Tips to reduce the damage from flooding

In the event of flooding, your home is likely to be damaged enough without your own actions contributing to any further damage. Here are a few tips* to reduce that likelihood:

• Electric - keep out of your home until the mains electricity supply has been switched off and do not use any electrical appliance that has got wet;
• Gas - gas cookers, boilers or heaters and their control valves can also be damaged by flood water and give rise to fire or explosion. They need to be checked by a CORGI-registered gas engineer;
• Power - if power lines have been brought down during the flood or storm, beware that whole buildings could be electrified;
• Flames - flood water can trap pockets of built-up gas within a room or whole building, so only use a battery-powered torch and never a naked flame to investigate;
• Water - pollution is an ever-present danger after flooding, so do not drink from your water supply until it has been thoroughly checked.

*Source: Homeserve