What to do after a flood :Cross Stitch – Home and community

Clearing up after a flood can be rather unpleasant. However, there are practical steps you can take to make the process easier. Find out how to clear up after a flood, safely and effectively, and also deal with your flood insurance claim.

Floodwater can be contaminated with sewage, chemicals and animal waste.

When clearing up, you should:

  • wear protective clothing, like rubber gloves, waterproof jacket and trousers
  • use a face mask
  • wash your hands with disinfectant if you come into contact with floodwater, or handle anything that has been in contact with floodwater

If you start to feel unwell, call NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or contact your GP.

When clearing up, shovel mud away from both sides of the wall to stop pressure building up on one side.

Wait until the water levels are lower outside your property than in before getting rid of it using a pump or bucket. You can hire or buy a pump and generator from a DIY shop. Make sure you put the generator outside to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning from the exhaust.

After a flood, you should check that the electricity has been switched off at the mains. If you are not sure that it has been switched off, you should get a qualified person to do this. You should not touch sources of electricity while standing in floodwater. You should also make sure any electrical appliance that’s been in contact with floodwater is checked out by a qualified electrician.

In general, insurance cover is available for most properties in the UK.

You should check your buildings and contents insurance to:

  • make sure you’re covered for flooding
  • find out if your flood-damaged belongings will be replaced with new ones (a ‘new for old’ policy)

When you call the insurance company, ask:

  • how long it will be before the loss adjuster visits
  • if they will organise and pay for cleaning and redecorating your home
  • if they will help pay for repairs that will reduce potential flood damage and therefore reduce the costs if it happens again

You should make your own record of the flood damage. You can do this by taking photos, notes or making videos. You should also make sure you keep a record of everything related to your claim (letters, receipts and telephone calls to and from the insurance company).

If you rent, contact your landlord to check what buildings insurance is in place.

If you do not have insurance, your local council should be able to provide information on hardship grants or charities that may be able to help you.

Make sure you talk to your insurer before undertaking any work to find out what work can be paid for under your policy before starting any repairs. Your insurer will usually pay for ‘like-for-like’ repairs, restoring your home to a similar state to before the flood. You are likely to have to pay for any work beyond like-for-like repairs yourself. The cost of making your home better able to deal with flooding is likely to be a lot less than the cost of clearing up after flood.

Alterations you may want to consider are:

  • laying ceramic tiles on the ground floor
  • using rugs instead of fitted carpets
  • raising the height of electrical sockets to at least 1.5 metres above ground floor level
  • fitting stainless steel, plastic or solid wood kitchens instead of chipboard ones
  • putting main parts of a heating or ventilation system, like a boiler, upstairs or raised well above the ground floor
  • fitting non-return valves to all drains and water inlet pipes, which only let water flow one way
  • replacing wooden window frames and doors with man-made ones like UPVC – they are easier to clean