| The cost of the previous flooding that impacted heavily | | | | sandbags should be bought and stored in advance. |
| on parts of England and Wales and unless major | | | | Make sure you know how to use the flood defense |
| investment is placed into the flood defense, the costs | | | | equipment and practice flood proofing your home. |
| of flood damage could increase many times. | | | | Remember, flooding can happen with very little |
| And if the costs of repair and loss of business | | | | warning so you don't have time to be running around |
| following floods does indeed rise, many homeowners | | | | looking for sand for sandbags or trying to find |
| and businesses may find it harder to get insurance, and | | | | assistance to help fill them. |
| in the current economic climate another summer of | | | | In the case of sandbags, which are obviously |
| floods could see many people losing their homes | | | | impractical to be stored full - and if there is no nearby |
| permanently and business folding for good. | | | | source of sand to fill them - you could consider instant |
| Instant sandbag | | | | sandbags that don't require sand at all. These use |
| But flood prevention, does not just start at the top with | | | | water (never in short supply during a flood) and take |
| large civil engineering projects like flood barriers, there | | | | minutes to fill to become water tight. |
| is plenty the average home owner can do to reduce | | | | Making sure you are prepared for any potential |
| the risk of flooding and minimise any damage following | | | | flooding may also help reduce insurance premiums and |
| a flood. | | | | certainly cut down the amount you may have to claim |
| The key is to be prepared. Flood gates, flood seals for | | | | if the worst does happen and a flood hits your home |
| toilets, air vents and other flood defense measures like | | | | or business. |