Before dealing with the effects of flooding - whether from an act of nature, a burst pipe or an overflowing bath be sure to switch off the electricity at the mains.
Remove standing water with a submersible pump. (If the power is still off, hire a petrol powered pump.) Then scrape all remaining debris into piles with a squeegee or a 4in/100mm wide strip of 1/2 in / 13 mm plywood screwed to a broom handle. Shovel the piles of mud and debris into buckets and deposit them outside. If there's a lot of debris, shovel it out into a rubbish bin or wheelbarrow, or hire a skip.
To dry out a room quickly, place fans at the windows. You can also dry out a room with portable paraffin heaters, which can be rented from a local equipment hire company.
If trapped water has caused a ceiling to sag, punch drainage holes at the low points with an awl or a small screwdriver, and catch the water in a bucket placed underneath.
See also FLOODS
