Staying Healthy During Floods and Storms

What changes when severe weather hits

Floods and storms disrupt everyday essentials such as clean water, safe food storage, electricity, and access to healthcare. Floodwater may contain sewage, chemicals, and germs, and surfaces become contaminated more easily. Taking a steady, practical approach helps protect your health while your home and community recover.

Hygiene and reducing contamination risk

Hand hygiene is one of the most important ways to protect your health. Wash hands with soap and safe water whenever possible, especially before meals, after toileting, after contact with floodwater, and during clean-up tasks. Keep frequently touched items, eating utensils, and children’s belongings as clean as practical. If you have cuts or wounds, keep them covered and avoid direct contact with dirty water to reduce infection risk.

Safe drinking water and food choices

Only use tap water if your local authority confirms it is safe. If uncertain, use sealed bottled water or approved emergency water supplies. Flooding and power loss affect food safety. Discard any food exposed to floodwater, damaged packaging, spoiled refrigerated foods, or thawed frozen foods. When unsure, it is safer to throw food away than risk illness.

Chronic conditions and essential health needs

If you live with asthma, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, immune suppression, or other long-term conditions, floods and storms create extra health risk. Keep important medical information accessible, including medication lists, allergies, and key contacts. Protect medicines and medical equipment from heat, moisture, and contamination. If medication is damaged, lost, or running out, contact your GP or pharmacy when services are available.

Breathing health, damp, and mould

Damp environments increase mould and poor air quality. This can worsen asthma, breathing conditions, and sinus symptoms. If cleaning mould, try to reduce exposure and use protective measures where practical. Seek review if breathing symptoms worsen, wheeze increases, or you feel unwell.

When to seek urgent medical care

Seek urgent medical review if you or someone with you experiences:

• difficulty breathing, severe coughing, or wheezing

• chest pain, fainting, or collapse

• fever with spreading skin redness or a worsening infected wound

• signs of dehydration (extreme thirst, dizziness, reduced urine)

• confusion, sudden weakness, or severe illness

• any emergency affecting a pregnant woman, infant, elderly person, or someone with serious medical conditions

Emergency contacts and support

Call Triple Zero (000) for life-threatening emergencies.
Use local State Emergency Service (SES) for safety support in floods and storms.
Local councils, state health departments, and disaster recovery services provide updated information about water safety, evacuation, and health services. If unsure, your GP or a hospital emergency department can guide next steps when accessible.

Planning follow-up and looking after wellbeing

Recovery takes time. If you feel unsure about water safety, wound care, chronic health planning, breathing symptoms, vaccinations, or your general wellbeing, speaking with your GP helps you make informed decisions. Mental health care matters too — stress, worry, fatigue, and emotional strain are common after severe weather events, and support is available.

This article provides general health information only and does not replace medical advice. Please speak with your GP for personalised care.