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Flood Prevention

The floods at the beginning of 2014 caused widespread chaos across the country, with homes and businesses disastrously affected by the stormiest weather to hit the UK for 20 years and the wettest January since records began in 1766.  The estimated cost to the UK was over £1 billion.  December 2015 saw record-breaking rainfall cause destructive flooding, causing over £1.5 billion in damage to the UK economy.

With climate change making this type of weather more likely to occur, it is vital that businesses and homes in risk areas take flood protection measures to minimise the impact of flooding.  This could include implementing a flood protection plan – firstly by making sure that the safety of those in the home or workplace can be secured, and secondly by choosing flood protection products that will prevent or reduce the damage done by flooding to buildings, equipment and possessions. This could be done by employing sandbags or innovatively designed hydrosacks as barriers or flood door panels to prevent water from entering premises.  If the flood cannot be prevented then a selection of pumps, wet/dry cleaners and hoses can be used to quickly and effectively clean up the deluge, curtailing the damage done.

Tips on Implementing an Effective Flood Protection Plan

With one in 22 of all residential properties and one in 13 of all non-residential properties in Scotland and one in six properties in England and Wales at risk of flooding, a flood protection plan is a necessity for many homes and workplaces.

Businesses

  • Find out if your business is at risk of flooding (this can be done at either the SEPA or EA websites or by contacting Floodline)
  • If you are at risk of flooding then ensure you will receive flood warnings (this can be done by signing up with Floodline). As flooding can happen at any time you should make sure that you are always contactable
  • Ensure that you have comprehensive insurance cover for flooding (keep these documents in a safe and dry place and include in your flood plan)
  • Prepare and keep a list of all important contacts to hand or saved to your mobile phone (you should include any staff that need to be notified in the event of a flood as well as building services and suppliers)
  • Buy flood protection products that are relevant to your facility (this should at least include a stockpile of sandbags), keep them safe and install when necessary. This may also help reduce your insurance premiums as insurers will take your protection measures into account.
  • Ensure staff are trained in what measures and procedures to employ in the event of a flood (who is responsible for what equipment, materials and documents, where to go etc). This should work much the same way as a fire drill.
  • Ensure that all staff know how to turn off the gas, water and electricity supplies and when it is safe to do so.
  • Identify which stock and materials need protective measures in the event of a flood. This could include important documents, which may need to be moved to a higher level in the building or copied and stored in a safe place away from potentially flooded areas. Special care should also be taken to identify any potentially hazardous or pollution causing materials and procedures to take to prevent them from causing harm in the event of a flood.
  • If you have flooded contact your insurance company as soon as possible (you may want to take photographs of your damaged premises as a record for your insurance company)

Homes

  • Find out if your home is at risk of flooding (this can be done at either the SEPA or EA websites or by contacting Floodline)
  • If you are at risk of flooding then ensure you will receive flood warnings (this can be done by signing up with Floodline). As flooding can happen at any time you should make sure that you are always contactable.
  • Ensure that you have comprehensive insurance cover for flooding (keep these documents in a safe and dry place and include in your flood plan).
  • Prepare and keep a list of all important contacts to hand or saved to your mobile phone.
  • Buy flood protection products that are relevant to your home (this should at least include a stockpile of sandbags), keep them safe and install when necessary. This may also help reduce your insurance premiums as insurers will take your protection measures into account.
  • Make sure you know how to switch off the gas, water and electricity supplies in your home and when it is safe to do so. You may want to write this down and keep near the main switches.
  • Prepare a list of all valuables to be taken to a safe place in the event of a flood.
  • Prepare a flood kit (this should include waterproof clothing, a torch with spare batteries, bottled water, a basic first aid kit, a wind-up radio, a mobile phone, food and blankets) and keep it to hand.
  • Decide what to do in the event you need to evacuate your home (how you will get out, how you will travel and where you will go – e.g. a local evacuation centre, a friend’s or relative’s).
  • If you are flooded then contact your insurance company as soon as possible (you may want to take photographs of your home as a record for your insurance provider).

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