Appendix 4: Advice for Those in Flooded Areas

General Points

You will want to try to salvage property as soon as possible, especially items of sentimental value such as photographs or jewellery, but please do not put yourself at risk. When a building has been flooded, there are all sorts of dangers that you may not be fully aware of, and we would strongly advise you to read these notes before you do anything else.

Health and safety

•  Sewage back up can bring in contaminated water, don't eat food which has come into contact with any flood water, -even tinned or packaged food could still be contaminated.

•  Boil all drinking water

•  Watch out for fire hazards like broken gas pipes, wet electrical circuits and oil, petrol or chemicals carried on the water

•  Don't enter the building if the flood waters reached above ceiling level; the structure may be unsafe. Also check for cracks in foundations. If you see any, wait for specialist advice before entering the building.

•  If flood waters are still rising, make sure that everyone is out of the building; people have often become trapped in rooms when the water has risen to ceiling level and they have drowned. Please check if the neighbours are OK, especially if they are elderly or infirm.

•  Don't allow children to play in the flood water, it often will contain sewage or worse. Beware of rats or other vermin, they can spread disease.

•  Remember flood defence embankments can give way very quickly. If the waters are rising, get to higher ground.

Flooding of your home is a very traumatic experience; your insurer will help you sort out the property damage, but don't underestimate the effects on your own health. Don't over exert yourself trying to move furniture or cleaning away mud or sludge. Your policy will normally cover clean up costs anyway, and specialist cleaning contractors will be able to do the job more safely and effectively. After a flood, you will need to make arrangement to dispose of used sandbags safely. Children may be tempted to play with the sand inside them, but this will be contaminated by polluted floodwaters, and could pose a health risk.

The Samaritans

You, and your family and neighbours, are bound to feel emotionally upset, especially if you have lost items of sentimental value; don't be afraid to talk to others about how you feel. The Samaritans are specially trained to help people cope with distress and will be able to listen sympathetically to anyone who wants to talk. In the event of a major flood, they may have teams on site.

Alternative Accommodation

If you are not able to live on the premises any more, your insurer or loss adjuster should be able to help you to make alternative arrangements quickly. If you make your own arrangements, it is important that your insurer knows where to contact you.

Telephones may not work, plan a way to communicate with the rest of your family if separated.

Loss or Damage to Property

•  If you have a cellar, do not pump it out all at once; remove about a third a day, otherwise the weight of the wet soil outside may cause the walls to collapse

•  If you must enter the building, turn off the gas, electricity and water supplies first, watch out for falling plaster, or weakened floors.

•  Emergency Repairs: By all means have emergency repairs made as necessary to protect remaining property, but

•  don't be rushed or pressured into signing repair contracts with a tradesman at the door; deal with reputable contractors, if in doubt, contact your insurer or loss adjuster.

•  keep receipts for insurers,

•  take photographs of the damage, including tide marks on walls, and

•  keep notes of such things as the depth of flood, how long the flood waters were there, what contamination there was, what property you were able to move etc.

•  If you need to throw things out, and the loss adjuster has not yet examined them, keep samples or photographs. If you have a garden it is better to leave things in the garden until the loss adjuster has examined them. Alternatively, leave them on the pavement outside your house.

•  If you run a business and want to make a business interruption claim, keep detailed records of any business activity before and after the flood and extra expenses during the interruption period. Include expenses that continue such as advertising contracts. Keep current copies away from the business premises so they are not destroyed by water, humidity or fire.

•  Humidity can damage property even if it was out of reach of the water. Try to move valuable papers, electronic equipment, and other property into a dry building if possible. The sooner you can get de-humidifying machines working the better, but it can take a very long time to dry out the property completely. Ask your insurer if they can provide industrial de humidifiers and if not, whether they will cover the cost of renting them.

•  If your car engine has been under water, don't attempt to start it as this could cause more damage to the engine; seek professional help. If the carpets have been soaked, it's best to remove them for drying out as otherwise rust can form underneath them.

Insurance

If you are insured:

•  reasonable temporary repairs will be paid by insurers, but make sure to keep receipts

•  household buildings and contents policies include flood cover for domestic residences

•  policies for commercial or industrial premises do not always include flood cover

•  damage to your car will be covered if you have a comprehensive motor policy

•  the costs of reasonable alternative accommodation will usually be met up to the limits stated in your policy if your home becomes uninhabitable

Don't hesitate to telephone your insurer's emergency helpline number if you have any problems; most insurers operate an emergency number 24 hours a day.

Being Prepared...

You may read in the press that the flood was a "one in a hundred year event" or something like that. This does not mean that you won't be flooded for another 100 years; you could just as easily be flooded again next month or next week. (In fact if the ground is still waterlogged, you are more likely to be flooded again.) It makes sense to give some thought to what you should do to be prepared, just in case...

Warnings

In England and Wales , make sure that you are included in the Environment Agency's flood warning scheme. This will enable the Agency to send you a warning message by telephone.

But remember, sometimes a flood can happen with little or no warning; some planning now could save lives in the future.

Supplies

Sandbags, shovels, plywood, polythene sheets, hammer and nails, torches, batteries, battery operated radio, first aid kit, wellingtons, emergency food and water, (including food which does not need cooking or refrigeration and which is not damaged by water), cash and credit cards.

Information

Know how to turn off gas, electricity and water. Plan an evacuation route, plan where to go and what to take, plan a way to communicate with the rest of your family if separated.

Plan alternative local accommodation if possible, for example with friends or relatives.

Businesses

Businesses should consider making arrangements for alternative facilities in the event of a flood; this could be made on a reciprocal basis; e.g. you could offer your facilities to another business if they have a fire etc.

Help

Keep a note of your insurer's helpline number and your policy number handy. Don't hesitate to call your insurer's helpline right away, the sooner you call them, the sooner they can help you. You don't have to wait until office hours, most insurers' helplines are available 24 hours a day, every day.

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