Flooding

Flooding and risks to health

Flooding presents a number of risks to health, drowning being the most obvious. Serious injury can be caused by falling into fast flowing water or from hidden dangers under the water, such as missing manhole covers. The stress and strain of being flooded and cleaning up can have a notable impact on mental health and wellbeing. There is also a serious danger posed by carbon monoxide fumes from the indoor use of generators to dry out buildings, if they are not properly ventilated. Infections arising as a result of floodwaters in this country are rare as harmful microbes in floodwater usually become very diluted. There are, however, a number of precautions we can take, listed in General Information.

Flooding and the HPA

In the event of major floods, the HPA works with local agencies, including the NHS, police, local government and Environment Agency to provide expert advice on protecting the health of the local community, particularly from microbiological and chemical hazards. Our local Health Protection Units, liaising with national colleagues who specialise in environmental hazards, infectious diseases and emergency planning, can provide a focal point for health protection advice to local responders and the public. The Environment Agency has a key role in warning people about the risk of flooding, and in reducing the likelihood of flooding from rivers and the sea.