AFTER FLOODWATERS HAVE EASED

- Before cleaning, take photos of https://www.deer-digest.com/?s=damaged%20items">damaged items for insurance claim purposes

- Always wear gloves and protective footwear to avoid direct contact with the skin, and to avoid injury

- When collecting and removing rotting material such as spoiled food or vegetation, always wear a face mask

- Wash mud, dirt and debris from buildings using a hose, starting at the highest point and working to ground level

- Where possible, remove all wet items such as floor coverings, rugs, mats, furniture, bedding, linen and clothing.

Thoroughly clean and dry the floor before new material is laid

- Begin drying the dwelling as soon as floodwaters recede - open doors and windows during dry days, use fans where possible, check for trapped water and mud in wall or floor cavities

- Hard-surfaced floors, walls, benches and sinks should be thoroughly cleaned with hot soapy water and disinfected by wiping or spraying surfaces with a chlorine bleach or disinfectant

- Group waste into types: hard bulk (furniture, carpets, mattresses), green (vegetation), scrap metal (whitegoods and e-waste), food waste

- Beware of hazardous materials such as asbestos

- Wash hands after dealing with waste

- Lodge insurance claims online to ensure they https://lifelockdeals.com">Get Best LifeTIme Deals Offer - Lifelockdeals.Com processed as quickly as possible

- Premises that have lost power or gas supply must be inspected by a licensed professional before the connection is restored

- Until tap water is https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/declared">declared safe, boil it before drinking

- Clean up volunteers should check with owners before entering a property or discarding items to ensure everything has been catalogued

SOURCE: EPA NSW