Flood-wise

Menasche Scharf has some timely advice for homeowners on how to deal with a deluge  

 

If you didn’t know already, it was the wettest June on record. In some places as much as a month's worth of rainfall fell in a day. Flooding became a widespread problem through the North and East Midlands, and through Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, where thousands of homes and businesses became submerged under several feet of water for days on end. The situation became so severe that the Army was called in to help. 

  

London and Manchester escaped lightly, more by luck than anything else. The likes of Sheffield and Hull were not so fortunate. Damage to property is expected to run into the £millions in the two cities alone. Elsewhere, the floods claimed lives and cut off whole villages. The clear-up operation may take months, and for many who suffered life will never be the same again. 

  

The questions on everyone's lips right now is why did this happen? Floods often arrive silently and without warning. Intense rainfall is the cause. It saturates the ground and fills up watercourses to bursting point. If the rain continues to fall,  rivers then start to overflow, rapidly spreading water across their floodplains. Urban storm drains too struggle to cope. They bubble water back up onto roads and paths, adding to the unfolding flood chaos. When this happens, very quickly - sometimes within minutes - streets and houses can find themselves under water. 

 

Will it happen again? Yes - without a doubt! Flooding is not an uncommon problem, although the areas affected are rarely as widespread as we saw in June 2007. North-west London succumbed to floods that closed roads and tube stations in August 2004. Thunderstorms last July brought a similar fate to parts of Manchester. Next time, it could be you! 

 

Are you at risk? 

  

Low-lying urban areas and locations that are close to rivers or on a river floodplain are most at risk from flooding. These are the places where floodwaters collect when it has nowhere else to go. The government's Environment Agency estimates that over five million of us live in these flood-prone areas, and are at risk of being affected by floods every time there is prolonged intense rainfall. 

  

To help you find out if you are one of the five million at risk, the Environment Agency has published a flood risk map. It highlights all locations across England and Wales that are considered to be 'under threat' from future flood events. Areas are graded from high risk through to low risk. If you find yourself to be in a high risk area you'll need to take steps to counter the threat - and I'm not joking here. Scientists tell us that our world is warming. As a result, flooding in the UK is only likely to become more frequent. If you're in a flood-prone area chances are you'll experience those murky waters lapping at your front door sooner than you might have thought! 

  

Preventative measures 

  

So, what should you do if you find yourself on the flood risk list? Well, you could always move! Failing this, the next best thing is to put in place some preventative measures. If the worst were then to happen and your home or business was flooded, you'd at least know that you'd have done all you could to limit the damage. 

  

Your measures should start with a 'flood escape plan'. So, just as you would do in the event of a fire, plan your escape route away from the danger zone and make sure that everyone in the property knows exactly what to do and where to go. Your priority should be to get to higher ground or to a safe location away from the area's main watercourses. Before leaving your property it is important to turn off your electricity supply at the mains. 

 

If possible, store valuables and irreplaceables in upstairs rooms as a matter of course and be sure to keep all of your building and contents insurance policies up to date. To cover the cost of vehicle damage by floodwater you'll need comprehensive insurance…third party insurance just won't cut it in most instances. 

Consider, too, keeping all insurance documents in waterproof bags in an upstairs room. It will certainly make the claims process easier to handle should floodwaters inundate your property. 

  

The aftermath 

  

Always put safety first when clearing up after a flood. You should only return to your property once the floodwaters have subsided, and when you are confident that the building is structurally sound. If you did not have time to switch off the electricity before you evacuated the property then you should consult your energy supplier before re-entering. Stay vigilant too for gas leaks and, if wading through floodwater, be mindful of what might lurk beneath the surface.