Wiltshire Floods

General flooding information

• When floodwater recedes, it may leave a muddy deposit. As well as clearing up, there may be structural damage to your property.
• Sandbags help to keep water out but they will also keep it in as the water goes down.
• Always wear rubber gloves to clean surfaces or move objects that have been in contact with the floodwater - the water will have been contaminated with sewage and other pollution.
• The Yellow Pages lists details of qualified assistance such as plumbers and electricians as well as suppliers of cleaning materials and equipment. This can be found under "flood damage".
• It may be necessary to contact utility suppliers to reconnect supplies.
• Don't use electrical circuits or equipment exposed to flood water until checked by a qualified electrician.
• Don't dispose of damaged goods until your insurers have had a chance to inspect them.
• While in the property, floorboards, walls etc will continue to dry out. Any loose material and dust resulting from this should be vacuumed up on a regular basis.
• Very young children should avoid playing directly on timber floorboards or any damaged tiled floors if possible – be aware of the risk of injury from sharp edges on tiles or raised nails in the floorboards until these have been repaired.
• Help for vulnerable and elderly people returning to their houses is available. Contact your local council via the links on the right hand side of this page.
• Contact your Doctor if you become ill after accidentally swallowing mud or contaminated water and tell him your house was flooded.

Electricity

Check your internal wiring

• Regardless of whether your power has been switched on or off while your property has been flooded, customers need to get their internal wiring checked by an approved electrician. This is especially important where flood water has been above the level of electrical equipment within the property;
• You will need to ensure you use a qualified electrician. Please check the local Yellow Pages for an approved electrician and ensure they are 'Part P – Buildings Regulations' registered if they need to replace internal wiring;
• Customers should avoid touching electrical equipment that has been in contact with water and avoid plugging it in until it has been inspected by an electrician;

Electricity meter

• If your meter has been underwater or damaged by the flood waters you need to get it checked by your electricity supplier.

Insurance

• Contact your insurance company immediately if your home has flooded as the majority of household policies provide insurance cover for flooding.
• If you are a tenant and have taken out contents insurance, household contents, fixtures and fittings should be covered. It is normally the responsibility of your landlord to provide building insurance, however you are advised to check your policy.
• If you are uninsured you will most likely be responsible for covering all costs of flood damage. Remember to keep records of damage (photos etc).

Cleaning Up - Swindon Borough Council

When returning to your home after a flood, be aware that flood water may contain sewage. Protect yourself and your family by following these steps.

Where the inside of your home is affected:

• If there has been a backflow of sewage into the house, wear rubber boots and waterproof gloves during clean-up.
• Keep children and pets out of the affected area until clean-up has been completed.
  Walls, hard-surfaced floors, and many other household surfaces should be cleaned with soap and water and disinfected with a solution of 1 cup of bleach to 5 gallons of water.
• Wash all linens and clothing in hot water or dry-clean them. For items that cannot be washed or dry cleaned, such as mattresses and upholstered furniture, air dry them in the sun and then spray them thoroughly with a disinfectant. Steam clean all carpeting.
• Remove and discard all soft furnishings, fittings, wall coverings, cloth, rugs, and drywall (also include mattresses, carpeting, carpet padding, rugs, upholstered furniture, cosmetics, stuffed animals, baby toys, pillows, foam-rubber items, books, wall coverings, and most paper products) that are damaged beyond repair.
• Remove dirty water and silt from the property including the space under the ground floor if you have wooden floors. This space may need to be pumped out.
• Wash down all hard surfaces with hot soapy water until they look clean.
• Allow to thoroughly dry - this will also help to destroy germs left behind.
• Heating and good ventilation will assist the drying process. Help the drying process by using fans, air conditioning units, and dehumidifiers. Please review the advice on the safe use of emergency generators later in this web page.
• Thoroughly clean all hard surfaces (such as flooring, concrete, mouldings, wood and metal furniture, countertops, appliances, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures) with hot water and laundry or dish detergent, then disinfect with a solution of 1 cup of household bleach to 5 gallons of water. (Note: this solution should not be used for drinking, cooking, or personal hygiene).
• After completing the clean-up, wash your hands with soap and water.

When Will I Be Able to Return to my Home?

It is recommended that you only fully re-occupy your home once the above cleaning has been carried out. There may be additional works to be carried out eventually as advised by your insurance company, housing officer, landlord, builder etc. If you decide to return to your home before this further work is completed you should:

• Try to have some heating on at all times. Consider the use of a dehumidifier; these can be rented from tool hire companies although demand is likely to be high.
• Ensure the property is well ventilated. Leave windows open as much as possible but be mindful of security.
• Ensure that if you have air-bricks to any under floor spaces that these are unblocked to give cross ventilation to these areas.

If flood water has damaged your property

• If you are the property owner and you're insured, your insurers will most probably appoint a structural engineer or loss adjuster to carry out an assessment of your property and arrange repairs.
• If you are uninsured you may have to arrange this yourself. If you are a tenant, you may be responsible for the repairs, depending on your property owner. Contact the Citizens Advice Bureau for further advice. See Useful Numbers at the bottom of this page.
• If your home is uninhabitable and you are insured, your insurers may help you arrange emergency accommodation.
• If you are uninsured or a tenant and are made homeless, contact your local council.

Reducing the Risk of Infection

Is there a Risk of Infection?

The floodwater affecting your home or other property may have been contaminated with sewage, animal waste and other contaminants. However infection problems arising from floods in the UK are actually rare. Although harmful micro-organisms in flood water are very diluted and present a low risk there are a few precautions to be aware of when dealing with flooding, which should prevent unnecessary additional health problems. If you follow the basic advice below you should not experience any additional health problems.

• Floodwater and sewage often leaves a muddy deposit. However, experience from previous flooding and sewage contamination has shown that any risk to health is small and it is unlikely that you'll need any booster immunisations or antibiotics. If in doubt however, contact your GP or medical adviser.
• Health risks can be minimised by taking general hygiene precautions and by the use of protective clothing (waterproof boots and gloves) whilst cleaning up.
• Always wash your hands with soap and clean water after going to the toilet, before eating or preparing food, after being in contact with flood water, sewage or items that have been contaminated by these, or participating in flood clean-up activities.
  Don't allow children to play in flood-water areas and wash children's hands frequently (always before meals!). Wash floodwater-contaminated toys with hot water or disinfect before allowing them to be used.
• Keep any open cuts or sores clean and prevent them being exposed to flood water; wear waterproof plasters.
• Harmful gut bacteria such as E. coli O157 may be present in sewage and animal slurry, and this can pass into flood water, although there is likely to be substantial dilution. If anyone does develop a tummy upset following direct flooding or contact with sewage they should seek medical advice.

While in the property floorboards, walls etc will continue to dry out. Any loose material and dust resulting from this should be vacuumed up on a regular basis.

Very young children should avoid playing directly on timber floorboards or any damaged tiled floors if possible - be aware of the risk of injury from sharp edges on tiles or raised nails in the floorboards until these have been repaired.

Contact your Doctor if you become ill after accidentally ingesting (swallowing) mud or contaminated water and tell him/her your house was flooded.

Food preparation and storage

What About Food; How Can I Be Sure It's Safe?

• All food that has come into contact with sewage or floodwater should be destroyed. Double wrap this and put it with your household waste for collection.
• Wash your hands well before and after preparing food.
• Ensure all surfaces that food will come into contact with are sound and disinfected. Wash down with a solution of 1 cup of bleach to 5 gallons of water. If work tops and other areas show signs of damage, avoid food contact with these areas. Particularly make sure that the shelves including those in your refrigerator where food is stored are cleaned and disinfected.
• If there is any suggestion that the drinking water is contaminated (see below) use boiled water, which has then been allowed to cool to wash food that is eaten raw. It is safe to use unboiled tap water in the preparation of food which is to be cooked. It is safe to use unboiled tap water for cooking if it will be boiled during the cooking process.
• Food preparation surfaces should be wiped down using hot tap water containing washing-up-liquid, and dishes and other utensils should also be washed in hot tap water containing washing-up-liquid.
• Try to keep any opened food in an enclosed box or tin.
• All crockery, pots and pans should be thoroughly washed with hot soapy water before using. If any of these are badly chipped or damaged do not use.
• Frozen food that has been at ambient temperature for a few hours should be discarded. Put contaminated flood-damaged food in black plastic refuse sacks, seal and put out when your next refuse collection is due. Check with insurers before disposal. Don't be tempted to try and salvage damaged food - including tins as they may be contaminated with sewage and chemicals left from the floodwater.

What If Your Drinking Water Becomes Contaminated?

• Thames Water can advise regarding the safety of your water supply. There is more advice on the Thames Water website. They have a duty to take all necessary steps to protect public health. If a water treatment works becomes flooded alternative supplies are normally available but consumers may be advised to boil water before drinking or temporarily refrain from using water for domestic purposes.
• If you notice a change in water quality, such as the water becoming discoloured or there is a change in taste or smell, or if you are unsure, ring Thames Water. If in doubt boil all water intended for drinking or use bottled water.
• If you have been advised to boil your water, then boil all water for drinking, brushing teeth, washing food and making ice.
• If your water is a private supply such as a well or spring, then check that it has not been affected by the floodwater. If a private well or spring has been covered by floodwater, if the water changes colour or taste, or you believe the supply has been affected by the flood then boil (or otherwise treat) the water.
• Continue to boil the water until the supply has been tested and shown to be safe. Boiling water kills pathogenic bacteria, viruses and parasites that may be present in water. Bring the water to the boil and then allow it to cool before drinking. It can be stored in a clean jug covered by a saucer in a cool place (preferably in the fridge). Ice should be made from water prepared for drinking.
• Use a bleach solution to rinse containers before reusing them after flooding. Use water storage tanks and other types of containers with caution. This applies particularly to pans and utensils used in cooking or food preparation.
• Water from the hot tap is not suitable for drinking.
• Ensure the water taps are cleaned and disinfected before using them for the first time.
• If there is a bottle-fed baby in the house make sure their water is boiled and do not use bottled water unless it is recommended by a doctor or health visitor. Some bottled water is unsuitable for babies as it has too many salts for their immature kidneys to manage.

Gardens and Play Areas

What About Gardens and Play Areas That Have Been Affected?

• Do not let young children play on affected grassed or paved areas until they have been cleaned down and restored to their normal condition.
• Sunlight and soil help destroy harmful bacteria and any excess risk to health should disappear completely within a week or so. (The best way of protecting health is always to wash your hands before eating or preparing food).

Garden Vegetable Produce

• Don't eat garden or allotment vegetables that have been covered by sewage or floodwater.
• Although any health risk may be small, it is better to dispose of any contaminated produce and start again.

Useful Numbers

Wiltshire County Council: 01225 713000

Red Cross Flood Helpline: 0117 3012628

Wessex Water: 0845 600 4 600

Thames Water: 0845 9200 800

Southern Electric (emergency line): 08457 708 090

Gas: 0800 111 999

Environment Agency Floodline: 0845 988 1188

Swindon Borough Council: 01793 463000
Kennet District Council: 01380 724911
North Wiltshire District Council: 01249 706111
Salisbury District Council: 01722 336272
West Wiltshire District Council: 01225 776655

Citizens Advice Bureau (to find your nearest CAB centre, visit the website via the link on the right of the page).