Warning to residents as huge Calderdale clean up operation at businesses and homes begin

Home and businesses throughout Calderdale are beginning cleaning out their premises due to the damage cased by Storm CIara.
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Parts of Calderdale were under several feet of water on Sunday as the borough was battered by rain and 80mph winds.

Scenes of roads flooded roads, shop fronts covered in metres in water and the sight of communities battling the elements brought back memories of the devastating Boxing Day flood in 2015.

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Volunteers and cleaning supplies are needed as Calderdale flood clean-up continu...
Many businesses and communities in Calderdale are staring to clear up after Storm Ciara swept through the boroughMany businesses and communities in Calderdale are staring to clear up after Storm Ciara swept through the borough
Many businesses and communities in Calderdale are staring to clear up after Storm Ciara swept through the borough
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With the weather continuing to cause disruption, businesses and communities are beginning their attempts to clean up their premises

A spokesperson for Calderdale Council said: "Flood water is dirty and maybe contaminated with sewage so please extra take care when cleaning up."

Public Health England has this advice if you are cleaning up your property.

Do not overdo it when cleaning up, and remember that tiredness, difficulty sleeping and anxiety are normal in these circumstances.

Starting off

• talk to your insurance company and follow their advice

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• wear rubber boots, waterproof gloves and an apron to clean up. If cleaning causes a lot of water to splash from scrubbing, hosing or pressure-washing, wear a standard face mask, such as those sold by DIY stores. Goggles offer added protection and they can be reused after thorough washing

• remember to wash your hands thoroughly after each clean-up session. Keep open cuts or sores clean and use waterproof plasters to prevent them being exposed to floodwater

• take care with electrics and gas: Do not turn on gas or electrics if they may have got wet. Only turn them on when they have been checked by a qualified technician

How and what to clean

• wash clothes used for cleaning on a separate cycle from your other clothes

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• clean all hard surfaces (eg walls, floors) with hot water and detergent • clean and disinfect work surfaces, plates, pans, cutlery, chopping boards etc. before using them with food. If you have a working dishwasher, this is a more efficient way to clean and sanitise smaller items. Discard wooden chopping boards and wooden spoons if contaminated by floodwater

• wash soft items (eg clothing, bedding and children’s toys) on a 60°C cycle with detergent. If you suspect problems with your drainage system, it is recommended that a launderette be used for washing large quantities of clothes and linens until your waste-water system has been checked

Drying out

• ensure good ventilation if using portable indoor heating appliances to dry out indoor spaces. Do not use petrol or diesel generators or other similar fuel-driven equipment indoors: the exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, which can kill

• heating, dehumidifiers and good ventilation can also help dry out your home

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• if you have gas or oil central heating and it has been checked by an engineer, turn it on. Keep the thermostat between 20°C to 22°C for steady drying

• if you have air bricks to any under floor spaces, ensure that these are unblocked to give cross ventilation to these areas. As floorboards and walls continue to dry out, any loose material and dust resulting from this should be vacuumed up on a regular basis

• when you can, remove dirty water and silt from the property including the space under the ground floor if you have wooden floors. This space may need pumping out

• mould should disappear as your home dries out but if it persists, contact a specialist cleaner

• place rubbish in hard bins or in rubbish bags • dispose of dead rodents and pests in a plastic bag, wearing rubber gloves