uk flooding - protect yourself from floods

Local: 0845 686 0845 www.aka‐assistedclaims.co.ukLocal: 0845 686 0845 www.aka‐assistedclaims.co.uk

UK Flooding Protect Yourself from Floods

Local: 0845 686 0845 www.aka‐assistedclaims.co.uk

UK FloodingProtect Yourself from Floods

There are over 5 million people at risk in the UK from flooding. With figures like these, everyone should be vigilant and think about their plan to deal with flooding.

Are you at risk from flooding?

The Environment Agency have created a map that you can use to find out whether you are at risk from flooding.

Simply enter you postcode or town name to see whether you fall into the 5 million people at risk.

Once you know whether you are at risk, your county council will know more about the flood defences in place and what you can do to protect your home.


Calculating Flood Risk

Flood risk is calculated by the likelihood of flooding and the damage that the flooding could do. It is important to look at the probability of different degrees of flooding and its impact on the surrounding areas.

You will have heard recently that the flooding in Cumbria and the damage caused being calculated as 1 in 100 years. This is because the likelihood of this type of flooding and the damage caused is calculated at happening 1 in 100 years.

A flood risk assessment is carried out on an area, taking into account whether there is a source of water in the local vicinity, the path that water takes during a flood, the impact on the surrounding areas including to people, property and land.


Protecting yourself from a flood

Be PreparedThere are several things that you can do to be prepared for a flood.

1. Check that you are covered by your insurance for a flood. Many people are no longer covered, so you should check your policy.

2. Make sure that you know how to turn off gas, electric and your water. The last thing that you want is too exacerbate the situation further.

3. Get a flood kit together, containing a torch, warm clothes, a radio so you can get updates on the weather and some non‐perishable food.

4. Make a plan of what you and your family will do in the eventuality of a flood. Decide on where you will meet and how you will contact each other.

5. Decide on a place for valuables that you can move now like photographs and family heirlooms.


6. Think about what you should do with pets and large furniture. Some people have adopted attaching yoghurt pots to the legs of tables and chairs, so protect them from water.

7. Make sure that you have a list of useful telephone numbers to hand during a flood, including the Floodline0845 988 1188.

Don’t forget your community in a flood

The Environment Agency are urging people to remember their community in a flood and a check on neighbours or people that they might be in danger. Working together will help communities to get themselves back on their feet and look after those who have been worse affected.


Reducing Flood Damage

You will want to reduce the damage done to your property and with this in mind:

YOU SHOULD...

find out whether there is a community flood defence system in place.

think about where the flood water comes from and where you are in relation to it. This will help you to determined how much warning you will get and the depth of the water by the time it gets to you.

consider the kind of property that you have and the type of ground that it is on.


Keeping the water out

It is virtually impossible to keep flood water out of your property if you are in the line of fire, but there are things that you can do to keep as much of the water out.

1. Think about the height of your door thresholds and whether raising the threshold could help prevent the water from getting into your property. This could help during shallow floods. You can also buy purpose built flood boards for external doors and windows that can be installed when flooding is forecast.

2. Ventilation bricks are important for your property but can allow water into your home or business. There are specially designed covers that can stop water; either by permanently blocking the water or by being applied prior to any flooding.

3. Waste water can back up during a flood, so with this in mind you should fit non‐return valves to drains and water pipes, ensuring that the water only goes one way.

4. Water can raise up from the ground and effect floor boards, so you should seal them and where possible replace wooden flooring with concrete.

http://www.aka-assistedclaims.co.uk/flooding-and-water-damage-insurance-loss-assessors


5. You can build free standing flood barrier, but if you are one of several properties in a location in the high risk flood category, then consider coming together with your neighbours to build such flood defences.

6. Divert the flood water by re‐landscaping garden areas and driveways, to take the water away from the property.

7. Sandbags are a time honoured tradition in terms of protecting properties and businesses from flooding. They aren't the best way of dealing with a flood, but can help.


What should I do if it does flood?

In order to avoid stupid incidents, remember to put lives before property. Cooperate with emergency services as they are trained to deal with flooding and when you put yourself at risk, you put them at risk too.

Sign up for Flood Warnings

The Environment Agency are encouraging people to sign up to their Flood Warnings system, which will warn you if you are going to be effected by a flood.

Go to the Environment Agency for further details.http://www.environment‐agency.gov.uk

You can also go to the following TV channels to check what is happening:Teletext Page 159, BBC Ceefax Page 419 and Digital CeefaxPage 405.

Don’t forget to check local weather, news and travel bulletins.

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/

uk flooding - protect yourself from floods

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