AFTER

• Your home flooding can be stressful. You will need to contact your insurance company, who will help you through the process of dealing with any damage caused by flooding.
• Take a photo of the tide mark on the wall where the flood water reached
• Take photos of everything that is damaged – furniture, carpets, curtains, possessions, external damage.
• Don’t take any action such as throwing away items until you have spoken to your insurer, as you may need to photograph them for your insurance claim.

However even after the flood has ended, there can still be dangers. Always remember that:

• Floodwater may be contaminated, especially by untreated sewage and even after the water is gone, these contaminants remain.  
• Make sure you wear rubber boots and gloves in and around the affected property.
• Floodwater can damage buildings, especially if it has been flowing quickly, is over 1m deep or has been in the property for a long time.
• Don't turn on your electricity until it has been checked.

If you're using a generator to dry out your property, remember:

• Never run a petrol or diesel-powered generator indoors.
• Be aware of the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• It can be difficult to detect highly poisonous carbon monoxide fumes because you cannot taste, see, or smell them. There's a greater risk of carbon monoxide poisoning when generators are used to dry out buildings.