Flood Preparedness Guide
With a Super El Niño threatening a particularly wet and windy winter this year, the Environment Agency has issued a report that 6 million UK homes are at risk of flooding. What's even more concerning is that an estimated 2 million of those have no idea they are at risk.
When you purchase a property, flood risk is one of the things searched for by lenders; they want to know how safe their investment will be. It's also checked when you take out buildings insurance and can affect your premiums. But if you've owned your home for decades, or are renting, you may not be aware you are at risk.
The good news is, if you live in England, the government website has a page dedicated to exactly this. All you do is enter your postcode, and it tells you both the current risk and the long-term risk. Similar services are available elsewhere in the world.
Can my risk level change?
Unfortunately yes. Climate change, rising sea levels, deforestation, and new building developments all affect the way water behaves and, while every effort can be made to mitigate the effects, nature will almost always win. That means you should check your risk level every few years to see if anything has changed.
So what can you do to prepare?
First, check your risk level. If it's low, then your basic preparedness kit will suffice. Be prepared for water and/or power to be cut off for 72 hours, as recommended by governments worldwide. If your property is at higher risk, Confused.com suggests a few extra precautions you can take:
-
Sign up for flood alerts
Get free alerts from the Government for river and coastal flooding -
Elevate valuables
Store expensive or important items and documents on higher ground
-
Seal your property
Have sandbags and air brick covers on hand to keep water out -
Check your insurance policy
Make sure your home insurance covers flood damage -
Prepare a Flood Plan with your family
If you get a flood warning
If your area has a flood warning, flooding is expected. To stay safe:
- Move your family, pets and important items to safety, for example upstairs or to higher ground
- Use flood protection products if you have them, for example flood barriers or air brick covers
- Turn off your gas, electricity and water supplies if it’s safe to do so - do not touch an electrical switch if you’re standing in water
- Do not drive through flood water - only move your vehicle to higher ground if it’s safe to do so
- Follow advice from your local council or the emergency services - you may be asked to evacuate
If you get a severe flood warning
A severe flood warning means there is a danger to life.
To keep yourself and others safe:
- Call 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger
- Leave the area if the emergency services tell you to evacuate - take your go-bag with you so you are as comfortable as possible
- Do not walk, cycle, or drive through flood water - hidden debris could cause harm
- Do not put yourself at risk to move vehicles or belongings
Drinking Water
Your 72-hour kit should contain enough drinking water for you and your family to last a couple of days, but if you're stranded or cut off for longer, you'll need a way of purifying the flood water. Provided it's river or rainwater that has you surrounded, a LifeSaver water purifier will remove 99.99% of microbiological contaminants and the sludge mixed in with it. It won't, however, help with coastal flooding, which will be mainly saltwater, so you'll be dependent on bottled water supplies.
It's important to know which you'll be at risk from so you know how to prepare.
For advice on which water purifier would suit your family best, please get in touch.