Flood in the office can be a result of increasingly adverse weather conditions, an appliance problem, or a plumbing issue. Inevitably distressing, if the flood has been serious enough to require evacuation of the premises then the return needs need to be managed safely.

• Floods can be caused by adverse weather conditions, a failed kitchen appliance, or faulty plumbing.
• If the premises has been evacuated due then return to a flood-damaged premises must be managed properly.

Whether in a domestic or commercial premises cleaning up after flood the aftermath is likely to be distressing and frustrating as people need to return their home or place of work to normal as soon as possible.

Safety is paramount and any return must only take place once the building is structurally sound, you have been given the all-clear for external risks such as fallen power lines and have been officially informed that it is safe from risk of gas leaks and electrical hazards.

Involve Environmental Health if you are concerned about cleaning up and disposing of waste as there may have been contamination from drains or sewers and always assume that any food or drink is unsafe to eat – either because it has been contaminated by dirty water or has spoiled because it hasn’t been refrigerated properly – and get rid of it.

When it is safe to do so, enter the building during daylight hours if the electricity has been turned off and immediately open the doors and windows for a few hours to air the building.

As it’s quite possible that mould has already started to form, the immediate priority is to dry the building as soon as possible. If there is standing water then a water pump or wet-dry vacuum will be needed to remove it followed by dehumidifiers and fans to remove residual damp.

Once the standing water has gone and you are ready to start the clean-up itself, always wear protective clothing to clean up after flood water. These include strong rubber gloves, a face mask as required, suitable footwear, disinfectant and even protective clothing.

Then:

• Shovel out silt or mud before it dries.
• Get rid of the surface layer of dirt – including non-visible dirt traps such as under cupboards – with hot water, a brush and household cleaner.
• Use household disinfectant to disinfect all surfaces – including interiors – that have been exposed to floodwater.
• Wash saveable textiles, towels and bedding, and clothes on the highest temperature as – and then repeat so they are washed twice.
• Rugs and carpets are likely to be ruined, but if you want to try and save them, it may be worth having them professionally cleaned as it’s unlikely that a domestic carpet cleaning appliances will be heavy duty enough.

Ventilation is key to drying the building so ventilation from open doors, windows and fans plus central heating will help. If the damp is significant, hiring a dehumidifier to remove water from the air will help but doors and windows will have to remain shut.

Cleaning up after a flood is a physically and emotionally challenging situation. It may be that hiring a professional cleaning company who have the appropriate equipment, training, and crucially, experience will provide far more peace of mind than trying to do it yourself.