Flooding

Here is some advice to help you protect your family and your property. You should also check out websites produced by the Health Protection and Environment Agencies and Suffolk Resilience for comprehensive guidance.

Prepare For Flooding

• Find out if you are at risk of flooding by contacting the Environment Agency.

• If your property is at risk, sign up to the FloodLine Warnings Direct Service.

• Make sure you know how to turn off your gas, electricity and water supplies.

• Store any valuable items, including property with sentimental value, upstairs if possible.

• Keep important documents, including insurance details, in a sealed bag safely away from floodwater.

• Look out for local community advice and assistance.

Dealing With A Flood

• Follow the Health Protection Agency guidance to protect against infection.

• Alert your neighbours, particularly the elderly.

• Move pets, vehicles, valuables and other items to safety.

• Turn off any power supplies and unplug appliances.

• Co-operate with emergency services and local authorities - you may be evacuated to a rest centre.

• Do as much as you can in daylight. Doing anything in the dark will be a lot harder, especially if the electricity fails.

Cleaning Up After A Flood

If your home has been affected by flooding, you will have a big clean-up job to do to get your property back to normal. You also need to make sure that you have all the right information to deal with any insurance claims, and that you can cope with health and sanitation issues to ensure you're not putting your or your family at risk.

• Act on advice about health protection and any evacuation procedures issued by the relevant authorities.

• Do not switch on power or water supplies which may have been affected until advised to by your utility supplier.

• Check with your insurer what evidence they need to make a claim.

• Prevent young children playing in affected areas until cleaning and restoration activities have been completed.

• Do not eat or drink any foodstuffs or liquids which may have become contaminated.

• Maintain a high standard of personal hygiene (especially hand washing) at all times.

Advice on repairing flood-affected property is available from CIRIA.

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