If you wanted to know whether you were at risk from flooding or how you can proect yourself, this this publication has all that you need to know about flood protection.

1. UK Flooding
Protect Yourself from Floods
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Local: 0845 686 0845 www.aka‐assistedclaims.co.uk

2. UK Flooding
Protect Yourself from Floods
There are over 5 million people at risk in the UK from
flooding. With figures like these, everyone should be
vigilant and think about their plan to deal with
flooding.
Are you at risk from flooding?
The Environment Agency have created a map that you can
use to find out whether you are at risk from flooding.
Simply enter you postcode or town name to see whether
you fall into the 5 million people at risk.
Once you know whether you are at risk, your county
council will know more about the flood defences in place
and what you can do to protect your home.
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3. Calculating Flood Risk
Flood risk is calculated by the likelihood of flooding and the
damage that the flooding could do. It is important to look
at the probability of different degrees of flooding and its
impact on the surrounding areas.
You will have heard recently that the flooding in Cumbria
and the damage caused being calculated as 1 in 100 years.
This is because the likelihood of this type of flooding and
the damage caused is calculated at happening 1 in 100
years.
A flood risk assessment is carried out on an area, taking
into account whether there is a source of water in the local
vicinity, the path that water takes during a flood, the
impact on the surrounding areas including to people,
property and land.
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4. Protecting yourself from a flood
Be Prepared
There are several things that you can do to be prepared for
a flood.
1. Check that you are covered by your insurance for a flood.
Many people are no longer covered, so you should check
your policy.
2. Make sure that you know how to turn off gas, electric
and your water. The last thing that you want is too
exacerbate the situation further.
3. Get a flood kit together, containing a torch, warm
clothes, a radio so you can get updates on the weather and
some non‐perishable food.
4. Make a plan of what you and your family will do in the
eventuality of a flood. Decide on where you will meet and
how you will contact each other.
5. Decide on a place for valuables that you can move now
like photographs and family heirlooms.
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5. 6. Think about what you should do with pets and large
furniture. Some people have adopted attaching yoghurt
pots to the legs of tables and chairs, so protect them from
water.
7. Make sure that you have a list of useful telephone
numbers to hand during a flood, including the Floodline
0845 988 1188.
Don’t forget your community in a flood
The Environment Agency are urging people to remember
their community in a flood and a check on neighbours or
people that they might be in danger. Working together will
help communities to get themselves back on their feet and
look after those who have been worse affected.
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6. Reducing Flood Damage
You will want to reduce the damage done to your property
and with this in mind:
YOU SHOULD...
find out whether there is a community flood defence
system in place.
think about where the flood water comes from and
where you are in relation to it. This will help you to
determined how much warning you will get and the depth
of the water by the time it gets to you.
consider the kind of property that you have and the type
of ground that it is on.
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7. Keeping the water out
It is virtually impossible to keep flood water out of your
property if you are in the line of fire, but there are things
that you can do to keep as much of the water out.
1. Think about the height of your door thresholds and
whether raising the threshold could help prevent the water
from getting into your property. This could help during
shallow floods. You can also buy purpose built flood
boards for external doors and windows that can be
installed when flooding is forecast.
2. Ventilation bricks are important for your property but
can allow water into your home or business. There are
specially designed covers that can stop water; either by
permanently blocking the water or by being applied prior
to any flooding.
3. Waste water can back up during a flood, so with this in
mind you should fit non‐return valves to drains and water
pipes, ensuring that the water only goes one way.
4. Water can raise up from the ground and effect floor
boards, so you should seal them and where possible
replace wooden flooring with concrete.
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8. 5. You can build free standing flood barrier, but if you are
one of several properties in a location in the high risk flood
category, then consider coming together with your
neighbours to build such flood defences.
6. Divert the flood water by re‐landscaping garden areas
and driveways, to take the water away from the property.
7. Sandbags are a time honoured tradition in terms of
protecting properties and businesses from flooding. They
aren't the best way of dealing with a flood, but can help.
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9. What should I do if it does flood?
In order to avoid stupid incidents, remember to put lives
before property. Cooperate with emergency services as
they are trained to deal with flooding and when you put
yourself at risk, you put them at risk too.
Sign up for Flood Warnings
The Environment Agency are encouraging people to sign up
to their Flood Warnings system, which will warn you if you
are going to be effected by a flood.
Go to the Environment Agency for further details.
http://www.environment‐agency.gov.uk
You can also go to the following TV channels to check what
is happening:
Teletext Page 159, BBC Ceefax Page 419 and Digital Ceefax
Page 405.
Don’t forget to check local weather, news and travel
bulletins.
Local: 0845 686 0845 www.aka‐assistedclaims.co.uk