What to Do After a Flood in Australia

Do not re-enter a flooded property until electricity has been isolated at the mains. Water and electricity are an immediately lethal combination. Contact your energy provider or a licensed electrician if you are uncertain.

Floodwater from overflowing waterways, stormwater systems, or backed-up sewage is classified as Category 3 (Black Water) under IICRC S500:2025. It contains sewage, bacteria, chemicals, and biological hazards. Minimum protective equipment: waterproof boots and gloves. Full PPE is required for anyone entering heavily affected areas.

• Check for visible structural damage — sagging ceilings, cracked walls, or shifted foundations.
• Check for gas smell — if present, leave immediately and call your gas provider.
• Do not use generators, power tools, or appliances in wet areas.

Before removing water, lifting carpet, or cleaning up any damage — photograph and video every affected room. Walk through the entire property systematically. Capture ceilings, walls, flooring, structural elements, and every damaged or destroyed item.

This evidence is required by your insurer and cannot be recreated after cleanup begins. Insurers can reduce or deny claims when there is insufficient photographic evidence of the original damage scope.

Contact your insurer as soon as practicable after discovering flood damage. Most policies require prompt notification as a condition of coverage. This does not mean you must wait for insurer approval before beginning emergency make-safe work — you should not wait.

Under the General Insurance Code of Practice (GICP), your insurer must acknowledge your claim within 10 business days and provide a decision within 10 business days of receiving all required information.

Inform your insurer that you are commencing emergency make-safe — including water extraction and structural drying — to prevent escalating damage. Provide photographs as evidence of the pre-cleanup state.

Mould amplification can begin within 24–48 hours in Australian conditions. Emergency water extraction must not wait for insurance approval. Lodge your claim with an IICRC-certified restoration contractor immediately.

Professional truck-mounted extraction units remove water from sources consumer pumps cannot reach: carpet backing, subfloor cavities, wall insulation, and structural voids. These are the moisture sources that cause secondary mould growth behind walls and under flooring — the most expensive flood damage outcome.

After bulk water extraction, LGR (Low Grain Refrigerant) dehumidifiers and high-velocity air movers are installed throughout all affected areas. Thermal imaging cameras locate hidden moisture pockets inside walls and under flooring.

Do not repaint, re-carpet, or close up walls until your restoration contractor confirms via moisture readings that drying is complete. Sealing over wet building materials traps moisture and guarantees a mould problem within weeks.

Standard structural drying for residential flood damage takes 3–5 days. Severe events with Category 3 water, deep subfloor saturation, or widespread structural damage may require longer.

All surfaces that contacted floodwater should be treated with EPA-registered botanical disinfectants after the drying phase. This step is critical for Category 2 and 3 flood events and is required for IICRC S500:2025 compliant restoration.

Building materials that cannot be dried to pre-loss moisture baselines — insulation batts, certain types of particleboard, and saturated plasterboard — must be removed and replaced rather than treated.

In the weeks following restoration, monitor for visible mould, musty odours, or elevated indoor humidity. These are signs that residual moisture was missed during drying or that new moisture is entering through damaged building fabric.

Provide your insurer with the IICRC-certified drying logs, moisture readings, and scope of works from your contractor. These documents are the standard evidence set required for claim finalisation.

If your insurer is delaying beyond GICP timeframes, lodge an IDR complaint in writing. If unresolved within 30 days, escalate to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) — free for consumers and legally binding for insurers.