Flood water has come into your home. You’re standing in it. You don’t know where to start.
What you do in the first 24 hours after flood damage has a direct impact on your safety, the condition of your property, and the strength of your insurance claim. The decisions you make in this window, before you lift a bucket or call a builder, matter more than most people realise.
This guide walks you through exactly what to do, in the right order. It covers safety, evidence gathering, notifying your insurer, and the mistakes that can complicate a claim before it even gets started.
Step 1: Get Safe Before You Do Anything Else
Before anything else, your safety comes first.
Floodwater is not clean water. It frequently carries sewage, bacteria, and contaminants, particularly when it has entered from external drains or overflowing waterways. Do not wade through significant standing water unless you have no alternative.
Do not turn on electricity in any area that has been flooded or is still wet. Do not turn your power, water, or gas back on until they have been checked by a qualified engineer. If you are unsure whether utilities are off, wait for a professional rather than trying to manage it yourself.
If the flooding is severe and your home is unsafe to remain in, leave and contact your local authority or emergency services. Check in on elderly or vulnerable neighbours who may need assistance.
Step 2: Stop Further Water Entering the Property
Once you’re safe, try to limit the damage getting worse.
If the source is internal, such as a burst pipe or overflowing appliance, turn off the stopcock or main water valve immediately. If the source is external floodwater, sandbags at doorways and covers on air bricks can help slow further ingress while you wait for water levels to drop.
Drain standing water away in stages rather than all at once. Removing water too quickly from a heavily saturated property can create pressure problems on walls and foundations.
Keep all receipts for emergency equipment hire, sandbags, or any specialist water removal service you use. Emergency mitigation costs are covered under many Irish home insurance policies and your insurer will want to see evidence of them.
Step 3: Document Everything Before You Touch Anything
This step has the biggest impact on your claim, and it’s the one most Irish homeowners get wrong.
Do not start cleaning up before you have photographed and filmed every affected area. Take photographs of every room that has been damaged: walls, floors, ceilings, skirting boards, furniture, appliances, personal belongings, and any visible source of the water.
Mark the water level on walls with a pen or tape before it fades. A visible waterline at 300mm tells a very different story to one at 1,000mm. This gives your insurer and any loss assessor a clear record of the flood height.
Film a walkthrough of the whole property. A video gives spatial context that still photographs alone can’t always capture, particularly in rooms where damage spans multiple walls and surfaces. Date and time-stamp everything where possible.
Write down when the flooding started, the apparent source of the water, what conditions led to it, and what you did in response. If there was a named storm or a local authority flood alert in place, note that too.
Step 4: Notify Your Insurer Without Delay
Once you have your initial documentation, contact your insurer to notify them of the damage.
Call your insurer’s claims line directly. Have your policy number ready. Be factual and clear: the source of the flooding, when it started, the areas affected, and the steps you’ve taken so far to limit further damage.
Prompt notification matters. Delays in reporting can complicate how a claim is assessed. Your policy will specify a timeframe for reporting and the earlier you make contact, the better.
Ask your insurer directly whether alternative accommodation is covered if your home is uninhabitable. Many Irish home insurance policies include this provision, but it’s not universal. If you need to move out, keep every receipt for accommodation and additional living costs from the date of the flood.
Keep a written log of every call you make or receive from this point forward. Note who you spoke to, the date and time, and what was agreed or communicated. A clear paper trail is invaluable when managing any insurance claim.
Step 5: Understand What Your Policy Actually Covers
Flood cover is not automatically included in every Irish home insurance policy. Many homeowners discover this at the worst possible moment.
The source of the flooding matters significantly in how your claim is assessed. River flooding, coastal surge, surface water run-off, and drainage back-up can be treated differently under different policy terms. A claim for rainwater entering through a storm-damaged roof is assessed on different grounds to a claim for rising groundwater.
Where flood cover is included, it can extend to structural repairs, damaged contents and flooring, specialist drying and clean-up costs, and alternative accommodation. Read your policy schedule carefully and call your insurer to confirm exactly what type of flooding is covered under your specific policy.
If the policy wording is unclear, or you’re not sure whether the flooding you’ve experienced falls within your cover, this is where a regulated public loss assessor can help. Insurance Claim Solutions work exclusively on behalf of policyholders and have managed over 7,500 cases since the company was founded in 2009 by Trevor Kelly. You can find out more about how ICS handle flood damage insurance claims on their website.
Full guidance on homeowner rights and flood cover is available through citizensinformation.ie. The OPW’s flood risk mapping tool at floodinfo.ie shows whether your property sits in a designated flood risk area.
Step 6: Do Not Dispose of Damaged Items Without Approval
One of the most damaging mistakes Irish homeowners make after a flood is removing and disposing of damaged materials before their insurer or assessor has seen them.
Flooring, skirting, furniture, and appliances all need to be assessed before they’re removed. Your insurer will appoint a loss adjuster to inspect the damage and determine repair or replacement costs. If items are gone before that inspection happens, it becomes much harder to establish the full value of the claim.
Do not rip out floors or open up walls until the damage has been properly documented and your insurer has agreed to the scope of work. If items must be removed for genuine hygiene or safety reasons before inspection, photograph them thoroughly first and keep disposal receipts.
This applies to electrical items too. Floodwater can affect sockets, wiring, boilers, and appliances in ways that are not always visible. Do not reconnect or test any electrical item that has been in contact with floodwater until it has been inspected by a qualified electrician.
What Type of Flooding Does Irish Home Insurance Cover?
Not all flooding is treated the same under Irish insurance policies, and understanding the distinction saves time and frustration when you make your claim.
Storm-related flooding, where water enters because a storm has damaged the roof, windows, or external structure, is typically covered under standard home insurance.
Surface water flooding, caused by heavy rainfall overwhelming drains or surface run-off, may or may not be included depending on the policy. Check your schedule specifically for references to surface water.
River and coastal flooding is often excluded in areas identified as high risk. Properties in flood-risk zones may need a specialist policy or additional flood cover endorsement. Check the OPW flood maps before assuming your standard policy applies.
ICS have significant experience across all categories of flood damage claim. Trevor Kelly, the company’s Managing Director, holds a BSc (Hons) in Building Surveying and is a registered public loss assessor regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (Registration No. C423441). Senior Loss Assessor John Holland specialises in complex and technical losses.
What Is a Public Loss Assessor and Do You Need One?
Your insurer appoints their own loss adjuster to assess the damage. That person works for the insurer, not for you. Their role is to determine the value of the claim on the insurer’s behalf.
A public loss assessor works exclusively for the policyholder. They review your policy, identify the full extent of the damage, interpret the policy wording, and manage the process with the insurer’s representative on your behalf.
ICS are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and are members of the SCSI, RICS, the Insurance Institute of Ireland, and the BDMA (Biological and Disaster Management Association). The team use 3D property scanning technology to document damage in precise detail, which is an unusual capability in the Irish market. This provides a thorough record of the loss at the point in time when damage is at its most visible.
Appointing a loss assessor is particularly worth considering when the damage is significant, when the policy wording is complex, or when you’re not confident that the full extent of the damage will be captured and properly presented.
ICS do not guarantee any specific outcome or settlement figure. What they do is bring 40 years of combined claims experience and over 7,500 completed cases to the process of representing your interests as a policyholder. Find out more about the ICS claims management service and what involvement looks like in practice.
Mould, Damp, and Hidden Damage After Flood Water
Flood damage doesn’t stop when the water recedes. The weeks and months after the event bring their own problems.
Mould can develop within 24 to 48 hours in a property that hasn’t been properly dried. Insurers will want evidence that the mould is connected to the flood event and that reasonable drying steps were taken. Photographs and dated notes from the earliest stages of the claim support this.
Structural damage may not be visible for some time after flooding. Keep checking for changes in roof ridge lines, horizontal cracking in walls, vertical or diagonal cracks above windows or doors, and any new cracks larger than 5mm. Contact your insurer and consult a structural engineer if you notice any of these signs developing.
Professional drying equipment is required to properly dry a flooded property. Domestic dehumidifiers are not sufficient for a serious flood. The cost of specialist drying should be included in the agreed scope of works under your policy. Make sure it is.
For a detailed guide on cleaning your home after flooding, see floodinfo.ie.
FAQ: First 24 Hours After Flood Damage in Ireland
Should I clean up before the loss adjuster visits?
Take emergency steps to limit further damage, but do not remove floors, open up walls, or dispose of damaged items before an assessor has seen them. Photograph and film everything in full detail before any clean-up begins. If items must be removed for hygiene or safety reasons, document them thoroughly first and keep disposal receipts for your claim file.
Does Irish home insurance cover flood damage?
Not automatically. Standard Irish home insurance policies vary significantly on flood cover. River and coastal flooding is frequently excluded, particularly in high-risk areas. Surface water flooding may or may not be covered depending on the policy wording. Storm-related water ingress is usually included. Read your policy schedule and contact your insurer to confirm exactly which type of flooding applies to your situation.
What is the difference between a loss adjuster and a loss assessor?
A loss adjuster is appointed by your insurer to assess damage and determine claim value on their behalf. A public loss assessor is appointed by you and works exclusively in your interest as the policyholder. They interpret your policy, document the full scope of the damage, and manage the process with the insurer’s representative. ICS are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
Can I get alternative accommodation covered after flood damage?
Many Irish home insurance policies include cover for alternative accommodation if your home is uninhabitable following an insured event. This varies by policy and is not automatic. Notify your insurer as soon as you know you need to move out and keep all receipts from the date of the flood. Ask your insurer specifically about accommodation cover when you make your initial notification call.
Conclusion
The first 24 hours after flood damage are the most important window you have to protect your safety, your property, and your insurance claim. Document everything thoroughly before touching anything, notify your insurer promptly, and do not dispose of damaged items until they have been assessed.
Insurance Claim Solutions work exclusively for policyholders on flood damage claims across Ireland. If you need help understanding your policy, documenting your loss, or managing the claims process, call ICS on 01 870 9210 or get in touch through the Insurance Claim Solutions contact page.