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Flooding….plan ahead

These 3 steps can help to minimise the potential impact and disruption of flooding to your home:

Flooding can be as a result of rivers or seas, or due to saturation of the ground and the inability of drains to cope with a high volume of rainfall.  The steps below may protect and reduce the impact of flooding of your home. Be prepared.  Buy equipment and plan well in advance:

1. Consider implementing the following to minimise flood water entering the building:

  • Flood boards can be purchased to fit onto the bottom of external doors in the event of a flood to keep flood water out.
  • Identify stockists of sand bags or purpose non-sand flood bags in your area.  (In cases of ground water flooding – sands bags will be ineffective.)
  • Air brick covers can be purchased specifically for the event of flooding. (Alternatively anti-flooding air bricks can be put in place.)
  •  Ensure that the exterior of the property is maintained. Check pointing, water-proof sealant   can be applied to exterior doors.
  • Drains and water inlet and outlet pipes can be fitted  non-return valves . (This will prevent wastewater from flowing back into the property through sewerage pipes for ground floor toilets and sinks.)

2. Whilst flooding may be inevitable, taking the following steps will help to protect your belongings:

  • Store high value or irreplaceable items on high, wall mounted shelves.
  • Fix audio –visual equipment to the wall, about 1.5 meters’ above floor level.
  • Where possible raise fridges and other appliances on plinths.
  • Extra-large sealant bags can be used to protect items which may be difficult to move.

3.To make the process of clearing up and drying the property easier and quicker afterwards consider taking the following steps:

  • Use materials which are water resistant for internal fixtures and fittings such as water resistant skirting boards (or varnish wooden ones) and fitting synthetic or waxed internal doors (or easy to move wooden ones).
  • Furnish tiled floors with rugs rather than fitted carpets.
  • In the kitchen and bathroom the use of stainless steel, plastic or solid wood will fare better than chipboard.
  • Electrical sockets fuse boxes, controls and wiring should be increased to 1.5 meters above floor level.

For further information about Flooding and Flood Risk see http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/

 

Source: The Environment Agency