| The freak weather conditions of late have meant that | | | | If you home back onto a river, for example, you will |
| many have witnessed flooding like never before. | | | | know that the first place a flood will hit is the back of |
| What happened in Cockermouth, Cumbria is a | | | | your property. You may have property entrance at |
| frightening example. | | | | the back of the building below the usual level of the |
| There are lots of things that you can do to protect | | | | river, in which case you should think about creating an |
| your home or business from flooding, so that if a flood | | | | obstruction between the back wall and the river. |
| is imminent you can ensure that the damage done is | | | | There are several places that flood water can enter a |
| kept to a minimum. | | | | property. From the small gaps around a door frame |
| There are several things that you need to be aware | | | | to backflow through sewage pipes; the flood water |
| of before you embark on building on your arc. | | | | might seep up through the ground, come through |
| What flood defences are suitable for your property? | | | | airbricks or sneak through a hole in a wall made for |
| The kind of defences that you can employ will depend | | | | cables. |
| on a few factors: | | | | Other ways to reduce flood damage: |
| * Does your property or community have flood | | | | 1. Move electrical socket further up the wall |
| defences in place? | | | | 2. Install synthetic or waxed window frames |
| * What kind of floodwater are you at risk from - sea, | | | | 3. Put white goods on plinths |
| river, sewer, surface water etc) ? | | | | 4. Use stainless steel, plastic or solid wood kitchen units |
| * Will you get any warning prior to the flood? | | | | instead of chipboard with easily absorbs the flood |
| * Can you predict the depth of the floodwater? | | | | water and expands. |
| * What is the building that you wish to protect made | | | | 5. Take up carpets and replace with rugs and tiles |
| from? | | | | 6. Move valuable or irreplaceable items to safe places |
| * What kind of ground is the building on? | | | | high off the ground |
| It is worth understanding all of these factors in order to | | | | 7. Fit covers to airbricks |
| be properly prepared or the flood damage costs to a | | | | 8. Install non-return values on pipes |
| building could easily run into the thousands. | | | | 9. Hold back low lever water with door guards |
| Once you have discovered where the threat comes | | | | 10. Mount TVs or Hi-Fi equipment on the walls |
| from and how much of a problem it poses, you then | | | | Prevention is the best form of attack and will safe |
| have to consider how the water could enter your | | | | guard your property from flood damage. |
| home or business. | | | | |