Flooding and Your Health

Understanding short- and long-term risks, and how your GP supports recovery

Why flooding affects health

Flooding disrupts everyday life in ways that reach well beyond water damage. Sudden displacement, contaminated environments, power outages, and disrupted access to care place strain on your body and mind. Health effects can appear during the event and continue for weeks or months afterward, even when the water recedes.

Water contamination and infection risk

Floodwater often carries sewage, chemicals, animal waste, and debris. Contact with contaminated water increases the risk of skin infections, gastroenteritis, and wound infections, particularly when cuts or abrasions are present. Inhaling aerosolised water or cleaning dried mud can also irritate the airways and trigger cough or chest tightness, especially in people with asthma or chronic lung disease.

Injuries and physical strain

Slips, falls, and lacerations are common during clean-up. Lifting heavy, water-logged items places strain on the back, shoulders, and knees. Fatigue increases injury risk, particularly when people rush to restore homes or return to work. Even minor injuries deserve attention if they become red, painful, or slow to heal after flood exposure.

Mould and indoor air quality

After flooding, damp buildings create ideal conditions for mould growth. Mould exposure can worsen asthma, trigger nasal congestion, eye irritation, headaches, and fatigue, and contribute to persistent cough. Symptoms sometimes develop gradually, which makes the link less obvious. Safe drying and ventilation reduce risk, but ongoing symptoms warrant review.

Medication disruption and chronic illness

Flooding can interrupt access to medicines, refrigeration, medical devices, and routine care. People living with diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, epilepsy, or mobility limitations often face higher risk when routines break down. Medication timing, storage, and hydration may need adjustment during recovery.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing

Floods carry emotional weight. Loss, uncertainty, displacement, and prolonged clean-up strain mental wellbeing. Sleep disturbance, anxiety, low mood, irritability, and difficulty concentrating are common and do not indicate weakness. Emotional effects may surface after practical pressures ease, when adrenaline fades.

Who may need extra support

Children, older adults, pregnant people, carers, people with disability, and those in unstable housing often experience greater health impact. Outdoor workers and people involved in repeated clean-up face cumulative exposure. Cultural, financial, and social factors also shape recovery.

How your GP helps before and after flooding

A GP helps translate general flood advice into personal care. This may include wound assessment, infection review, medication replacement, asthma or allergy management, mould-related symptom assessment, vaccination review where relevant, and mental health support. Your GP also coordinates referrals and helps document health impacts that affect work or caring responsibilities.

When to seek a GP review

Arrange a GP review if you develop fever, worsening cough, infected wounds, persistent skin rashes, breathing symptoms, prolonged fatigue, sleep disturbance, or emotional distress that interferes with daily life. Early review supports safer recovery and reduces longer-term health effects.

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