What to do after a flood

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Returning to your home

• Ensure all power and gas supplies are checked by a professional before turning them back on.
• Check with water supplier that it is safe to use water.
• Disinfect and clean taps, ensure you run them before using any water.
• Any electrical/gas appliance that has been in contact with flood water should be checked by a qualified engineer.
• Keep a photographic record of any flood damage.
• Contact your insurance company’s emergency helpline as soon as you can. If you have to pay for immediate help or emergency plumbing etc, keep a receipt for any work done.
• Your insurers will usually arrange for a loss adjuster and other specialists to visit your home to assess the damage, and they should manage most of the clear up. Speak to them before you start.

Cleaning up

The floodwater affecting your home may have been contaminated with sewage or other pollutants. So take precautions to avoid skin contact with floodwater such as waterproof clothing, rubber boots and gloves.

• Remove all dirty water and silt from the property as much as possible, including the space under downstairs floorboards. This may require pumping out.
• Good ventilation and a constant temperature will aid the drying process.
• Wash down all hard surfaces with hot soapy water several times until visually clean.
• Use a domestic disinfectant, following manufacturers’ directions, to wash over all hard surfaces after cleaning.
• Remove all soft furnishings and fittings that are damaged beyond repair
• Clothing, bedding and other soft fabric items including children’s toys should be washed on a hot wash 60 degrees and above to destroy any germs present. Other items that cannot be put in the washing machine will need to be professionally cleaned or if this is not possible they may have to be disposed of.
• Throw away any food that has been in contact with floodwater and any food that has been in a fridge or freezer should also be disposed of if the power has been off.
• Food preparation surface, storage cupboards and fridges etc should be washed and disinfected with a food safe disinfectant such as Milton, Dettox etc.
• Allow to thoroughly dry, this will also help destroy any germs left behind.

Related documents

• Householders' guide for emergencies
  Householders' guide for emergencies 331kb

Last updated: 16 February 2011