January 2018

Advice for Residents and Communities Affected by Flood

Re-Entering Your Home

General Advice

• Contact your insurance company immediately to determine if you have coverage. Follow any advice they provide.

• Ensureauthoritieshaveadvisedthatitissafetore-enterthehome.

• Ifthemainpowerswitchwasnotturnedoffpriortoflooding,donotre-enterthe homeuntilaqualifiedelectricianhasdetermineditissafetodoso.

• Useextremecautionwhenreturningtothehomeafteraflood.

• Donotuseanyappliances,heating,pressure,orsewagesystemsuntilelectricalcomponentshavebeenthoroughlycleaned,dried,andinspectedbyaqualifiedelectrician.Appliancesthatmayhavebeenfloodedposeariskofshockorfire when turned on.

• Themainelectricalpanelmustbecleaned,dried,andtestedbyaqualifiedelectrician to ensure that it is safe.

• Dependingonwhereresidentslive,themunicipalorprovincialinspectionauthorityisresponsibleforthepermittingprocessrequiredbeforetheelectricutilitycanreconnectpower to the home.

Ensuring Building Safety

• Makesurethebuildingisstructurallysafe.

• Lookforbuckledwallsorfloors.

• Watchforholesinthefloor,brokenglassandotherpotentiallydangerousdebris.

Flood Water

• Flood water can be heavily contaminated with sewage and other pollutants. Itcancausesicknessandinfections.

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Drinking Water and Home Heating Fuel

Flooding of Wells

• Assesstheconditionofthewell.Ensurethegroundsurfacearoundthewellisintactandstable.Checktoseeifanyelectricalcomponentsorwiresarevisible,orifthereisdamage to the well casing.

• Mud,siltandotherdebrisshouldberemovedfromthewellcasing,capandallaccessiblecomponents.

• Disinfect the well.

• Afteracontaminatedwellhasbeenproperlydisinfectedandthechlorinehasbeenflushedoutofthewatersystem,thewatershouldbetestedtoconfirmthatbacterialcontaminationhasbeenremoved.

• Untiltestingshowsthatthewaterisfreeofbacterialcontamination,continuetousedisinfected or boiled water.

Formoreinformationonfloodingandwellwatersafety,pleasevisit:mae.gov.nl.ca/waterres/quality/drinkingwater/index.html

• Ifbycolour,odourortasteyoususpectthatyourdrinkingwaterhasbeencontaminated,don’tdrinkit.

• Householditemsthathavebeenflood-damagedwillhavetobediscardedaccording tolocalwastedisposalregulations,butdonotdosountilsuchtimeasadjustorshavehadachancetoreviewtheitems.Pleasekeepinaspecificareaonyourproperty,covered with a tarp.

Documentation of Flood Damage

• Storeallvaluablepapersthathavebeendamagedinafreezeruntiltheyareneeded(afterthecleanup,consultalawyertodeterminewhetherflood-damageddocuments,orjusttheinformationinthem,mustberetained).

• Recorddetailsofflooddamagebyphotographorvideo,ifpossible.

• Register the amount of damage to the home with both the insurance agent and local municipality immediately.

Oil Tank Leaks

• Stopanyleakandcleanuptheimpactedarea,includingtakingallreasonablesteps torecoverescapedfuel,andremoveortreatcontaminatedsoillocatedonthe property. This should be done only when the site has been assessed and it is deemed safe to do so.

• Contactaheatingoilprovider,heatingcontractororaLicensedInspectorforassistance.

• ContacttheSpillReportLineat1-800-563-9089.

• Haveanyleaktemporarilysealed,ifpossible.

• Removeanyheatingoilfromtheleakingtank.

Formoreinformationonmeasurestodealwithdamagedoiltanksandfuelleaks,pleasevisit:mae.gov.nl.ca/env_protection/petroleum/pdf/oil_tank_damage.pdf

Mould Abatement

The following are guidelines to use while dealing with mould:

• Whilecleaningupinaroomwheremouldispresent,peopleshouldwearafacemaskand disposable gloves.

• Residents may need to have their home professionally cleaned by a company specializing in mould abatement. Home owners are reminded to contact their insurance company to checkcoverage.

• Acool,dryareaminimizesmouldgrowth.

• Alternatively,textiles,furs,paperandbookscanbefrozenuntiltheyaretreated.

• Wetmouldwillsmearifwiped.Letitdryand,ifpossible,movetheeffecteditemsoutsidetobrushitoff.

• Mouldsporescanalsobedestroyedbylightlymistingtheitemwithisopropanol (rubbingalcohol).

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Disaster Financial Assistance

For carpets and furniture:

• Carpetssoakedwithsewagemustbediscarded.

• Removeresidualmudandsoilfromfurniture,appliances,andotheraffecteditems.

• Ifitemsarejustdamp,letthemuddryandthenbrushitoff.

• Totestifmaterialisdry,tapeclearfoodwraptothesurfaceoftheitem.Ifthecoveredsectionturnsdarkerthanthesurroundingmaterial,itisstilldamp.Dryuntilthisno longer occurs.

• Forupholsteredfurniture,residentsshouldconsultaprofessionaltoseewhatcanbesalvaged.Inthemeantime,removecushionsanddryseparately.Donotremoveupholstery.Raisefurnitureonblocksandplacefansunderneath.

• Woodenfurniture:removedrawersandopendoors.Donotdryquicklyorsplitting may occur

• Residents,not-for-profitorganizationsandcommunitiesthatareinterestedinapplyingfortheNewfoundlandandLabradorDisasterFinancialAssistanceProgram(NL-DFAP)canfindapplicationshere: gov.nl.ca/fes/faq/emergencymanagement.html

• FurtherinformationandapplicationsfortheNewfoundlandandLabradorDisasterFinancialAssistanceProgramcanbeattainedbyemailing:

NL-DFAP@gov.nl.ca,orbytelephoneat1.888.395.5611.

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