Community clean-up underway in Minden Hills

A bench is shown surrounded by flooding in Minden Hills, Ont. (CTV News)

As the Township of Minden Hills begins to clean up after the floods, it’s offering tips for how to get started.

Sandbag drop-off

The Township says residents can dispose of empty sandbags with regular household waste as they are not recyclable.

If there’s leftover sand and you can’t use it, residents can either bring them to the Curling Club or the Irondale Community Centre.

Roadside pick-up is also available which will be starting on Tuesday. Residents are asked to place the bags at the roadside and not on the road.

For those who are having trouble lifting and moving the sandbags, the Township is sending out community volunteers to help. If you need assistance, email or call the Township.

Flood waste materials

If you have experienced damage to your home and have items and materials that need to be thrown out, they can be taken to the Scotch Line Landfill.

To request for financial assistance, the Township has an application process for people who are not making an insurance claims. Paper copies of the application are available at Township Waste Facilities, Administrative Office and the S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena.

Clean-up kits

The Township says it has 50 kits for household cleaning but should not be used for mould control.

Those can be picked up at the Minden Community Centre on Mon., May 11 rom 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. or Tues., May 12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

What to do after a flood

Lakelands Public Health is reminding people of a few things to do post-flood.

Floodwater is contaminated and people should not be in their homes if there’s flooding. Also, anything that’s been in contact with floodwater should be considered contaminated.

Officials say not to drink well water until it’s cleaned and tested. They say not to use flooded appliances, electrical outlets, switch boxes or fuse breaker panels until they’ve been checked by experts. People should report any broken utility lines.

Septic systems should be restored. Finally, mould can grow quickly after a flood and should be removed safely as it can cause serious health problems.