Flood Safety

Safety precautions for when a flood has hit your home.

If your home has suffered a flood, not only can there be structural or electrical damage, there's often a massive cleanup job to tackle. This article deals with the safety precautions you can take and the risks involved in floodwater.

For further advice when tackling the aftermath of a flood, see Flood Restoration, Tree Damage and Roof Damage.

Essential Health Precautions

• The single most important precaution is washing your hands after any contact with flood water or sludge, particularly before eating or preparing food.
• Consider all water unsafe until local authorities confirm that the public water supply is safe. Don't even use it to brush your teeth, wash dishes or wash/prepare food. Ensure you're stocked up with an adequate supply of safe water from local stores.
• Throw out food which the flood water has reached (it's probably contaminated).
• Any utensils that have been in the floodwater must be cleaned and boiled in fresh water before use.
• 

  Have your wellies at hand!

  Use protective clothing such as Wellington boots and household rubber gloves as well as cover any cuts with a waterproof plaster if involved in the clean up, to cancel the risk of infection. If the job is too big or you simply don't have the time to take care it, see Carpet & Upholstery Cleaners.
• Don't use electrical circuits or equipment exposed to flood water until checked by a qualified electrician. Find a reliable, affordable professional to get the job done fast - see Electricians.

Floodwater Risks

The following section deals with the different types of contamination or damage caused by floodwater:

• Chemical Contamination
• Sewage/ Waste Contamination
• Electrical/ Fire Hazards

Chemical Contamination

Flooding can cause the disruption of water purification and sewage disposal systems, overflowing of toxic waste sites, and dislodgement of chemicals previously stored above ground. This can be hazardous to your health, so it's important to guard against exposure by wearing protective clothing. While different chemicals cause different health effects, the signs and symptoms most frequently associated with chemical poisoning are headaches, skin rashes, dizziness, nausea, excitability, weakness, and fatigue.

Any chemical dangers, such as a propane tank, should be handled by the Fire Department or police. See Emergency Contacts for details.

Sewage/ Waste Contamination

Flooding can cause the disruption of water purification and sewage disposal systems, as well as the overflowing of toxic waste sites. The main concern from flooding with sewage is a risk of illness because of infection by harmful microbes. These kinds of infectious organisms include intestinal bacteria such as E.Coli, Salmonella, Hepatitis A Virus, Typhoid and Tetanus.

You need to assume that any flood water that's affected your property and items could contain sewage, so follow the above advice on protective clothing and personal hygiene when coming into contact with affected areas.

The bacteria generally present in sewage is likely to be diluted, so won't be highly infectious, but there is definitely some risk of gastroenteritis if flood water is swallowed. Anyone who develops diarrhoea and/or vomiting after contact with flood water or sewage should seek medical advice.

Electrical Fire Hazards

Flooded areas may contain electrical or fire hazards connected with downed power lines. Take the following precautions:

• Never enter flooded areas or touch electrical equipment if the ground is wet, unless you're certain that the power supply is off.
• If water has been present anywhere near electrical circuits and electrical equipment, turn off the power at the mains.
• Don't assume that any part of a flooded electrical installation or appliance is safe, do not turn on their power supply - you will need to call in a professional electrician to repair any damage safely.