AM I AT RISK OF FLOODING? READ TO FIND OUT
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Over 5.5 million properties in England and Wales are at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea or surface water. That’s one in six, which means there’s a high chance one of these properties is your home or business. So how do floods form? Flooded areas of land usually start off as very dry land. Floods are caused
by heavy rains that pour to much water into rivers and other waterways. Making these natural channels unable to carry all the water. Rising water flows over or breaks the banks to the waterways causing the surrounding land to be flooded. Different causes of floods can come from masses of snow melting of tidal waves.
l o l Mi i n
ARE MES NG O H I SH RITI OF FLOOD B F O 25 % AT RISK L STIL
A MERE 2 FEET OF WAT ER CAN HICLE FLOAT AND EV A LAR EN A B US
IED A CAR CAN EASILY BE CARR OF ET AWAY BY JUST TWO FE FLOODWATER
DA 66% OF FLOOD
DEATHS OCCUR IN VEH ICLES
MOST H OMEOWN NOT CO ERS INSURAN C VER FL OOD DA ES DOES MAGE
RGE VE -
JUST CAN AMAGE
ME IS A, YOUR HO E R A K S I R TO BE IN A HIGH AS LIKELY E C I W T N A H MORE T RE THAN BY FI D O O L F Y B DAMAGED
AN INC H OF W AT CAUSE A COST ER LY TO YOU R PROP ERTY
FLASH FLOODS OFTEN BRING WALLS OF WATER 10 TO 20 FEET HIGH
VERY SERIOUS, THEY OCCUR EVERY
FLOODS ARE
YEAR IN THE UK
When many people try to imagine the dangers posed by floodwaters, they tend to think of drowning. People can certainly drown during floods - - there’s no doubt about that. But drowning is not necessarily the most common cause of death in a flood. Even if you’re a phenomenal swimmer, rushing floodwaters pose a danger to you. The sheer force of rushing water can be quite strong; it can knock you off
Especially strong floodwaters can even push cars and buildings around easily - - a mere 2 feet (61 centimeters) of rushing floodwater can have enough force to wash a car away. In addition to the threats posed to human life, floodwaters are massively destructive to property. Water pulls everything in its path into it, collecting a lot of dirt and debris along the way. So even once the waters have receded,
Although all flood-
ing is dangerous, flash flooding represents the gravest threat. A flash flood occurs when a sudden, extreme amount of water is dumped on an area that can't handle it. Flash floods are particularly dangerous because, by definition, they happen more quickly than people are prepared to handle. Taking right actions after the flood has occured is
DON’T LEAVE OTHERS BEHIND. When many people try to imagine the dangers posed by floodwaters, they tend to think of drowning. People can certainly drown during floods - - there’s no doubt about that. But drowning is not necessarily the most common cause of death in a flood. Even if you’re a phenomenal swimmer, rushing floodwaters pose a danger to you. The sheer force of rushing water can be quite strong; it can knock you off
OTHERS MAY NEED YOUR HELP
Make sure to insure your property as floods can cause lots of damage to your house. Read all the details before insuring your house and see if your insurer covers you from floods and it’’s damage.
Try to keep flood water out Doors: buy purpose-built flood boards that can be installed when flooding is imminent. You can also raise door thesholds. Walls and floors: raise damp-proof brick courses. Sealing floors can prevent water rising through
the
ground.
Drains and pipes: fit non-return valves to drains and water inlet and outlet pipes. Shelving: put irreplaceable or valuable items on high-mounted shelves. Home entertainment: fix your audio-visual equipment, for example your TV and hi-fi, to
Protect your property from flooding
DONT BE LEFT HOMELESS
IT PAYS TO PREPARE FOR FLOODING If your home or business is flooded it can be costly, not just in terms of money and time but also inconvenience and heartache.While it’s impossible to completely flood-proof a property, there are lots of things you can do to reduce the damage flooding can cause. The key is to act now so you’re prepared if there’s a flood in your area.
If your home or business is flooded it can be costly, not just in terms of money and time but also inconvenience and heartache.While it’s impossible to completely
If your home or business is flooded it can be costly, not just in terms of money and time but also inconvenience and heartache.While it’s impossible to completely flood-
flood-proof a property, there are lots of things you can do to reduce the damage flooding can cause. The key is to act now so you’re prepared if there’s a flood in your area. Random text to fill up.
proof a property, there are lots of things you can do to reduce the damage flooding can cause.The key is to act now so you’re prepared if there’s a flood in your area.
H O W MUCH WILL IT COST ? Making your property resilient to floodwater will limit the distress and damage caused by flooding, which means less costly repairs and less time out of your home or business premises. The cost of purchasing and installing products to keep floodwater out of your property will depend on the size of your property and the type of flood you want to protect against. For example, according to the ABI, to protect your property against shallow flash floods could cost between £2,000 - £6,000. To keep water out during periods of prolonged flooding will take bigger changes and could cost between £20,000 -£40,000.
WHAT DO
WE
!?
DO
B B P Y
E
The Thames Barrier is one of the largest movable flood barriers in the world. The Environment Agency runs and maintains the Thames Barrier as well as the capital’s other flood defences.
metres across the River Thames near Woolwich, and it protects 125 square kilometres of central London from flooding caused by tidal surges. It became operational in 1982 and has 10 steel gates
that can be raised into position across the River Thames. When raised, the main gates stand as high as a five-storey building and as wide as the opening of Tower Bridge. Each main gate weighs 3,300 tonnes.
BUILD BARRIERS TO PROTECT YOU
DONT BE AFRAID TO RING 24 HOURS A DAY
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
WE ARE HERE TO HELP
Sign up for warnings Knowing when to put temporary flood protection measures in place is cruicial. Our free Floodline Warnings Direct service can tell you when to do this by sending you a warning by phone, text and email. Sign up for Floodline Warnings Direct online at www. environmentagency.gov.uk or call Floodline on 0845 988 1188.
INCIDENT HOTLINE FLOODLINE
0800 80 70 60 0845 988 1188
Editorial piece by Martynas Kasiulevicius all rights reserved.