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Dealing with Floods
Dealing With Floods
10% of UK Households are at risk of flooding (Source Association of British Insurers)Water can be hugely damaging substance and flooding in the UK is increasing. In the long term the situation may only worsen; climate change will increase winter rainfall, the frequency of heavy rain, sea levels and storm surge heights.
According to The Association of British Insurers there are now 2 million homes in the UK at risk from costal or inland flooding and they suggest that with no change in Government policies this could rise to 3.5 million households at risk.
Are you at risk of Flooding?
Before you buy your new home your solicitor will obtain an environmental search on your property. This report checks with various agencies for waste disposal sites (especially hazardous waste), flooding, mining so that you should not be aware if you buying a property in an area that is a know flood risk.
If you are concerned about your current risk, the Environment Agency has a very useful website and data base it is possible to check for your self, as well as view current flood warnings.
What can you do to reduce the risks or cope with the aftermath?
During prolonged deep flooding, it may not be possible to keep the water out of your house. Flood boards installed around doors can offer significant protection against flash-flooding for a few hours, however, they will not offer protection against more prolonged periods of flooding, when water could enter through the floor and brickwork.
Flood protection products will give you time to move your possessions off the ground floor and out of reach of the floodwater. A pump-and-sump system may be effective in removing water from the house as fast as it enters, keeping the level of water within the building down to a minimum. Even when water does get into the house in these situations, it is often "cleaner", because much of the mud and silt stays outside the property - substantially reducing clean up costs after a flood.
Nevertheless, for floods deeper than 1 metre, it is recommended that you actually let the water into your house because the build up of water pressure outside your property could cause the walls to cave in, leading to serious structural damage.
Cleaning up after a flood is not a quick process. Flood water carries with it a great deal of soil, vegetation and other waste (which may include sewage). Once this has been removed the bricks and plaster have to dry out and even with dehumidifiers this is a slow process and will leave salt from the bricks and plaster that has to be removed. Timber swells when it is wet, so doors and wooden windows may not open, as the timber dries out these should reduce back to their original size.
For more information both the Environment Agency and Associations of British Insurers have leaflets which are available to download from our Forms and Files section on this page.
