Environment Agency's guide to flooding

Flooding myths debunked

Practical advice on what to do to protect you and your property

More than 2.2 million homes are situated in areas at risk of coastal or river flooding in England and Wales and even those properties not at risk of river or coastal flooding can still be affected by surface water flooding in cases where drainage systems are unable to deal with intense rainfall. In the summer of 2007 alone around 50,000 homes were flooded, many of which had never flooded before.

With an estimated £1 billion being spent repairing damage caused by flooding annually - not to mention the personal cost in terms of damaged possessions and irreplaceable memories - flooding can have a devastating impact on people's lives. The Environment Agency guides outline the steps to take in advance of, during and after flooding, to minimise this damage and disruption and keep your family safe.

Also, read what the most common flooding myths are.

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PREPARING FOR A FLOOD

Your flood plan
Start preparing today before a flood happens. Use this checklist as your flood plan.

1. Check your insurance cover
- Check your buildings and contents insurance policy.
- Confirm you are covered for flooding.
- Find out if the policy replaces new for old, and if it has a limit on repairs.
- Don't underestimate the value of your contents.

2. Know how to turn off your gas, electricity and water mains supplies
- Ask your supplier how to do this.
- Mark taps or switches with stickers to help you remember.

3. Prepare a flood kit of essential items
- Copies of your home insurance documents.
- A torch with spare batteries.
- A wind-up or battery radio.
- Warm, waterproof clothing and blankets.
- A first aid kit and prescription medication.
- Bottled water and non-perishable foods.
- Baby food and baby care items.
- A leaflet including your list of important contact numbers.
- Keep your flood kit handy.

4. Know who to contact and how
- Agree where you will go and how to contact each other.
- Check with your council if pets are allowed at evacuation centres.
- Keep a list with all your important contacts to hand.

5. Think about what you can move now
- Don't wait for a flood. Move items of personal value such as photo albums, family videos and treasured mementos to a safe place.

6. Think about what you would want to move to safety during a flood
- Outdoor pets
- Cars
- Furniture
- Electrical equipment
- Garden pot plants and furniture
- Anything else?

FLOOD WARNINGS

The warnings are issued in lots of different ways.

Environment Agency website:
Check the Current Flood Warnings in Force page, which allows you to view flood warnings in place and flood warnings issued. These are updated every 15 minutes.

Through the media:
When there is a risk of flooding the Agency issues warnings through the media; they are broadcast on TV / online weather bulletins and on radio weather and travel reports. Flood warnings are also displayed on ITV Teletext regional weather pages (page 159), on BBC Ceefax (page 419) and BBC Ceefax on Digital TV (page 405).

Direct to your home or workplace:
In areas of particular risk, the Agency can send a warning message direct to people at home or at work by telephone, fax or pager using our Automatic Voice Messaging (AVM) Service. All types of telephone can receive these messages, including mobile phones. The Environment Agency aims to give two hours' notice of flooding - day or night - to enable people to take the necessary action to protect themselves and their properties.

Other methods:
Some Agency offices use Flood Wardens to alert the local community when a flood warning is issued. The flood warden is contacted directly by the Agency, and passes the information on to neighbours.

Public address, loudhailer or siren systems are used in many flood risk areas to warn the public that a flood warning has been issued in their area. This is particularly valuable in urban areas, where we need to alert large numbers of people as quickly as possible.

The Environment Agency provides the Floodline 0845 988 1188 service. You can listen to recorded flood warning information or speak to an operator for general information and advice 24 hours a day. Using a quickdial number (call Floodline 0845 988 1188 to find out the relevant number for your area) gives you faster access to information in your area.

Flood Watch

Flooding of low-lying land and roads is expected.
What to do:
- Monitor local news and weather forecasts.
- Be aware of water levels near you.
- Be prepared to act on your flood plan.
- Check on the safety of pets and livestock.
- Charge your mobile phone.

Flood Warning

Act Now! Flooding is expected.
What to do:
- Move cars, pets, food, valuables and important documents to safety.
- Get flood protection equipment in place.
- Turn off gas, electricity and water supplies if safe to do so.
- Be prepared to evacuate your home.
- Protect yourself, your family and help others.
- Act on your flood plan.

Severe Flood Warning

Act Now! Severe flooding is expected with extreme danger to life and property.
What to do:
- Collect things you need for evacuation.
- Turn off gas, electricity and water supplies if safe to do so.
- Stay in a high place with a means of escape.
- Avoid electricity sources.
- Avoid walking or driving through flood water.
- If in danger, call 999 immediately.
- Listen to emergency services.
- Act on your flood plan.

All Clear

No further flooding is expected.

Water levels will start to go down.
What to do:
- Keep listening to weather reports.
- Only return to evacuated buildings if you are told it is safe.
- Beware sharp objects and pollution in flood water.
- If your property or belongings are damaged, contact your insurance company. Ask their advice before starting to clean up.

DURING A FLOOD

Focus on the safety of you and your family:
- Put people before property.
- Co-operate with the emergency services if they tell you to evacuate during flooding.
- Be prepared to act quickly to get yourself to safety.

. Stay alert to localised flooding:
Also known as 'surface water' flooding. This usually happens where drainage systems are unable to cope with heavy spells of rainfall. Rainwater is unable to drain away and quickly builds up, causing flooding in unexpected places. There is no warning for this type of flooding. If in doubt, call Floodline on 0845 988 1188. Floodline is open 24 hours a day and can help you:
- Find out what flood warning service is available where you live.
- Get practical advice on what to do before, during and after flooding.
- Get your Quickdial number for easy access to local warnings.

What to do in an emergency:
Listen to and act on the advice of the emergency services. Follow these simple steps to stay safe:
1. Gather essential items together either upstairs or in a high place.
2. Fill jugs and saucepans with clean water.
3. Move your family and pets upstairs, or to a high place with a means of escape.
4. Turn off gas, electricity and water supplies when flood water is about to enter your home if safe to do so. DO NOT touch sources of electricity when standing in flood water.
5. Keep listening to local radio for updates or call Floodline 0845 988 1188.
6. Flood water can rise quickly, stay calm and reassure those around you. Call 999 if you are in danger.

Important! Flood water is dangerous
- Avoid walking or driving through it.
- Keep children and vulnerable people away from it.
- Wash your hands thoroughly if you touch it.

Protect what you can:
Move important items to safety and put flood protection equipment in place when there is a flood warning. Follow manufacturer instructions carefully to help stop the flood water.

Take items upstairs or to a high point in your property:
- Safely store important documents such as insurance papers.
- Move items of personal value such as photos, family videos or treasured mementos.
- Move lightweight household belongings you can pick up easily and quickly.
- Move items of furniture that are expensive or harder to repair before cheaper ones.

If possible, move your outside belongings to higher ground:
- If the flood water hasn't reached you, move your car to higher ground and move outdoor pets to safety.

Help stop water entering your home:
- Put plugs in sinks and baths. Weigh them down with a sandbag, a pillowcase or plastic bag filled with garden soil, or a heavy object.

If you do not have non-return valves fitted:
- Plug water inlet pipes with towels or cloths.
- Disconnect any equipment that uses water (like washing machines and dishwashers).

...but evacuate when told.
Stay safe, always listen to the advice of the emergency services and evacuate when told to do so.

AFTER A FLOOD

First steps:
Find out if it is safe to return to your property:
- Take care as there may be hidden dangers in the flood water like sharp objects, raised manhole covers and pollution.
- Flood water could have caused structural damage to your property.

Ring your buildings and contents insurance companies as soon as possible:
- In almost all cases the insurance company will send a loss adjuster to look at your property. They will confirm what repairs and replacements are needed and covered by your policy.
- If you rent your property, contact your landlord and your contents insurance company as soon as possible.
- If you do not have insurance, your local council should be able to provide information on hardship grants or charities that may be able to help you.

Clearing up after a flood:
There are a number of things to be aware of when clearing up after a flood.
1. Flood water can contain sewage, chemicals and animal waste. Always wear:
   -- waterproof outerwear, including gloves;
   -- wellington boots;
   -- face mask.
2. If your electricity supply is not already switched off at the mains, get a qualified person to do this. DO NOT touch sources of electricity when standing in flood water.
3. You can get water out of your property using a pump and generator. Position the generator outside in the open air as generators produce carbon monoxide fumes which can kill.
4. Only pump out water when flood levels outside your property start to be lower than inside. This reduces the risk of structural damage.
5. Shovel mud away evenly from both sides of a wall. This stops pressure building up on one side.
6. You can clean and disinfect your property using ordinary household products.
7. A garden hose is useful for washing down. Do not use high-pressure hoses as they blast contaminated matter into the air.
8. If you are drying your property naturally, keep doors and windows open as much as possible. If using dehumidifiers, close external doors and windows.
9. If you have gas or oil central heating and it has been checked by an engineer, turn it on. Keep the thermostat between 20-22°C for steady drying.
10. Local councils usually provide skips and extra rubbish collections for items that your insurance company has agreed you can throw away.

Further steps to protect your property:
As you plan your property repairs, you might want to think about ways to protect it from future flooding.
There are things you can do whilst repairing your property that will make it easier and cheaper to clean up after a future flood.
Here are some improvements you can make - discuss them with your loss adjuster and builder:
- Lay ceramic tiles on your ground floor and use rugs instead of fitted carpets.
- Raise the height of electrical sockets to at least 1.5 metres above ground floor level.
- Use lime plaster instead of gypsum on walls. - Fit stainless steel or plastic kitchens instead of chipboard ones or have free-standing kitchen units you can move.
- Position any main parts of a heating or ventilation system, like a boiler, upstairs or raised well above the ground floor.
- Fit non-return valves to all drains and water inlet pipes.
- Replace wooden window frames and doors with synthetic ones. They are easier to clean.

. Important!
Always use reputable building contractors. Beware bogus trade people calling door-todoor. Always check references and do not pay in advance.

Temporary housing:

Flood repairs can take weeks or months to complete, especially if there has been widespread flooding and builders are scarce. It takes time to dry out a property and some buildings have to be gutted before repair.

Ask your insurance company or landlord if they will provide you with temporary accommodation. This could be a nearby bed and breakfast, a static caravan or a rented house. You do not have to accept the first place you are offered. However, if flooding has affected many people, the choice of accommodation may be limited.

If you will be in a temporary property for some time, think about having your post redirected.

Your insurance company should provide you with temporary accommodation.