Household utilities

This section has information about supplies to your home of:

gas
electricity
water

Gas supplies

If you smell gas, call the NI Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 002 001 (this number is available 24 hours).

If you are affected by flooding and water enters your home:

Where possible turn off the gas supply at the meter.

Turn off all gas appliances (even if they appear to be operating normally. Their flues or the ventilation may be affected).

Make sure the gas is not turned on and don't use any gas appliances until your system has been inspected by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
If you live in rented property contact your landlord as soon as possible.

You should keep warm by using extra clothes and blankets. Keep some foil 'space' blankets as part of your home flood kit. They work even when wet. You can buy foil blankets cheaply at most camping and outdoors shops.

And remember to check on your neighbours too, especially if they are elderly.

Electricity supplies

If water enters your home, do not operate electrical switches or appliances. Don't touch electrical fittings such as sockets and meters.

In a flood it is likely that the mains electricity supply will go off. You should keep a battery powered torch and a battery powered radio just for such an occasion.

It would also be useful to have a landline phone which does not need a mains electricity supply.

You should report power cuts to NIE on 08457 643 643.

Water supplies

There is no need to turn your water mains off during a flood if the water is from outside your house.

It may be counter productive to do so. Even if you have to leave your house do not turn the mains supply off.