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What to do if a flood happens

To report flooding call 0300 2000 100. This number is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When you ring, a member of staff wll take your details and contact the appropriate agency on your behalf.

Emergency financial assistance

Householders whose homes have been flooded due to the recent heavy rainfall are asked to contact their local council to access the emergency payments scheme. There is £1,000 funding available for affected households. If you feel that you may be entitled to the payment, contact your council as soon as possible.

Inspection of your property

Your local council will arrange for an urgent inspection of your property. If the council decides that your claim is eligible, you will receive your payment within a matter of days.

In addition, your council can also offer a range of practical help and guidance, including:

  • collection, retention and disposal of damaged household contents
  • assistance with arrangements to clean up your home and garden
  • providing de-humidifiers to dry out affected homes

Belfast City Council has a special freephone number you can contact:

  • phone: 0800 7076965

The £1,000 payment is aimed at ensuring homes are made habitable as quickly as possible. It is not a compensation payment.

Flood warning - what to do

If flooding is forecast in your area, it means that you can expect flooding of low lying land and roads. You should check local news and weather forecasts and water levels near you and be prepared to put into action any plans you have made to deal with flooding in your area including:

  • moving cars, pets, food, valuables and important documents to safety
  • put flood protection equipment in place
  • turn off gas, electricity and water supplies if it’s safe to do so
  • be prepared to evacuate your home

Try to stop any water from entering your home by:

  • using sandbags and floodboards to prevent water entering through doors and windows
  • sealing airbricks with plastic covers or cloths/towels
  • putting plugs in sinks and baths and weighing them down with a sandbag, pillowcase or a plastic bag filled with garden soil, or a heavy object

If you don’t have valves fitted which allow flow of water in one direction (non-return valves) you should:

  • plug water inlet pipes with towels or cloths
  • disconnect any equipment that uses water (like washing machines and dishwashers)
  • collect the things you need for evacuation
  • stay in a high place with a means of escape
  • avoid electricity sources
  • avoid walking or driving through flood water
  • call 999 immediately if you are in danger

Evacuation

If you are told to evacuate your home by the emergency services you should do so. Refusing to leave on their advice will put you, your family and those trying to help you at risk.

When flooding has abated you should:

  • keep listening to weather reports and only return to evacuated buildings if you are told it is safe to do so
  • beware of sharp objects and pollution in flood water
  • contact your insurance company and ask their advice before starting to clean up if your property or belongings are damaged

Flood advice is available in the following links:

Health precautions in relation to flooding

Flooding can contain pollutants which can adversely affect the health and well being of a person coming into contact with them. Combat this by applying basic hygiene precautions, including:

  • washing hands after exposure
  • decontaminating footwear by washing and treating with a mild disinfectant
  • keeping children and pets out of the contaminated area

Where sewage is clearly visible in flood waters, or in material deposited by flood waters, decontamination should involve:

  • removing excess liquid (pumping/sweeping, as appropriate)
  • a thorough clean up to remove any debris or fecal contamination
  • leaving the contaminated areas to dry
  • applying a mild disinfectant

Industry tests have shown that using this approach, disinfectants should remove all traces of bacteria within 24 to 48 hours.

Electricity

If any electrical wiring has come into contact with flood water, a qualified electrician will need to check the safety of the system, and the safety of appliances. Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) can be contacted 24 hours a day to provide advice to customers as follows:

You can find further details on their website:

Insurance

Contact your insurance company as soon as possible. They may offer advice regarding replacement or cleansing of damaged items.

External flooding

When dealing with flooding to gardens, paved areas and other external areas remember the following points:

  • you can clean and disinfect hard surfaces such as patios and driveways - keeping off these areas for three hours after disinfection
  • it is not normal practice to apply disinfectant to cultivated areas as this can kill plants, however if you decide to do so, then only a very mild disinfectant should be applied
  • do not hose down the garden as this will saturate the ground and prolong the life of the bacteria
  • do not dig over or rake the affected area as this will spread contamination further into the soil where lack of light will prolong the life of bacteria
  • it is best to let nature take its course as tests have shown that ultra violet radiation in sunlight is very effective in killing bacteria

Compensation Claims

The following link will provide information on claims:

However, it should be noted that since 1 April 2007, water and sewerage functions became the responsibility of Northern Ireland Water Ltd.

For compensation claims arising from flooding or any other actions or operations carried or or behalf of NI Water Ltd, you should contact them to have a claim form issued on:

More useful links