Public health advice to flooding-affected areas
Public health advice to flooding-affected
areas
SEEK ADVICE
FROM YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY BEFORE CLEANING UP OR DISPOSING
OF ANY GOODS.
If you need to start before
an assessor can visit, take photos and make notes before you
begin. Later, if an agreement cannot be reached with the
insurance company or you have other health concerns in
relation to your home post-flooding, you can seek advice
from an environmental health officer. Visit www.cph.co.nz for contact
details.
IF YOU EVACUATED
YOUR HOME DUE TO FLOODING
Before returning,
ensure:
1. That the electrical supply authority
has checked the electrical installation is safe.
Electrical appliances such as refrigerators, deep
freezers, electrical heaters, etc., should be checked by an
electrician before using.
2. The local authority
health, building, or plumbing inspectors have checked the
sewerage system and the water supply
YOU SHOULD ONLY RETURN TO YOUR HOME WHEN CLEARANCE HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE ABOVE INSPECTORS, AND FROM CIVIL DEFENCE.
3.
If you have gas (mains or bottle), that the gas supply has
been checked.
4. Please note: In all cases approach
your insurance company prior to disposing of any goods or
carrying out any restoration on your house.
Assume all flood waters are sewage-polluted, so all items that have come into contact with flood waters should be treated with caution.
Check for structural
damage
Has the house
moved? - Look for buckled floors, new cracks in walls and
door frames that are out of shape (doors may stick where
they didn’t before, or be impossible to close). Remember
to take photos to assist with your insurance
claim.
Making your home
habitable in the shortest possible time
In
most cases it will take months, rather than weeks, to
completely restore your home after it has been damaged by
flood water. Draining, cleaning and drying out can, and
should be done quickly.
First, make sure you use
personal protective equipment such as waterproof gloves,
gumboots and overalls/waterproofs if you have them. If mud
has dried or there is mould on the walls, protect your
breathing with a dust or medical grade mask. Then,
•
Clear out everything that is wet
• Get rid of
any water or mud left behind
• Encourage quick
and thorough drying by ventilating areas, and using
dehumidifiers and heaters if it is safe to do so.
Don’t be afraid to cut out sections of carpet,
curtains or furniture fabrics that can’t be salvaged –
they can be repaired. If you are cutting into gib or
wallboards, take special care around sockets or switches.
Repairs should be carried out only when checks have
shown the structure of the house is dry enough. Redecorating
should never be rushed. Wait until the house is fit to live
in, and thoroughly dry.
Cleaning indoor areas that have been flooded
Textile-based materials (blankets, sheets, drapes, clothing, etc.) which can be boiled can be re-used. Any that cannot be boiled should be thoroughly washed with the use of disinfectant or professionally dry-cleaned, after first advising anyone handling them that they have been flood-damaged.
Pillows, mattresses (whether of flock, kapok, inner sprung mattresses and foam rubber mattresses) as well as soft upholstered furnishings, should be discarded after reporting to your insurers.
Removing
mould:
Before carrying out the following,
protect yourself by using gloves and avoid splashes to the
face or eyes.
• Small amounts of
mould can easily be removed using a mild solution of
household bleach and water and wiping over the
surface.
• Wash or flush down walls, shelves and floors
that have been submerged during a flood with clean water and
use a brush to remove contaminated water and
sediment.
• Use a solution of 1 litre of household
bleach in 10 litres of water to rinse down walls, floors,
other hard surfaces and non-electrical equipment. Leave on
for 30 minutes before rinsing with clear water.
Keep
windows open during this
treatment.
ends