Department of Health

Key messages

  • Encourage people in flood-prone areas to plan for floods.
  • Emergency workers should be aware of potential hazards.
  • Hazards remain after flood waters subside.

Floods present many potential health hazards. Emergency workers and other support staff should ensure that members of the public are aware of the potential risks when they return to their homes after a flooding event.

A range of material is available to provide to people who have been affected by floods. When people are planning to return to their homes after the flood waters have subsided, and the risks from floods waters have reduced to a level that is considered safe, there may still be many potential health hazards.

More information

Looking after yourself

Cleaning up after a flood

In your language

After a flood: mould and your healthExternal Link on the Health Translations website

Returning home after a floodExternal Link on the Health Translations website

Drinking water after a floodExternal Link on the Health Translations website

After a flood: mould and your healthExternal Link on the Health Translations website

After a flood: animal and insect related hazardsExternal Link on the Health Translations website

Power outages after a floodExternal Link on the Health Translations website

Floods and mosquito-borne diseasesExternal Link on the Health Translations website

Reviewed 13 November 2022

Health.vic

Contact details

Environmental Health Policy and Risk Management Unit

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