Coping After a Flood

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Flooding can be devastating. However, if you have been affected by flooding, there is a lot you can do to get your life back to normal as quickly as possible.

Remind yourself of what you have
Losing furniture and appliances in a flood is terrible. We recommend to focus on the positive, though: After a flood, try not think about what has been destroyed, but about what was saved. The important thing is that you and your family members are safe and healthy. Things can always be replaced.

Arrange accommodation
Finding alternative accommodation should be your next priority. Turn to friends or family who might be able to put you up while your home is being repaired. If this is not possible, contact your local authority who will be able to help you find accommodation.

Contact your insurance company
It is now time to start getting things back to normal. Your insurance company should be able to replace anything you lost during a flood, if you have comprehensive home and contents insurance. If possible, take pictures of the damage caused to your home and belongings. If you need help with making an insurance claim, contact the Citizen’s Advice Bureau who will be able to help you with this.

Begin cleaning
Flooding can cause a lot of damage. Things aren’t simply saturated with water. Mould and bacteria is likely to grow where the flood water has been. You should remove and dispose of carpets, which are likely to have been destroyed by the flood.
If you have a cellar or basement, you should make sure that all water is pumped out. A flooded basement is a dangerous place to be. The fire service will be able to help you with pumping flood water, but there may be a charge for this service.

Redecorate
After cleaning, you should remove and replace wall paper. This will help you move on from the flood, as well as removing any mould that may be growing in the wall paper.

Celebrate
Once your insurance claim is finalised, and everything is back to normal, you may want to have a party. This is a great way to put the flooding behind you and move on with your life.

While flooding can be a devastating experience, following these tips may help you to recover from the flood more quickly.

For more help and advice with coping during or after a flood visit these websites:

Citizen’s Advice Bureau
National Flood Forum
Scottish Flood Forum