My home is / has been flooded, what should I do?
Call 999 if anyone is at immediate risk
How do I turn off my electricity supply?
You need to find the electricity isolation switch. It may be under the stairs, in a hallway, porch or garage. You’ll normally find it next to your main fuse box or trip switches.
How do I turn off my gas supply?
Gas pockets, oil and contaminants can build up in and around floodwater. Turn off the gas supply at the mains and do not attempt to operate any gas appliances until a certified gas engineer has checked them. Be careful with naked flames. First you need to locate the gas isolation valve. In newer houses, the gas meter and isolation valve are often outside in a meter box. If not, try looking under the stairs, beneath the kitchen sink or in the garage. To turn off the gas supply, simply move the handle a quarter turn. And remember, if you smell gas, open doors and windows and never operate any electrical switches.
Call 999 if anyone is at immediate risk
- Keep dry and out of floodwater if possible
- Stay in your property, if safe to do so, until advised otherwise by the emergency services or the floodwater has receded.
- Do not walk or drive through flowing floodwater.
- Avoid contact with floodwater and wash any exposed parts before handling food or attending to wounds. Make sure any cuts are covered with waterproof dressings if you have to make contact with floodwater.
- DO NOT allow children or animals to enter in floodwater, as well as the risk of disease manhole covers may have dislodged under the pressure of floodwater creating a drowning risk.
- Floodwater conducts electricity. Turn off the electricity at the mains with a wooden stick, do not attempt to operate any damaged electrical goods until they have been checked by a certified electrical engineer
How do I turn off my electricity supply?
You need to find the electricity isolation switch. It may be under the stairs, in a hallway, porch or garage. You’ll normally find it next to your main fuse box or trip switches.
How do I turn off my gas supply?
Gas pockets, oil and contaminants can build up in and around floodwater. Turn off the gas supply at the mains and do not attempt to operate any gas appliances until a certified gas engineer has checked them. Be careful with naked flames. First you need to locate the gas isolation valve. In newer houses, the gas meter and isolation valve are often outside in a meter box. If not, try looking under the stairs, beneath the kitchen sink or in the garage. To turn off the gas supply, simply move the handle a quarter turn. And remember, if you smell gas, open doors and windows and never operate any electrical switches.
- Floodwater contains sewage and other contaminants. Do not eat food that has come into contact with the water. Wash your hands with disinfectant if you come into contact with the water directly. "Ready-to -eat" foods which have or may be contaminated with flood water should be discarded into black bin liners, or equivalent. Sealed tinned foods are likely to be safe to eat if washed down thoroughly with detergent and clean water before opening.
- Do not drink, clean your teeth or cook with your water supply until either Thames Water or an Environmental Health Officer has pronounced it fit for human consumption again. Your complete water system needs to be flushed through to remove any possible contamination.
- Drink only bottled, boiled or treated water until you know your supply is safe. By boiling water for one minute you will kill harmful bacteria and parasites.
- Do you have a septic tank? If yes:-Septic Tanks will need to be emptied when the water level has dropped enough to allow the normal drainage system to function. Paying to empty the septic tank too soon will only mean it acts as a sump for the local area.
- Floodwater can be fast moving. If water is still around your home do not walk through fast flowing water in the home or outside – 6 inches of water can knock you off your feet. Be careful of holes and dips when moving around. Use a stick to gauge depth.
- Phone your insurance company’s 24 hour Emergency Helpline as soon as possible. They will be able to provide information on dealing with your claim, and assistance in getting things back to normal.
- Continue to listen to situation updates on your local radio and via Floodline 0845 988 1188, along with local sources of information such as the Datchet Parish Council on 01753 773499 or 07973 730022.
- Stay calm and do not panic.
- Officials will try to visit all properties at risk to advise on the requirement to evacuate.
- If road conditions permit, move vehicles to unaffected areas and ask friends / family if you can share their parking facilities.
- You will hear about your evacuation point for transport and the location of the reception centre either verbally or by a leaflet.
- Try to check that any elderly / vulnerable family members or neighbours know about the evacuation.
- Listen to the advice of the authorities and follow any instructions to leave a property.
