What to do after a flood

After a flood, there are things you can do to ensure your safety and to minimise damage. We will work to support you and get things back to normal quickly.

What you can do

What to do after a flood, once the water has receded: 

• Ventilate your property, open doors and windows - less damp means less damage 
• Wear protective clothing such as wellies and rubber gloves before starting any clean up. Read how to clean your home safely (GOV.UK)
• Contact your insurer as soon as possible. See insurance guidance for homeowners 
• Don't dispose of damaged goods until your insurers have had a chance to inspect them 
• Don't use electrical equipment exposed to flood water until it has been checked by a qualified electrician. Businesses should assess the risk to their staff and customers and consider closing the business until it has been checked
• Have your gas or oil central heating checked by a qualified person 
• Follow the Food Standards Agency's advice on food safety after a flood 
• Apply for any assistance provided by central government and/or the local authority

What we do after a flood 

We will do our best to reduce flooding but if it does happen, we will: 

• Help restore the flooded area to normality 
• Provide support to those affected by flooding 
• Consider how we can prevent future flooding and reduce its effect 
• Work with government departments and partner agencies, hoping to secure funding and grants for those affected 
• For significant events the Local Authorities are likely to have a recovery plan which will be enacted. 

Flood investigation 

We have a duty to investigate flooding when it is 'necessary and appropriate' (Section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act). 

You can tell us about flooding in the borough, or we may notice incidents of flooding ourselves. When we come to know about flooding we decide whether to undertake a flood risk investigation. We are likely to investigate where: 

• A property has been flooded inside, on more than one occasion 
• Five or more properties have been flooded inside during a single flood incident 
• Critical infrastructure has been affected by flooding 
• The source of flooding is ambiguous 

The investigation will identify which Risk Management Authority (for example us or the Environment agency) have a flood risk management function in relation to the flood. It will then detail what each authority with a relevant function is going to or has done in response to the flooding incident. 

View our recent flood investigations.