WEATHER The Calm S t aofrtemr t.he Or not. 18 NOVEMBER 2015 CLEANING HYGIENE TODAY FEATURE Let’s start with floods. They have seemingly become more frequent and more ferocious over recent years and the havoc they leave in their wake can take weeks and months to correct. The year 2000 saw the wettest autumn since records began in 1766 (we are legally required to use this phrase at least once in any article about the weather) according to the Met Office. The same source says that 10,000 homes and businesses were flooded in over 700 locations. Seven years later 48,461 homes and 7,000 businesses were flooded across the country. Seven years after that (look out for 2021…) saw almost 19,000 flood claims and 450,000 storm claims. In financial terms this amounts to £451m in claims for floods and £640m on storms. On top of this there is the deluge of smaller scale floods that afflict homes and businesses every year. to use petrol or diesel powered generators, pressure washers or dehumidifiers on an indoor clean up as the exhaust gasses can build up and kill. GETTING STARTED In terms of the actual clear up pretty much everyone advises that you begin work as soon as possible. In order to prevent mould outbreaks, water logged items need to be dried out within 48 hours at the latest. You will likely need specialist equipment as well. Carpets that have been water logged cannot just be dried (or left to dry) then hovered with your Cleaning up after any of these is a time consuming, difficult and even potentially hazardous process. Hazardous you say…? Indeed, the NHS has an entire webpage devoted to the hygiene issues involved with cleaning up after the flood. Admittedly this page contains such incredible pearls of wisdom as “Always wash your hands with soap and clean water after you use the toilet,” as well as “Don’t allow children to play in flood water areas,” and CHT’s personal favourite “use waterproof plasters.” But there is important information contained as well, such as the directive not 48,461 homes and 7,000 businesses were flooded across the country. Seven years after that (look out for 2021…) saw almost 19,000 flood claims, 450,000 storm claims.”
CHT November 2015
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