you should not experience any additional health problems.
• Floodwater and sewage often leaves a muddy deposit. However, experience from
previous flooding and sewage contamination has shown that any risk to health is
small and it is unlikely that you'll need any booster immunisations or antibiotics. If
in doubt however, contact your GP or medical adviser.
• Health risks can be minimised by taking general hygiene precautions and by the use of protective clothing (waterproof boots and gloves) whilst cleaning up.
• Always wash your hands with soap and clean water after going to the toilet, before
eating or preparing food, after being in contact with flood water, sewage or items
that have been contaminated by these, or participating in flood clean-up activities.
Don't allow children to play in flood-water areas and wash children's hands
frequently (always before meals!). Wash floodwater-contaminated toys with hot
water or disinfect before allowing them to be used.
• Keep any open cuts or sores clean and prevent them being exposed to flood water;
wear waterproof plasters.
• Harmful gut bacteria such as E. coli O157 may be present in sewage and animal
slurry, and this can pass into flood water, although there is likely to be substantial
dilution. If anyone does develop a tummy upset following direct flooding or contact
with sewage they should seek medical advice.
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/her your house was flooded.
Food preparation and storage
What About Food; How Can I Be Sure It's Safe?
• All food that has come into contact with sewage or floodwater should be destroyed.
Double wrap this and put it with your household waste for collection.
• Wash your hands well before and after preparing food.
• Ensure all surfaces that food will come into contact with are sound and disinfected.
Wash down with a solution of 1 cup of bleach to 5 gallons of water. 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.
• If there is any suggestion that the drinking water is contaminated (see below) use
boiled water, which has then been allowed to cool to wash food that is eaten raw. It
is safe to use unboiled tap water in the preparation of food which is to be cooked. It
is safe to use unboiled tap water for cooking if it will be boiled during the cooking
process.
• 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.
• Try to keep any opened food in an enclosed box or tin.
• All crockery, pots and pans should be thoroughly washed with hot soapy water
before using. If any of these are badly chipped or damaged do not use.
• Frozen food that has been at ambient temperature for a few hours should be
discarded. 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. Don't be tempted to try and salvage damaged food - including tins as they
may be contaminated with sewage and chemicals left from the floodwater.
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What If Your Drinking Water Becomes Contaminated?
• Thames Water can advise regarding the safety of your water supply. There is more
advice on the Thames Water website. They 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 refrain from 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 Thames Water. 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
been 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 pathogenic 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 in the fridge).
Ice should be made from water prepared for drinking.
• Use a bleach solution to rinse containers before reusing them after flooding. Use
water storage tanks and other types of containers with caution. This applies
particularly to pans and utensils used in cooking or food preparation.
• 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.
• 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 to manage.
•
Gardens and Play Areas
What About Gardens and Play Areas That Have Been Affected?
• Do not let young children play on affected grassed or paved areas until they have
been cleaned down and restored to their normal condition.
• Sunlight and soil help destroy harmful bacteria and any excess risk to health should
disappear completely within a week or so. (The best way of protecting health is
always to wash your hands before eating or preparing food).
Garden Vegetable Produce
• Don't eat garden or allotment vegetables that have been covered by sewage or
floodwater.
• Although any health risk may be small, it is better to dispose of any contaminated
produce and start again.
Drying
Ventilation, ventilation and more ventilation. In fine weather open windows and doors to create a draft of air through the building. Unless of course your house has been sealed to allow dehumidifiers to operate more effectively
Incoming air will evaporate damp from surfaces and take the moisture out of the building.
Heating the house at the same time will speed the process. Hot air electric heaters are excellent since they produce moisture free heat. Propane Gas space heaters are frowned upon by many experts as the gas produces a little moisture and in the wrong hands they could be a fire risk. In my own experience they are very effective but one must appreciate fast track drying can cause cracking of plaster, twisting of door etc.
Dehumidifiers work on the principle of extracting water from the humid air of a damp building; the building must be sealed with all windows and doors closed otherwise you are effectively 'drying the outside world'. Ideally a large hire-shop dehumidifier (3ftx2ftx2ft) is needed in each room to be dried. The water must be collected into a large barrel and not an open bucket. It may need emptying frequently so be aware if you are living a distance away. Dehumidifiers are slow in action and in my view best employed after much heat and
ventilation drying has first been achieved.
Note, a concrete floor is truly ‘dry’ when a 1metre sq polythene sheet left on the floor overnight does not have condensation under it the next morning. Whilst a house can be occupied before this point, tiles or vinyl should not be laid until this test is passed. A stone floor may have ‘blown and been cracked a unsaturated from below – it may need digging up and replacing.
When windows start to show less condensation drying is being effective.
Insurance
Do not wait; do not see this as an insurance 'opportunity'. Insurance Loss Adjusters will be inundated and cannot get to everyone first. They are professionals who are generally keen to help honest people. They like claimants who do everything reasonable to mitigate their own loss. Communicate clearly and clarify what terms of reference the Insurance Company feels is reasonable. If you ‘try it on’ expect a long and stressful process.
In general you will get eventually what you are due-
• Fully insured; new for old – you should get full recompense of all expenses less any
excess on your policy.
• Fully insured – you may get full recompense but the policy may adjust downwards
for fair wear and tear and general depreciation since new. A 15 year old kitchen
does not always justify a new kitchen!
• Under insured; - you should get the 'fair percentage' . The Insurance Company will
take the rebuild cost you have insured for, when compared with the current correct
rebuild cost of your whole house. In simple terms a house of rebuild value
£100,000 insured for only £75,000 will result in a flood claim of £25,000 being
reduced by 25% due to the under insured loss. A rule of thumb correct insurance
rebuild cost might be £100/sq ft of floor area. A luxury house may be £130/sq ft; a
basic terraced house could be as low as £70/sq ft.
Try to remain calm and courteous at all times and keep a book with a record of all
conversations and communications with your insurers, and various contractors and
consultants. The next phase is a complex project and will benefit from as many
organisational skills as you can provide.
Our advice is to keep photographs of everything; regularly update the insurance company with letters, emails or handwritten notes of what you are doing and why you are doing it.
In current circumstances they will not expect you to get permission to hire a heater, buy disinfectant etc…..just send them a note and press on.
Builders Quotes
Builders in the area will be inundated with quotation work, and eventually will very likely become over stretched with work and may prove understandably unreliable. Consider organising quotes from builders / kitchen fitters from further afield. Consider ordering goods like kitchens and doors very early after clearing with any Insurer since supplies may become stretched to long deliver dates. Given the huge pressure that Insurers are likely to be under try to help arrange quotes yourself to move your case 'up the pile'; don’t exaggerate the claim at all and you may get a fast decision to proceed with a builder, or manage the work yourself.
Plant and Equipment
Hire shops will quickly become short of driers, heaters and generators. Consider hiring from outside the area. Hire in general is very costly over a long period.
Always consider purchasing equipment since you are likely to need it for much longer that you first anticipate and owning it means that you stay in fully control. If you own the equipment it may be useful in the future or resell able on eBay.com. later. Small generators are readily available at many builders merchants, B&Q, Wickes etc. These will be adequate for running small pumps. Very small d.i.y. dehumidifiers are unlikely to achieve meaningful results however. The purchase of several traditional sturdy household ‘electric fan heaters ’ may prove a fantastic purchase however. Consider several good quality extension leads for getting heat into difficult areas and corners.
Numbers and contacts, you need.....
Environment Agency Floodline 0845 988 1188
Red Cross Flood Helpline: 0117 3012628
Some numbers you will need......
Local authority emergency helpline
Insurance company 24-hour
number and policy number
Local radio station frequency for
news alerts and weather updates
Family and neighbours
Bank phone number and details
Work phone numbers
Doctor’s surgery
Local police station
Vet/kennel/cattery
Local hotel or B&B
Gas supplier and meter number
Electricity supplier and meter number
Water supplier and meter number
Electrician
Plumber
Builder
Citizens Advice Bureau (to find your nearest CAB centre, visit the website via the link
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