Bad weather, summer 2007

If you are involved in an emergency it is important that you:

· Ensure that 999 has been called if there are people injured or if there is threat to life.
· Do not put yourself in danger.
· Listen to the advice of the emergency services.
· Try to stay calm, think before taking any actions.
· Try and help others (for example elderly next door neighbours) and try to reassure others.

If you need to leave your home try to gather together:

· A list of useful phone numbers such as your doctor, and close relatives.
· Home and car keys.
· Toiletries, sanitary supplies and any regularly prescribed medication.
· A battery radio, with spare batteries.
· A torch with spare batteries, candles and matches.
· A first aid kit.
· Your mobile phone.
· Cash and credit cards.
· Spare clothes and blankets.

If you have time you should:

· Turn off electricity, gas and water supplies.
· Unplug appliances.
· Lock all doors and windows.
· If you leave by car take bottled water, blankets and tune into your local radio station for emergency advice and instruction.

Advice from the Environment Agency

The Environment Agency is responsible for monitoring and responding to coastal flooding and river flooding and operates a telephone advice line on 0845 988 1188. Their advice is:

· Stay out flood waters they are unsafe - even if you are in a large vehicle you can still be swept away or lose your footing.
· Check on elderly relatives and neighbours to see if they are ok.
· Check weather reports for your area, don't travel unless you have to.
· Call Floodline for information and advice on 0845 988 1188 about affected areas.

If you are in an affected area listen to local news reports for updates and be prepared.

Flash flooding - advice to policyholders from the Association of British Insurers

The Association of British Insurers has issued advice to property owners who have suffered flood damage following flash floods.

• Household and business insurance policies will cover flood damage. People affected should contact their insurer as soon as possible. Most offer 24-hour emergency help-line services to arrange for repairs to be carried out.

• If necessary arrange for temporary repairs to be carried out to stop any damage getting worse. Keep receipts, as these will be needed for your insurance claim.

• Most policies will cover the cost of alternative accommodation (up to a specified limit) if you need to move out of your home while it is being repaired.

• Comprehensive motor insurance will cover damage caused to vehicles

• Do not use electricity or water supplies until the all clear is given.

• Where there has been flooding, disinfect floors and furnishings. Where practical, leave doors, windows and cupboards open. If possible, keep rooms heated.

• Do not rush to redecorate, as it may take some weeks for the property to fully dry out.

Health information

The local councils have issued the following health advice - after reports of some households experiencing back-flow of sewerage into their properties.

Whilst the risk of infection is small they advise members of the public of the following basic precautions:

• Wherever possible, try to avoid coming into direct contact with water you think may be contaminated.

• Parents are advised to not let their children play in flood water and also ensure that any items suspected of being in contact with contaminated water are thoroughly cleaned before further use.

• Suitable waterproof gloves (such as household cleaning gloves) and Wellington boots should be worn if it is necessary to come into contact with flood water.

• Cuts and other open wounds should be covered with a waterproof plaster.

• Hands should be thoroughly cleaned in hot water and soap after contact with water or other items suspected of being contaminated.

• Food or drink suspected of being contaminated should be thrown away.

• Don't plug in damp electrical items.

• Exercise particular caution if walking through murky water as this can often conceal hidden hazards.

• Anyone who has been in contact with contaminated water or sewerage who develops diarrhoea, fever or abdominal pain in the following 10 days should seek medical advice.

General advice

After a flood, always clean and disinfect everything that has potentially come into contact with the floodwaters before using them, to avoid potential infections or other illnesses and if you stay in the house, open doors and windows to ventilate your home

Keep your insurance policy and a list of useful phone numbers kept in a sealed plastic bag for safety.

There have been instances where looting has occurred following flooding. Lock and secure your property when not occupied. Remember that burglar alarms may be put out of action if the electricity or telephone service has been interrupted.

Do not occupy a house that still contains standing water.

Standing water should be removed with pumps or pails, followed by a wet/dry vacuum to mop up any remaining water.

Your local fire brigade may assist with pumping out of properties, once floodwaters are beginning to subside.

If you cannot get your building pumped out by the fire brigade, you may be able to hire a pump from your local hire shop , or you can purchase one from a DIY shop.

During clean up the following safety precautions should be followed:

· Wear protective clothes, sturdy boots and gloves while handling debris.
· Wear substantial waterproof gloves while cleaning flood-damaged areas and items.
· Keep your hands away from your face while cleaning.
· Allow plenty of ventilation through a flooded building.
· Wash your hands with disinfectant if you have been in contact with floodwater or silt and after cleaning up.
· Watch out for any broken glass or nails while you're clearing up. 
· Cover open cuts and wounds on exposed skin with a waterproof plaster.

Following a flood contact your insurance broker or company as soon as possible to begin your claim. You should check with your insurance company what is covered by your household/building policy and enquire whether it covers "extra" costs, such as costs of temporary accommodation, drying apparatus, and electricity/gas inspections.

Without insurance, flood repair can be a very expensive process and generally local authorities do not have a responsibility towards repair (except for their own buildings) although most will provide some help.

Damage caused by flooding will generally be beyond the capability of the individual householder. Do not attempt work that is beyond your capabilities.

Your insurance company, often in conjunction with a loss adjuster, may appoint a builder to help you. Alternatively, you may be asked to contact several builders yourself and obtain competitive quotes

Beware of builders touting from door to door. Cowboy builders often try to exploit people's desperation. Do not pay cash in advance and obtain signed receipts for all work done.

Special needs

We've taken advice from people with special needs that have been involved in emergencies. They recommend the following points for consideration:

• Learn what to do in case of power outages and personal injuries. Learn how to connect back-up power supply for essential medical equipment.

• Consider having a medical alert system installed which will allow you to call for help if you are immobilised in an emergency.

• If you use an electronic wheelchair or scooter consider having a manual wheelchair as back up.

• Educate those who may need to assist you in an emergency how to operate necessary equipment.

• Store back-up equipment at a neighbours homes, school, workplace etc.

• Arrange for more than one person you know to check on you in an emergency, so there is a back up should your primary person not be available.

• If you are visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing, plan ahead for someone to convey essential emergency information to you if you are unable to use the TV or radio.

• Label equipment with name and operating instructions.

• If you live in an apartment block, ask about plans for alerting and evacuating those with disabilities.

• Have a mobile telephone with an extra battery. If you are unable to get out of the building, you can let someone know where you are. Store the numbers you may need during an emergency in your mobile telephone.

• Be prepared to provide clear, specific and concise instructions to the emergency service. practice giving these instructions clearly and quickly.

• But above all ask people you know to be prepared to help you out.

Advice on driving through floods

Only drive through water if you know how deep it is.

Drive slowly and steadily to avoid creating a bow wave. Allow oncoming traffic to pass first and test your brakes as soon as you can after leaving the water.

Don't try driving through fast-moving water such as at a flooded bridge approach - your car could easily be swept away.

Driving fast through standing water is dangerous - tyres lose contact with the road and you lose steering control in what's known as 'aquaplaning'.

Watch out for standing water, trying to avoid it if you can, and adjust your speed to the conditions. If you do experience aquaplaning, hold the steering wheel lightly and lift off the throttle until the tyres regain grip.

Driving fast through standing water is inconsiderate - driving through water at speeds above a slow crawl can result in water being thrown onto pavements or further into flooded homes.

You could face a hefty fine and between three and nine penalty points if the police believe you were driving without reasonable consideration to other road users.

Driving fast through standing water can cause expensive damage - the air intake on many cars is low down at the front of the engine bay and it only takes a small quantity of water sucked into the engine to cause serious damage. All engines are affected, but turbo-charged and diesel engines are most vulnerable.

As you drive slowly through standing water keep the engine revving by slipping the clutch otherwise water in the exhaust could stall the engine.

If you break down in heavy rain, don't prop the bonnet open while you wait for the patrol to arrive - the engine will be more difficult to start again if the electrics are all rain-soaked.