What to do after a flood

In this section

What to do after a flood

On this page

Report the flood to the relevant authorities
Insurance and evidence
Returning home and cleaning up
If you are unable to return to your home after a flood
Help and advice depending on your situation
Request a flood investigation
Advice for businesses affected by flooding
Prepare for the risk of a future flood
More information about water related issues

If you have experienced a flood at your home, it can be a very stressful time.

Once emergency services have advised you can return home after a flood, there will be a lot of things that need checking and sorting out such as insurance, property condition and cleaning up.

We have put together guidance and sources of information on this page to help you recover from a flood.

Report the flood to the relevant authorities

It is extremely important that all flood events are reported accurately and promptly to the appropriate authority. For more information, please see the report a flood (who to contact) page.

Insurance and evidence

Calling your insurance company and gathering evidence after a flood is essential because it directly affects whether your claim is accepted, valued correctly, and repairs / payment are actioned properly.

The Association of British Insurers have produced useful guides to help negotiate through the recovery stage. This sets out who is involved at each step of the recovery, what this means and when it will happen.

Contact your insurance company as soon as possible

Check through your insurance policy and contact your insurance company as soon as possible after a flood.

The majority of household policies provide insurance cover for flooding. They will guide you through all the relevant steps specific to your insurance company.

If you are a tenant and have taken out contents/household insurance, the fixture and fittings should be covered. It would normally be the responsibility of your landlord to provide building insurance. Therefore, contact your landlord as soon as possible so they can take the necessary steps in relation to their insurance claims.

If you are uninsured, you will most likely be responsible for covering all costs of flood damage.

Ensure you record evidence of flooding, including photos and videos and keep damaged property until your insurers say it can be disposed of.

If possible, and safe to do so, you should gather evidence of flooding during and afterwards. This is to provide a record of:

Where the flooding has come from
How the flooding has affected your property
What damage the flooding has caused

You should take lots of photos of:

Flooding
How the floodwater has entered your property
Damage to your property
Damage to your household items and belongings (before disposal)

The photos should also:

Be clear and provide reference points rather than single zoomed in photos
Be taken from different angles to show the full extent of the damage
Show the date and time they were taken

Use a marker pen to draw on the walls/windows/doors to mark the water depth. These can be photographed but also help to show the extent of the repair.

Returning home and cleaning up

You should wait to return home until emergency services confirms it is safe to do so.

Do not turn on your water, gas or electricity. Arrange for your utilities company or a qualified engineer to check they are safe before turning them back on.

Although flood water may have receded, there are various hazards that could remain inside your property.

Cleaning up after a flood must be done carefully to protect your health and minimise the risk of further damage.

Carry out a visual inspection for any structural damage to your property, such as cracks in walls or foundations, and check for signs of sagging in roofs or floors.

If these hazards are found, do not stay inside your property as there is risk of collapse. Leave your property immediately if you hear any creaking / shifting sounds or the floors feel unable.

You will need to call your insurance company or landlord, as the structural integrity needs to be assessed.

Always assume flood water is contaminated
Avoid direct contact with flood water by wearing protective, waterproof clothing (boots, overalls, gloves, face mask, eye protection)
Cover open cuts and wounds on exposed skin with a waterproof plaster
If you must go into the flood water, be aware of hidden hazards
Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water to get rid of harmful germs and bugs

Before you begin cleaning, pump or bail out any standing water
Open doors and windows to increase ventilation
Use fans and dehumidifiers if safe to do so

Read the GOV.UK website's guidance on flooding and health advice for the public, including drying out.

Remove all soft furnishings and fittings that are damaged beyond repair
Move salvageable items outside to dry if the weather permits
Avoid turning on devices that use gas or electricity as it is possible they may have become damaged and unsafe to use – ask a registered electrician to assess the damage

Throw away any food that touched flood water
Throw away items from fridges if the electricity was off for more than four hours
Throw away items from freezers if the electricity was off for more than 24 hours
Clean and disinfect surfaces, utensils and crockery etc thoroughly before use
Don’t use tap water if you notice a change in the colour, taste or smell – contact your water company if this happens

Visit the Food Standards Agency website to read more about food safety after a flood.

Wash down all hard surfaces with hot soapy water several times until visually clear including walls and flood
Use a domestic disinfectant or bleach solution, following manufacturer’s directions as to concentration
Ensure you regularly clean hands and as the cleaning progressive change/clean your protective clothing to prevent cross contamination

Read the GOV.UK website's guidance on flooding and health advice for the public, including cleaning.

Provided the items have not been contaminated by chemicals or sewage, you can take them to the Household Recycling Centre for disposal.

If you have a large volume of flood-damaged waste, you may need to arrange a skip or another suitable waste removal service. Read our registered waste carriers page for advice on how to find a waste carrier that is registered with the Environment Agency.

Where items have been contaminated by chemicals or sewage, they are likely to be classed as hazardous waste and would need to be collected and disposed of by a specialist contractor. In these circumstances, your home insurance provider would usually be able to advise on the appropriate disposal arrangements.

If you are unable to return to your home after a flood

If you are unable to return home after a flood, you should contact your insurance company as soon as possible. Many policies include temporary accommodation.

Keep records of any costs of accommodation or travel, as they may be reimbursed through the insurance company or support schemes.

If flooding means you cannot remain in your home and you have nowhere else safe to stay, contact us at the council for advice. Any assistance available will depend on your individual circumstances.

Help and advice depending on your situation

Organisations that can provide advice anyone who has experienced or may experience flooding:

Request a flood investigation

As the local authority, we are required to investigate flood incidents that meet the following thresholds:

Internal flooding to any single dwelling
Internal flooding to more than one business premises
Flooding to any critical infrastructure or critical service – e.g. a school, hospital or doctors’ surgery
Flooding that causes significant disruption to a transport link for a defined period

You must report the incident to us at the time of occurrence or as soon as you are able to. To request an investigation, please email drainage@peterborough.gov.uk.

Advice for businesses affected by flooding

The Association of British Insurers has published advice for businesses affected by flooding. They have practical guidance on who to contact, staying safe, assessing the damage, business interruption cover and getting back up and trading again.

View advice for businesses affected by flooding on the Association of British Insurers website.

Prepare for the risk of a future flood

If there is a risk of further flooding in the immediate or distant future, we recommend you follow the advice on our prepare for future flooding page or emergency flood advice page, depending on the circumstances.

If there is a risk of further flooding in the immediate future, it is advised that you do not begin the recovery process until the threat has gone. In this time, you may wish to further protect and prepare your property.

For further information on household drains and sewers, please see our drainage page.

For queries related to the following flood risk or water issues but not emergencies, please email drainage@peterborough.gov.uk:

Flooding

In this section