With so many people affected by flood damage in Cork, Galway and other areas, I think it would be useful to start a thread on the practical details of dealing with flood damage.
A similar thread has been started on how to make an insurance claim.
Here is a list of how to deal with various household items, based on experience in US. It covers electrical goods, furniture, bedding etc.
If anyone has practical experience of this, I'm sure it would be appreciated by many affected.
-------------------UPDATE------------------
There is a government website already for this flooding.ie
"Seeing the devastation a flood can cause to your property can be difficult for the whole family. Make sure that everyone gets plenty of support, rest and proper food. The clean up operation may seem like a daunting task, but just take things one step at a time.
Before you begin to clean up your property make sure you have the equipment you will need. This includes:
You must have an expert check your property’s services before you turn them back on. The damage caused by the flood may not be obvious and switching on a service could be very dangerous.
Electricity
An electrician will check the junction boxes, socket outlets, light switches and ceiling connections to ensure that there is no water trapped inside them.
Modern wiring can withstand a short period of flooding, but if your property was flooded for more than a couple of hours then you need to replace the wiring in your house. Consider re-routing cables to drop down from above.
Gas
Water and mud may enter gas systems during a flood. A registered engineer can check all your appliances, as these may be dangerous, even if they appear to be working normally.
Water
Mains supply water should not be affected by flooding, but wash the taps and then run them for a short time to ensure that silt has not entered the system.
If you suspect that your mains supply has been contaminated contact your local authority and boil tap water for at least 20 minutes before use.
Check the pipe work in your house to ensure that it has not been damaged and check any insulation around the pipes and replace as necessary.
Water supplies that are not on the mains system, such as cisterns or wells, may be contaminated and should not be used until they have been tested over a period of time. Consult a specialist for advice.
Sewers
Drains and sewers are rarely damaged by floods, but they may block and back up. Check this by flushing toilets and running taps. Report any blockages to the local authority.
If sewer repairs need to be made, consider installing anti-backflow devices.
If you have a private sewage system, make sure that there is no damage that could result in a health hazard. Saturated soils may interfere with its proper function. Do not use until the flood water level has subsided.
Service damaged tanks etc and have them inspected as soon as possible by a professional.
If flooding is likely to occur, make sure that the septic tank is kept full. In the event of a severe flood an empty tank could float away.
Useful contact numbers:
Emergency number 999 or 112
Ask for the emergency service you require:
Health Services 1800 520 520
Water 1890 202 021 / 1890 200 191
Electricity 1850 372 999
Gas 1850 20 50 50
Telephone Eircom : 1901
EsatBT : 1800 924 924 Local Authority [broken link removed]
Building Control Officers [broken link removed]
Structural Engineer / surveyor Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland - 642 5588
Department of Social Community & Family Affairs 1890 50 00 00
Department of the Environment 1890 20 20 21
Office of Public Works Email: [email protected]
Insurance
When claiming for flood damage on your insurance remember the do’s and don’ts below:
Authorities - to check your own Local Authority [broken link removed]
Building Control Officers in each Local Authority can provide advice and guidance on ensuring that any works planned to be carried out will comply with the building regulations - Technical Guidance Documents A-M [broken link removed] [broken link removed]Local Authorities may provide advice on drains and drainage in your area, and whether roads are flooded etc.
Met Eireann - www.met.ie
National Flood Hazard Mapping - [broken link removed]
Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland (ACEI) - For advice on
structural surveys. For a directory of ACEI structural Engineers see
website www.acei.ie
A similar thread has been started on how to make an insurance claim.
Here is a list of how to deal with various household items, based on experience in US. It covers electrical goods, furniture, bedding etc.
If anyone has practical experience of this, I'm sure it would be appreciated by many affected.
-------------------UPDATE------------------
There is a government website already for this flooding.ie
"Seeing the devastation a flood can cause to your property can be difficult for the whole family. Make sure that everyone gets plenty of support, rest and proper food. The clean up operation may seem like a daunting task, but just take things one step at a time.
- Make sure that the gas, electricity and any fuel taps are turned off.
- Temporary electricity can be hired, but ensure there is adequate ventilation as generators can produce carbon monoxide. Let the engine cool before re-fuelling.
- Make sure any appliances that use gas are disconnected.
- Make temporary repairs to the roof if it has been damaged. Tarpaulin makes a good temporary covering."
Before you begin to clean up your property make sure you have the equipment you will need. This includes:
- A camera to record the flood damage.
- A basic tool kit with a hammer, nails, screwdriver and spanners.
- Brooms, mops, scrubbing brushes and buckets.
- Domestic detergent and disinfectant.
- Rubber boots, gloves and protective clothing.
- Shovels.
- Heaters, fans and a dehumidifier if available.
- Heavy duty refuse bags.
- The fire service may supply a pump out service, for which there could be a fee, or you could hire a pump from a DIY store. Alternatively you can hire a specialist water damage company to pump the water out for you.
- Drain water away in stages to avoid problems with the water pressure on the structure of your property. Removing about one-third of the water per day is recommended.
- Do not heat your home to more than 4°C until all standing water is removed.
- Shovel out as much mud as possible and use a hose to clean out the rest.
- If there is mud on the inside and outside of your walls, remove in stages so that the loading remains even.
- A high-pressure hose should not be used to remove mud from your property.
- Scrub surfaces with hot soapy water and a heavy duty detergent. Do not forget the difficult-to-reach areas such as under kitchen units.
- Items such as soft furnishings, clothes and foodstuffs that have come into contact with floodwater should be placed in rubbish sacks (tied securely) and disposed.
- You will probably need to hire a skip to deal with all the refuse from your house. If you are making an insurance claim, do not throw anything out until you are told to do so by the insurance company.
- All food preparation surfaces need to be cleaned thoroughly and disinfected.
- Allow all cleaned surfaces to dry completely as there are germs that can thrive in wet conditions.
You must have an expert check your property’s services before you turn them back on. The damage caused by the flood may not be obvious and switching on a service could be very dangerous.
Electricity
An electrician will check the junction boxes, socket outlets, light switches and ceiling connections to ensure that there is no water trapped inside them.
Modern wiring can withstand a short period of flooding, but if your property was flooded for more than a couple of hours then you need to replace the wiring in your house. Consider re-routing cables to drop down from above.
Gas
Water and mud may enter gas systems during a flood. A registered engineer can check all your appliances, as these may be dangerous, even if they appear to be working normally.
Water
Mains supply water should not be affected by flooding, but wash the taps and then run them for a short time to ensure that silt has not entered the system.
If you suspect that your mains supply has been contaminated contact your local authority and boil tap water for at least 20 minutes before use.
Check the pipe work in your house to ensure that it has not been damaged and check any insulation around the pipes and replace as necessary.
Water supplies that are not on the mains system, such as cisterns or wells, may be contaminated and should not be used until they have been tested over a period of time. Consult a specialist for advice.
Sewers
Drains and sewers are rarely damaged by floods, but they may block and back up. Check this by flushing toilets and running taps. Report any blockages to the local authority.
If sewer repairs need to be made, consider installing anti-backflow devices.
If you have a private sewage system, make sure that there is no damage that could result in a health hazard. Saturated soils may interfere with its proper function. Do not use until the flood water level has subsided.
Service damaged tanks etc and have them inspected as soon as possible by a professional.
If flooding is likely to occur, make sure that the septic tank is kept full. In the event of a severe flood an empty tank could float away.
Useful contact numbers:
Emergency number 999 or 112
Ask for the emergency service you require:
- Ambulance
- Gardaí
- Lifeboat
- Mountain/Coastal rescue
- Fire Brigade
- Irish Coast Guard
- Other
Health Services 1800 520 520
Water 1890 202 021 / 1890 200 191
Electricity 1850 372 999
Gas 1850 20 50 50
Telephone Eircom : 1901
EsatBT : 1800 924 924 Local Authority [broken link removed]
Building Control Officers [broken link removed]
Structural Engineer / surveyor Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland - 642 5588
Department of Social Community & Family Affairs 1890 50 00 00
Department of the Environment 1890 20 20 21
Office of Public Works Email: [email protected]
Insurance
When claiming for flood damage on your insurance remember the do’s and don’ts below:
- Do telephone your insurance company’s 24 hour emergency helpline to get the process started as soon as possible.
- Do commission immediate emergency pumping and repair work to protect your property from further damage.
- Do get advice from your insurance company on reputable contractors and builders.
- Do check with your insurer if you have to move into alternative accommodation, as this is often covered by your policy.
- Do make sure your insurance company knows where to contact you if you have to move out of your home.
- Do keep an inventory of all your correspondence with your insurance company.
- Don’t begin any work without the approval of your insurance company.
Authorities - to check your own Local Authority [broken link removed]
Building Control Officers in each Local Authority can provide advice and guidance on ensuring that any works planned to be carried out will comply with the building regulations - Technical Guidance Documents A-M [broken link removed] [broken link removed]Local Authorities may provide advice on drains and drainage in your area, and whether roads are flooded etc.
Met Eireann - www.met.ie
National Flood Hazard Mapping - [broken link removed]
Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland (ACEI) - For advice on
structural surveys. For a directory of ACEI structural Engineers see
website www.acei.ie