What to do in the event of a flood
In the event of a flood, it is vital to put people before property, co-operate with the emergency services if they tell you to evacuate your home and be prepared to act quickly to get yourself to safety.
In the event of an emergency, the agency urges people take the following precautions:
Gather essential items together either upstairs or in a high place - have torches, medication and waterproofs to hand
- Fill jugs and saucepans with clean water
- Move your family and pets upstairs or to a high place with a means of escape
- Turn off gas, electricity and water supplies when flood water is about to enter your home, if it is safe to do so
- Do not on any account touch sources of electricity when standing in flood water
It is important to remember flood water is dangerous and you should avoid walking or driving through it and you should wash your hands thoroughly if you touch it. Do not try to unblock drains yourself.
Cleaning-up after a flood event
During and immediately after a major flooding incident the Council will do everything possible to help anyone who is at immediate risk.
If people need to evacuate their homes the Council can set up a rest centre and support people with finding alternative temporary accommodation. If flooding causes your home to be so badly damaged you can no longer live there, in most cases your insurance company will be responsible for providing alternative accommodation. You should contact your insurer as soon as possible. If you are not insured, you may have become homeless and may be entitled to help from the council.
If you have ruined furniture and other large items, don’t throw these away without first checking with your insurer. These may be needed as evidence if you plan to claim for them. Take photographs before you start any clean up to show the insurer.
The Food Standards Agency has some useful guidance on food safety during and after floods.
If you need to dispose of large items due to flooding damage, the Council provides a bulky waste collection service for which there is normally a charge. If severe widespread flooding occurs, during the initial period afterwards, the Council may be able to provide a limited number of free bulky collections, make skips available and provide extra household waste collections. Your insurers may advise you to get a skip; alternatively if you have transport you can take items to the local waste transfer sites at Every St, Fernhill, Bury or Cemetery Road, Radcliffe. If you get someone else to dispose of damaged items check to see if they are licensed waste carriers and get a receipt so you can protect yourself from the items being fly-tipped
Once a flooding incident has died down the Council’s street cleaning teams will clean up sludge and debris from public areas. Please be aware that this may take some time if flooding is extensive.