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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to mix households to escape a flooded house?

43 replies

Holdingbacktheflood · 29/12/2020 22:38

I would really like some advice.
2 days ago my house was flooded. My 2 ds (6 and 9) went to stay with my parents as we didn’t know how bad it would be. My parents are in Tier 4, as are we, but about 50 miles away.
We are still drying out one room but having to have heaters on and windows open. I would rather my DC didn’t come back yet as the house is freezing and they would be confined upstairs (with open windows).
There is also the possibility that it will happen again in next few days according to the firemen. (And so they would need to be ‘evacuated’ again). As much as they adore being at my parents they are starting to miss me. They would really like me there with them and I am hating being in this awful house at the moment. (I suffer from anxiety)
I should also add that both us and my parents haven’t been in contact with anyone since school ended 18th dec and we kept to the rules over Xmas. These are exceptional circumstances however and we were not expecting this.
AIBU to think that I could go and stay there for a few days. My husband would stay here in case of more flooding. I’m torn on whether it’s breaking the rules or not.
Any advice welcome

OP posts:

rollinggreenhills · 29/12/2020 23:56

So sorry this has happened to you.

We've had a lot of flooding round here, and the police have said that this sort of thing takes priority over Tier 4 restrictions.

Takemetothebar · 29/12/2020 23:58

@Honeyroar

Admiration isn’t what I’m feeling. I’m sorry OP is in a horrid situation, house flooding is so so horrendous. But really, staying in a wet house away from kids trying to follow rules, when a quick google shows you the various police forces/constabularies have said flooding tops covid rules is not admirable, it’s daft.

Zagziggirl · 30/12/2020 00:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Holdingbacktheflood · 30/12/2020 00:46

@Takemetothebar
I understand what you are staying, but while we have significant damage, we were not effected as badly as others. My children were evacuated but we stayed to clean up the mess. The water has receded and we’re drying as much as we can, but our house isn’t totally uninhabitable. It’s just very uncomfortable and cold and damp. I suppose I just wanted to see others opinions on whether I would still come under ‘extraordinary circumstances.’ My feeling was that it was ok, but it’s been a rough few days so I’m a bit all over the place. My DF was also worried about ‘nosy neighbours’ asking questions. I told him I could produce some pictures if they asked!!

OP posts:

partyatthepalace · 30/12/2020 01:35

Absolutely nothing else you can do

SleepingStandingUp · 30/12/2020 01:39

If my Dad was going to refuse to let me stay in these circs when he already had my kids, I'd be very disappointed in him. Definitely go

Bikingbear · 30/12/2020 02:00

Go and be with your kids, and take DH with you. Put as much stuff up stairs as possible and go.

wibdib · 30/12/2020 02:37

The town next to ours had bad flooding in the last week - on all the social media and news reports they really emphasised that if you were affected by flooding and you had friends or relatives that you could go and stay with them absolutely you should go to them regardless of what tier they’re in.

Quite a few of the local news reports had quotes from people along the lines of ‘we didn’t think that we were going to be affected to badly by the floods but when the police came around to say that we had an hour to get out of the house, and that if we had anyone to stay with, regardless of what tier they were in, that’s when we knew it was serious because we have had so much strict stuff about being in tier 4 and not being allowed to leave, now they’re telling us to get out anywhere as fast as we can’.

noideabutstilltrying · 30/12/2020 05:52

Speak to your insurers, they will have a panel of drying companies who are able to strip out the property to get the drying completed. They can sanitise the areas to prevent mould growth.

Depending on the policy cover you are likely to be able to have alternative accommodation cover.

If the water got high enough you also need to get your electrics checked.

At the moment, the advice I'm giving to those flooded is to stay with families as it's not rule breaking whilst we get properties assessed and sort longer term accommodation for them.

I am a loss adjuster and have spent the past few days helping lots of people in a similar situation

Original poster

Holdingbacktheflood · 30/12/2020 12:47

Thanks again for your kind responses. My dad is a lovely kind man but can get quite ‘uptight’ when it comes to the restrictions. He’s relented now I’ve shown him evidence that it’s ok to ‘break the rules’.
I hadn’t even thought about mould or sanitising, etc which shows how my brain isn’t engaged at the moment. My DH has been on to insurers but nobody has been around yet. The water didn’t get as high as electrics thankfully. We’ll certainly need new floor boards.
I’m upset about all my lovely old wooden furniture handed down from my mum, grandmother and great grandmother. Not worth much in terms of money but huge sentimental value. However my DC are safe, happy and being spoilt rotten (although missing me) which is the most important thing.
I’m sorry for everyone who has been effected by these floods and hope everyone is safe and warm now!
Thank you all again.

OP posts:

WunWun · 30/12/2020 12:49

Lol, who voted YABU?!

PickAChew · 30/12/2020 12:50

It's a completely legitimate reason to move household. Would there be someone looking after your house while it dried out?

Cattermole · 30/12/2020 12:57

We've also just been flooded (not moving anywhere, in our case thank God it wasn't necessary as it was contained to a very small area) but I'll just drop into the mix - in the last week we've had twelve separate strangers in our house, loss adjusters and technicians and goodness knows what.

All of whom have been absolutely necessary and much welcome but I would think if there is any way of limiting your own exposure to that kind of level of contact, seize on it with both hands.

Original poster

Holdingbacktheflood · 30/12/2020 13:02

My DH will stay at home. He’s working from home and doesn’t really understand all the fuss either. He’s convinced it’s already dry but the stones in front of the fireplace are still wet and it’s only really the top layer of the floor boards that are vaguely dry. I’m just going to let him get on with it and go and see my DC. It will also be quite nice to feel my feet again!

OP posts:

Toocold · 30/12/2020 13:05

Another saying go to your children

BrieAndChilli · 30/12/2020 13:20

Our county have had lots of flooding this month and I’m sure (we weren’t flooded so didn’t pay huge attention to the announcement) but I’m sure it was announced that you could drop social distancing restrictions in order to move in with someone else if your house was flooded.

HennyLenry · 30/12/2020 14:00

I can't believe that you actually feel the need to ask this.

No, you should style it out in your flooded home for the sake of a virus that has a 99% recovery rate! Obviously!

Christ. If anyone says anything other than of course you can, they need to get their head looked at.

TroublesomeTrucks · 30/12/2020 14:46

We have behaved as if we’re in lockdown since March but when we had a burst pipe on Xmas day meaning our water was off, I went to a neighbour’s for a shower on Boxing Day.

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