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Protecting Property in a Flood Zone
| Published: 14th May 2019 12:55 |
With flood warnings popping up across the media in the wake of recent storms, many UK residents are concerned about how to protect themselves and their home safe from rising waters. Around five million people in England and Wales live in a flood risk area, with one in six homes at risk of flooding. It’s a good idea to check if your home is at risk of flooding, and if it is, that you take the necessary steps to protect yourself and your property before it’s too late.
A History of Flooding
Flooding has long been a problem for UK residents. Most serious flooding is caused by rivers overflowing after heavy rainfall or when coastal areas experience unusually high tides. Inland areas may also be at risk of surface water flooding, which typically follows storms, and groundwater flooding, which is caused when the water table rises.
The UK has seen several devastating floods over the past one hundred years. In 1947, excessive snowfall followed by a sudden thaw led to one of Britain’s worst floods in recent history, affecting over 100,000 homes. The Wet Autumn of 2000 saw an estimated 10,000 homes succumb to flood damage, while Storm Desmond of 2015 affected 16,000 properties. With changes in climate and a rise in global temperature, the UK can expect to continue seeing flooding across the country.
Finding Out if You’re at Risk
The easiest way to find out if your home is in a flood risk area is by visiting the government’s environmental site. You can see which areas are graded as ‘high’ for flood risk--often, these properties are along coasts and river banks. You can also find out more information about an area’s flood risk by speaking with local estate agents and property owners.
If you want to know the flood history of a particular property, you can order a report from the Environment Agency. You must send an inquiry via email that includes a property’s address or a map of the area, a period of coverage, and a working telephone number. Most reports are sent within twenty business days, and the service is free as long as the report takes under 18 hours to complete. After that, the agency charges £25 per hour, including for the first 18 hours.
Saving Your Property from Damage
If you find that you live in a zone that’s at a high risk of flooding, there are steps that you can take to protect yourself and your property. In terms of the exterior, make sure your roof is in good condition with no missing slates, and clear guttering and drainpipes to ensure that excess rainwater is directed away from your property in times of heavy downpour. Looking inside, it’s best to avoid placing carpeting or nice furniture in rooms that have the potential to floor, particularly the basement and first floor. You should also keep valuables at a high location such as the second floor or attic. If possible, install power outlets at the top of the wall rather than at floor level to reduce your risk of electrocution in the event of flooding.
Just in case your home does flood, you can protect yourself financially by investing in flood insurance. Homes that have been flooded in the past or that are in a high-risk area often have high premiums, but you may be able to get a reasonable deal by sending a formal letter from the Environmental Agency confirming your flood risk via an Insurance Related Request Letter.
FloodRe also helps to lower premiums for UK residents living in high flood risk areas. First established by the Association of British Insurers, this program uses a levy on insurance providers to help mitigate high insurance costs. This caps premiums even for families who live in a home with a history of flooding.
The UK has a long history of severe flooding. Thousands of families live in areas that are at a high risk of flooding, particularly those along rivers and coastlines. By preparing your home and taking out an insurance policy, you can protect both your property and your finances from ruin.
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