Flood waters that I thought would recede are still lapping at the end of my garden. If the water rises again, what precautions can I take?

DS, Oxfordshire

Take all breakables and valuables upstairs, block plugholes, disconnect electrical and gas supplies and stack furniture and heavy items on bricks. If you can, pile up sandbags and cover them with polythene to provide a more effective membrane. Make sure your car is out of the way, as claiming damage on insurance can be tricky.

Take photographs before any damage and again afterwards before cleaning up, to create a record of the property’s condition. Once the waters recede, open all windows to ventilate, remove wet floor coverings and install dehumidifiers. Contact your insurer as soon as possible. Have power installations and appliances inspected by an electrician or Corgi-registered engineer before using them. Run taps to make sure silt has not got into the water system. If water is contaminated, boil for at least 20 minutes before use. Shovel out mud, scrub surfaces with hot soapy water and disinfect.

Philip Eddell is a rural-practice chartered surveyor with Knight Frank in Hungerford; www.knightfrank.co.uk

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