Environment Agency adice to farmers and householders affected by floods
Householders, businesses and farmers have been warned today to be as aware of the actions to take in dealing with the aftermath of flooding, as they should be in preparing for flooding.
The warning comes as the Environment Agency issues guidance to help householders, businesses and farmers dealing with the aftermath of last week's flooding incidents.
Barbara Young, Chief Executive at the Environment Agency, said: "A flood in your property is a worrying and often frightening experience. When the floodwater has gone there is the additional distress of cleaning and repairing the damage it caused.
"Our teams have been working hard on the ground before and during the unprecedented level of flooding which affecting the Midlands and Thames regions. Our operations have now switched to focus on the recovery and clean up.
"We are now working with other organisations involved in the clean up operation to ensure householders, businesses and farmers are helped through this difficult time. We have produced a series of short guides providing basic advice on what actions you need to take. Once prepared with information, you can start to take control of your immediate situation. Having a plan will help you deal more effectively with the recovery period and get things back to normal."
The Environment Agency is working closely with the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and other parts of
Government to ensure that the health risks posed after flooding are identified, action is taken and guidance given to ensure public health is protected. The HPA website, www.hpa.gov.uk/flooding, has relevant information and advice on health concerns.
Barbara Young continued: "We expect to see a significant increase in the amount of waste needing to be disposed of as a result of severe flooding. There is also likely to be disruption to normal waste collection and disposal arrangements.
"If your property has been affected by flooding you should talk to your insurance company before arranging for clearance and the Association of British Insurers website has helpful advice. You should check out the advice being given by the Health Protection Agency on how to protect yourself during any clean-up.
"Also it's important to make sure that all the waste from flooding is disposed of properly. Don't let illegal waste carriers cash in on your misfortune. As well as making the current flooding problems worse, fly-tipping can also lead to longer-term environment damage in your local area. It also takes away business from the legitimate waste companies who operate to strict environmental standards. Combating illegal fly-tipping is a high priority for the Environment Agency so you can find registered carriers by visiting www.environment-agency.gov.uk/publicregisters."
Advice for householders
· Do not re-occupy your home until any mud has been removed, it has been cleaned and disinfected, and dried out.
· Your local authority will be able to advise on the services that they can provide to dispose of waste like damaged furniture.
· Do not reconnect the mains electricity until the system has been thoroughly examined by a qualified electrician. Check sockets, switches and appliances before use. Even if it is then considered safe to use electrical equipment in the cleaning process, make sure you use a circuit breaker for additional protection.
Advice for businesses
· Some waste generated as a result of flooding may need a specialist contractor, the Environmental Services Association can help you find one.
· If you have problems with a particular type of waste, contact us on 08708 506 506. We are preparing specific advice for particular waste streams. One company's waste could be another's resource.
· Check out NetRegs for advice for small businesses affected by flooding at www.netregs.gov.uk.
Advice for farmers
· Waste milk should normally be disposed of by diluting at least 1:1 with slurry or water and spreading on land in accordance with regulations. Given the current situation with land flooded or water logged this may not be possible, so milk can be stored in suitable temporary storage or added to slurry lagoons assuming they have adequate available capacity.
· In some cases farmers may have been unable to spread manure and slurry as they would usually do (e.g. after 1st cut silage) and slurry and manure stores may be full. Additional storage lagoons may be constructed provided they meet basic Environment Agency requirements on siting, lining, and construction, to avoid any immediate risks to water. Contact us if you need to do this.
Barbara Young added: "The Environment Agency has a responsibility to protect human health and our environment. Equally we want to help make sure the recovery operations from these events are done as swiftly and safely as possible."
For the Environment Agency advice on dealing with the after flood situation visit our website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk or call us on 08708 506 506.
