Flooding - When the water rises, we are prepared.

Last week I received what felt like the fifth flood alert text message. In the months gone by I would receive the occasional alert  brush it off and get on with my day. This time I thought to myself, what have I actually done to prepare if the worst was to happen. I have my insurance documents in order, I have bottled water and some food to last the family a few days but other than that nothing. It got me thinking about what else I can do, but it's not just me. Does my family know what to do? Do they know where to switch off the gas and electricity? Do my neighbours? Does my extended family? Resilience goes beyond your own household and extends to your local community. If they fail, who will they turn to? 

Community resilience is the gold standard to ensuring true preparedness and I hope by extending my reach I can prompt others to think about their homes, family and local community to prepare. Below is my take on what we should be doing to be best prepared for flooding, but do your own research too, search your local authority with reference to flooding and you will get localised guidance for your area.

Understanding the risk

If you live at the top of a big hill miles from the coast and nearest river, you probably don't need to think too much about flooding. However, if you live at the side of a hill you can be at risk of other types of flooding such as groundwater. This is an accumulation of water in the rocks and soil that builds up after long periods of wet weather. So you do not need to live near the coast or a river to be at risk. So how do you learn about your risk? 

There is a great page on the gov.uk website where you can check your long term risk here. It provides a summery of your risk to surface water, rivers and the sea, groundwater and reservoirs. It provides you with a rating of very low, low, medium or high based on each type of flooding. It is important to remember that even if your area risk level is very low, it doesn't mean there is no risk. By knowing more about the types of flooding, you can better understand how it might effect you.

Warnings

When water is coming through your door, it is too late. You need to sign up to get flood warnings by text, call or email. Having prior warning allows you to prepare based on the level of anticipated risk of which there are three. These are, flood alert, flood warnings, and severe flood warning. Along with the text there will be a link with additional information such as the timings of the warning, advice and a map of the flood alert area. Having this information allows you to make more informed decisions, have greater situational awareness and enable you to inform others.

Getting prepared 

Now you know your level of risk and will be getting up to date information you can begin to prepare. How you prepare is individual to your circumstances like whether you live in a flat, have children, or pets. Hopefully you have managed to read my previous articles and have already begun to prepare you home and family.

Property protection 

1. Insurance - Check that your buildings insurance specifically covers flood damage. If you do not have contents insurance included perhaps this is something to consider. Understand your policy and don't rely on having it solely online. Print a copy that is easily accessible and keep with your other important documents.
   
2. Secure utilities - Know how to turn off your water, gas and electricity safely. It is important to inform others in your home in the event that a flood occurs while you are not there. Knowing your evacuation plan will inform you of when you will decide to leave and when you will switch off your utilities.
   
3. Flood defences - Your finances, home circumstances and level of risk should guide your decision making on what you get in terms of flood defence. Before buying any physical defences consider what you can do before. This can include keeping gutters and drains around your property clear of debris. This will allow normal flow of water into the drainage system. Sandbags are a traditional method of building a defence to prevent water flow towards your home. However, this can be physically demanding to fill and move. A more expensive and less demanding alternative is a physical L-shaped flood barrier which can be placed on flat surfaces and placed in the appropriate locations to divert the flow of water.

Emergency planning 

1. Grab bag - Pack a bag of essential items such as, medications, important documents, phone charger, spare clothes, and a torch. This list is not exhaustive and you should pack what is appropriate for your situation.
2. 
   Household plan - As part of your wider household plan, ensure you have an evacuation plan, which identifies multiple routes and where to go. This plan should ideally be discussed with all family members and if possible, tested to ensure that it will work in a real world situation.
   
3. Valuable items - Expensive or irreplaceable items should be placed in the upper floors of your home or if in a bungalow or ground flood flat, placed as high as possible to prevent damage or loss.

Water safety 

1. Avoid driving through flood water - Just 30cm of flowing flood water is enough to move a car. This is an extremely dangerous situation to be in and should always be avoided.
2. Avoid walking through flood water - What could appear to be shallow water could in fact be hiding dangerous hazards. This can include open manholes, sewage and debris. 
3. Follow official advice - Evacuate if advised to do so. Don't be the family to stay and put yourselves at risk and get out before the water arrives.

Post flood actions

1. Only return to your property if it safe to do so and only turn your utilities back on when it has been checked by a qualified professional.
2. Contact your insurer immediately to report the damage. Follow their guidance in relation to repairs. Take photographs and videos to evidence the damage.
3. Clean and disinfect the property and items. Flood water is likely to contain sewage so ensure you wear protective clothing and wash your hands regularly to prevent infection.

Remember, prior preparation prevents poor performance. Put in the work now and it will pay you back not just just in financial savings from prevented flood damage but also in reduced stress and anxiety. A highly stressed and unprepared individual will make uninformed and potentially unsafe decisions. 

If you have any comments on the above or have first hand experience that you can share, then please leave a comment and help others to best prepare for the worst.