What to do after flooding...
FBD is available 24/7 – 1890 953 953
Our claims notification helpline is available
for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, during the current period of
extreme weather conditions.
Call us on 1890 953 953 if you have experienced flood damage and would like to speak with an advisor.
Protecting Your Family and Your Property
Focus on the safety of you and your family:
- Put people before property.
- Cooperate with the emergency services if they tell you stay out of an area.
- Be careful re-entering flooded areas, standing water can contain or hide hazards.
If you are returning to your property :
- Wear appropriate protective clothing / boots / gloves etc.
- Assume electricity cables are live until confirmed otherwise.
- Turn off all utilities if this has not already been done.
- Watch out for excessive build up of sediment, debris or structural cracks, these could mean a building is unsound and should not be entered without guidance.
- Do not do so alone or without anyone else at least aware of it.
Beginning a clean up:
- If pumping out water from any enclosed area ensure it is done slowly and in a manner which allows water pressure inside and outside to equalize. Eg Do not pump out a basement if externally the ground is saturated as water pressure outside could collapse a basement wall.
- Do not dispose of damaged possessions; you may need them in establishing your loss for insurance purposes.
- Photos prior to clean up will also assist in determining the extent of damage.
- Arm yourself with the appropriate tools, mops, buckets, shovels and brushes.
- Heating a house is not recommended until all water is removed, a dehumidifier is more effective at removing the last of standing water as opposed to heating. (Reduce ventilation if using a dehumidifier).
- Disinfect as you go.
- Once all standing water is removed, have the heating tested, if operating safely bring the house temperature back up to 20 C degrees. Keep the house ventilated. Excessive heating can cause uneven drying and cracking.
- When not at the property ensure it is securely locked to deter opportunistic thieves.
Remedial work :
- Any significant repair work should be approved by your insurance company before you commence to ensure it is covered.
- Emergency remedial or damage limitation work should be undertaken. Get soft items out of the house, soaked furnishings, carpets etc as these hold moisture and slow the drying out process.
- Do not use fireplaces for a fortnight if they were submerged.
- Once all soft floor coverings have been removed brush out as much water as possible. Certain wooden floors may dry satisfactorily.
- Do not assume your plumbing or other utilities are unaffected, check prior to restoring services.
Next steps:
- Once you have started the clean up and the drying out process of your home it becomes easier to assess the damage that has been done. The quicker water is removed from the house the better recovery will be made by affected areas.
- Your FBD Adjuster will advise you in terms of what next steps need to be taken and where to start with repairs.
For detailed information and advice on how to deal with the effects of flooding and how to recover after flooding, we suggest please visit the OPW Flooding website at http://www.flooding.ie/en/Afterflooding/