Misconceptions on Flooding

How many times do you see flood events on the television or in the press and think that won’t happen to me! A staggering 1 in 6 people live in a flood risk area in the UK and it is likely that this figure will rise with more extreme weather events predicted.

The common misconceptions.....

•         I live on a hill I won’t flood...

Properties on a hill can still suffer flooding from surface water run off , sewerage, groundwater and even a burst water piped.

•        I have lived here 20 years and it has never flooded...

Just because an area hasn’t flooded in recent times does not mean it won’t flood, when Darwen, Lancashire flooded in 2012 the previous major flood event was 1964.  Floods devastated Henley on Thames in 2014 and the previous flood event was 1947.

•       That river that will never be high enough to flood me...

The level of the River Darwen at Ewood (close by to Ewood Park - home of Blackburn Rovers) is typically between 0.3m and 1.10m however the highest recorded river level here is 2.22m.

•         Flooding only happens in winter...

The 2012 flooding event in Darwen was during the summer months as was Boscastle.  Boscastle flooded in August 2004 when very heavy rain fell from storms close to the village, this caused two rivers to burst their banks. About two billion litres of water then rushed down the valley straight into Boscastle. Residents had little time to react. Cars were swept out to sea, buildings were badly damaged and people had to act quickly to survive. Fortunately, nobody died - thanks largely to a huge rescue operation involving helicopters - but there was millions of pounds worth of damage.

Do you still think you will never flood?

It is important that you are prepared so THINK BIG and ACT EARLY you never know when a flood could happen next!

For more information on preparing for a flood take a look at the Environment Agency website

• Know your risk

• Be prepared

• Have a Flood Plan

10 essential items in your Flood Kit

If your property is at risk of flooding (you can find out if it is here) there may come a time when you have to evacuate due to flooding. There are a number of things you can do before this occurs. One is prepare a Flood Kit.

Here is a list of 10 items we think are essential to have in your Flood Kit and we will add a few optional extras you might also consider.

1. Warm and waterproof clothing - You may not have time to collect all the family's favourite jumpers and waterproofs so having some to hand that can be picked up on the run is a great idea.
2. A Torch - who knows what time of day you may have to evacuate in a hurry so a torch is essential. Since your Flood Kit might not be used for years make it a wind-up torch so battery checking and replacement isn't an ongoing concern.
3. Drinking Water - there is nothing surer than drinking water supplies getting contaminated so having your own supply is essential.
4. Food - Having something to eat if only chocolate bars will help in a flooding emergency
5. Rubber Gloves - to protect your hands from again getting contaminated
6. Medication - If members of the family are on regular medication then a ready supply in your kit is a must. Inhalers and the like are necessary to maintain quality of life away from the home. Have them handy if not actually in the Flood Kit.
7. Wellingtons - walking around with sodden footwear is uncomfortable. If the flood waters outside have been contaminated with sewage then you don't want to be walking around up to your ankles in it. Wellington boots are bulky and storing an entire family's collection will take up space. Again make them handy when the weather gets really wet.
8. Battery or Wind-Up Radio - this isn't so the teenagers can listen to their favourite radio station. Local radio stations are the best way to keep abreast of latest developments and as with the torch if it is wind-up no need to worry about batteries either. 
9. Mobile Phone - we now never leave home without one. This will be essential so that friends and relations can be informed of your safe situation away from the inherent dangers that flooding can bring.
10. Flood Plan with contact details - this plan will have prepared you for this moment keep it with you for the information it contains.

Other things that you might consider having available are:

Waterproof camera to record how bad the flood got.

Toys for the children

Insurance documents - if the flood is really bad you might need these to get things moving whilst away from the premises.

This list is not exhaustive. If you can think of anything else we would be pleased to hear about it.

With flooding you need to:

• know your risk
• be prepared
• have a Flood Plan

It's Summer - Prepare for Flooding

With the some newspapers predicting erratic and dramatic weather through the summer the prospect of flooding has not gone away through the change of season. Granted we are not suffering a prolonged wet season like last winter but the prospect of flash floods remains through the summer.

As local authorities cut back on non-essential services gully cleaning becomes less of a priority. It has always been a never-ending cycle so does it matter if it is done at a slower pace? So more and more surface water drains especially on roadways cease to function as they should. 

Surface water run off becomes an issue. 

This is further compounded by ground becoming dry and sunbaked solid. Heavy rain will not soak into the soil but will run off to the nearest watercourse causing it to go into spate. When several watercourses come together in these circumstances there is nothing more certain than a flash flood.

Can you prepare for a flash flood?

If the indications are there then you must. The indications being surface water streams running in times of heavy rain. Remember you don't have to be living near a river etc. to suffer a flash flood. So being prepared means paying attention to weather forecasts and weather warnings readily available from the Met Office here. Having some flood resistance measures like alternative sandbags to hand might be useful. Don't keep precious or sentimental items near to or on the floor downstairs. Flash floods can be dangerous too. Fast flowing water only a few centimetres deep will knock you off your feet.

• Know your risk
• Be Prepared
• Have a plan

Get the latest news from the Met Office blog here

Flood Resistance and Flood Resilience - the difference

Put quite simply flood resistance is where every endeavour is made to totally prevent water getting into a property. The ultimate measure here is to move the affected property either vertically or away from the flooding source. which isn't really an option for the majority. So taking a step down from this we could bund the individual property or estate i.e. put an embankment around it. Many UK rivers have such embankments built up along their banks to reduce the chance of what is referred to as overtopping. This happened in a number of regions during the past winter most noticeably in the South West.

Property level measures are adopted by many householders but some important aspects are often missed. Stopping the water entering at the front door is obvious but in modern cavity-walled buildings air is allowed to access the cavity through airbricks - and so can water!! Then there may be cracks in the outside wall which will again allow the water in. Also, properties with ground floor toilets and even shower basins can suffer the worst kind of flooding that of sewage being forced up through traps as the flood levels rises. There are flood resistance products for all these scenarios.

So it takes dogged determination to plug all the holes to make your property flood resistant.

Accepting that water WILL get into the property you can make it flood resilient. That is to say reduce the impact water ingress will have on the property and your lifestyle. Many of the resilience measures are commonsense like making sure electrical items are above the expected flood level. What about important documents like passports, insurance documents and the like being filed well away from the water. Some flooring surfaces such as quarry tiles are unaffected by flood waters and make clean up somewhat easier. 

Being prepared and having a Flood Plan will ensure you have all the necessary measures in place including a Flood Kit should you unfortunately have to leave the property. If you live (or work) in a flood risk area, and remember the risk could be from surface water as well as the sea, rivers and streams, flood resistance and resilience measures could certainly help you to get insurance and in some cases keep your premiums down.

Further information on flooding can be obtained from:
The Environment Agency
The National Flood Forum
Association of British Insurers