How to protect yourself and your home from flooding

According to the Environment Agency (EA) around 5.2 million properties in England alone are at risk of flooding. That’s roughly one in six properties. This might be a conservative estimate too, as there’s lots of conflicting data out there.  

But one thing is for certain: climate change is bringing more unpredictable weather patterns, wetter weather and rising sea levels. Therefore protecting your home from flooding has never been more important. 

In the information age, it has never been easier to keep abreast of looming weather patterns. Download the Met Office weather app and allow notifications. This app will provide you with real-time weather warnings allowing you to take appropriate measures.

Depending on the severity of the warning this could range from ensuring you have a good supply of drinking water to shipping out. Extreme weather events are an unstoppable force—sometimes leaving the area will be your only safe option.

It's also good to be informed about the risk of flooding in your area. The risk can be influenced by many factors. Needless to say, properties in low-lying areas or on or near floodplains are at greater risk, as are properties near to rivers or coastal areas.

There are maps available for each country within the UK. The map for England can be found via the gov.uk website. Natural Resources Wales is where you find the Welsh flood map. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency oversees the Scottish flood map. And the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development holds the flood map for Northern Ireland.

If you live in a high-risk area or have experienced flooding before, investing in flood protection, although often expensive, could save you money and heartache down the line. This is especially true if you find yourself paying excessive insurance premiums. 

Here are some things you can do: 

These typically include fuse boxes, boilers and heating systems. Repositioning electrical sockets so they are unlikely to be affected by flood water is another must. 

If you have a basement you should install a sump pump, especially if you use your basement for storage (as most people do).

Each property is unique so always seek professional advice. Flood barriers include floodgates (which are permanent barriers that can be installed in doorways and windows to prevent water from entering) and flood skirts (which are permanent barriers that can be installed around the perimeter of your home). Other clever products exist too including flood-proof air bricks, flood doors and flood barrier door seals.

Does the surrounding land slope away from your property? If not, could it be reconfigured? Also, it’s far better to have a permeable surface such as grass, gravel or porous pavement. The water needs to escape. 

If you need to leave in a hurry, do you have a place to stay? Also, could you, literally, weather the storm? Make sure you always keep emergency supplies to last several days, including a first aid kit. Having an alternative way of recharging your mobile phone is worth considering too. 

In March of this year, the Met Office predicted that extreme rainfall events could be four times as frequent by 2080 compared to the 1980s. The use of the word “could” is typical of the conservative nature of official government bodies. “Highly likely” is probably closer to the truth. In the face of increasing climate-related challenges, adopting a proactive approach to flood protection seems increasingly advisable.