Rotherham Borough Council and NHS Rotherham have issued the following general advice for those affected by flooding in the borough:

FLOODING: HEALTH AND SAFETY ADVICE

If you are a Council tenant and your home has been affected by the floods, please contact your local Neighbourhood Office.

When the floodwater goes down, it will leave a muddy deposit that may contain sewage and other contaminants.

As the floodwater may have contained sewage, do not let young children or pets play on affected grassed or paved areas until these areas have been cleaned down to remove debris and dried out.

Experience from previous flooding and sewerage contamination has shown that any risk to health is very small. (You do not need any booster immunisations or antibiotics but you may wish to ask your doctor if you are due for a Tetanus injection).

If you develop a stomach upset following direct contact with sewage, this is likely to be a short-lived viral illness for which no treatment is required, however, you are advised to contact your doctor and tell him/her your house was flooded.

Make sure that all electrical appliances are properly switched off before electricity is restored.

Don’t switch on electrical appliances which have been in contact with the floodwater unless a competent electrician has checked them.

Put your own safety first. Avoid electrical shock. Wear rubber boots. Keep extension cables out of the water. If you have any doubts about the safety of gas or electrical systems, please call Rotherham Connect on 01709 336009 (Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm), 01709 376711 (weekends and Bank Holidays 8am to 4.30pm) or 01709 836161 (Monday to Friday after 8pm or weekends and Bank Holidays after 4.30pm).

If you have any concerns about the quality of your water supply, seek advice from Yorkshire Water, telephone 0845 124 24 24.

Record details of damage, with photographs or video if possible. Contact your insurance company.

Both physical stress associated with overexertion in cleaning up premises and mental stress caused by temporary relocation may make you feel unwell. Indeed the major health hazard of floods comes from all the stress and strain of the event, not infection. If you feel unwell this does not necessarily mean that you are suffering from any infection. If you are concerned - visit your doctor.

CLEANING UP THE HOUSE AFTER A FLOOD

When cleaning up you are advised to wear protective clothing such as wellies, protective gloves, masks and other protective gear. Remember to clean these items after use with hot, soapy water and then a domestic disinfectant. Always wash your hands afterwards.

If you have any open cuts or wounds on exposed skin, cover them with waterproof plasters/dressings.

Remove all soft furnishings and fittings that are damaged beyond repair. Remember to consult your insurance company before disposing of any items.

Remove dirty water and silt from the property, including the space under the ground floor if you have wooden floors. This space may need pumping out.

Wash down all hard surfaces with hot, soapy water until they look clean.

Use a domestic disinfectant to wash over all hard surfaces after cleaning. Ensure you follow manufacturer’s directions regarding the concentration and suitability. If you want more advice about cleaning, contact Food, Health and Safety on 01709 823164.

Food preparation surfaces and storage cupboards, refrigerators, etc, should have a final wash down with a food-safe disinfectant such as Milton, Dettox or similar.

Allow all cleansed surfaces to thoroughly dry; this will help to destroy any germs left behind. Heating and good ventilation will assist the drying process.

Floorboards, floors, etc will take some time to dry out. Any loose materials and dust resulting from this should be vacuumed up on a regular basis.

Do not let your children play directly on timber floorboards or any damaged tiled floor, if possible. Be aware of risk of injury from sharp edges or raised nails in the floorboards until these have been repaired.

NEVER mix bleach and other cleaning agents; the fumes are toxic.

FOOD PREPARATION

Ensure all surfaces that food will come into contact with are sound and disinfected. If worktops and other food preparation surfaces show signs of damage because of the flood, avoid food contact with these areas. Make sure that shelving used to store food, including those in your fridge, are cleaned and disinfected.

Wash all your crockery, pots and pans with hot water before using them. Do not use any badly chipped or damaged items. You could use a food-safe disinfectant such as Milton to disinfect them after cleaning.

Clean and disinfect your taps before using them for the first time.

Always wash your hands before preparing food.

Dispose of tinned and packet foods which have been in contact with floodwater.

If your electricity has been off, dispose of the contents of your fridge and freezer. Do not re-freeze food which has thawed out.

Put contaminated, flood-damaged food in plastic refuse sacks. Check with your insurer before disposal. Keep a list for your insurance company of all food that you have disposed of.

Don’t eat garden or allotment vegetables that have been covered by floodwater. Although any health risk is small it is better to dispose of any contaminated produce and start again.

CLOTHING AND BEDDING

Clothing, bedding and other soft/fabric articles including children’s toys, etc, should be laundered at the highest temperature as indicated on manufacturers’ instructions and if possible dried on a hot dry cycle. Other soft furnishings that have been contaminated and cannot be put in a washing machine will have to be professionally cleaned, or if this is not possible may have to be disposed of appropriately.

OTHER CONTAMINANTS

Floodwater sometimes contains small amounts of oil, diesel, etc. This should, in the main, be removed with the floodwater silt. Any remaining oil, diesel, etc contamination in accessible areas can be removed by using a detergent solution and washing the surface down after initial cleaning has been carried out. In inaccessible areas such as under floorboards, it may present an odour problem but is not necessarily a health hazard. Further advice should be sought from Housing and Neighbourhood Services on 01709 823118 if the odour persists or if you are particularly concerned about it for other reasons.

BRINGING YOUR HOME BACK TO FULL USE

It is recommended that you only move back into affected rooms once the above cleaning has been carried out. There may be additional works to be carried out eventually, as advised by 2010 Rotherham. The following advice will speed up the drying out process:

• Try to have some heating on at all times. Consider the use of a dehumidifier.
• Ensure the property is well ventilated. Leave windows open as much as possible. Remember security though!
• Ensure that air bricks to any under-floor spaces are unblocked to give cross-ventilation to these areas.
• After about six months it would be advisable to check timber floors for any evidence of rot or shrinkage.

Rodents will have been disturbed by the rising water level and will have moved to places above the water line. They may have entered your home and taken up residence or caused damage. If you have any evidence of rodents in the premises you are advised to have a check by a reputable pest control company. Contact the Council’s pest control team on 01709 838290 for advice.

Useful Telephone Numbers

Yorkshire Electricity 0800 375675
Transco (Gas) 0800 111999
Yorkshire Water (drinking water) 0845 1242424

Building Control
- Dangerous Structures - 01709 823847

Housing and Neighbourhood Services
- food/health - 01709 823164
- pest control - 01709 823118
- private sector housing - 01709 823118

Floodline 0845 9881188

Remember to check the ID of anyone calling at your home.