Holding Back the Tide: Protecting Your Home from Flood Damage

In the beginning of 2014, thousands of homes across the UK were struck by some of the worst flooding this country has had in decades. Nobody was prepared for it. Not the people whose homes they were, not the local authorities, not the government. Millions of pounds in damage was caused by water invading their homes and ruining their possessions.

This could have been avoided or, at the very least, the damage could have been greatly restricted through the application of flood prevention in the home. Here are a few ways that flood waters can be kept at bay:

Early Action Needed

There’s no point waiting until the water is creeping up to your front door, when you know that there is a potential for flooding you need to act fast! Setting up a boundary with sandbags and other water-barriers will help to divert the water away from your property and prevent potential damage.

Some preventative measures are more permanent and can save lots of rushing around trying to get emergency preparations in place. Having things like embankments around your garden and floodwalls are excellent for combating high water levels at any time and are essential if you live in flood prone areas. Underground drainage is also a great feature to include, although it can be a large job to install it but once in the advantages are huge.

Flood Barriers

When the water does start to get really high, then it’s time to ensure that all your entrances are protected. You can install heavy duty flood gates and barriers to your doors, air vents and low windows, which will prevent water making its way into the home through these weak points. As these measures can stop huge amounts of water and delay the onset of flooding, they can do a fantastic job of keeping your home dry when others around you are getting wet.

Moving to Higher Ground

In certain cases, holding back the water will become impossible and at this stage you should focus on damage control. Do this by moving as much as possible onto the second floor of your home or placing items in the attic. While the rooms and fixed furnishings are likely to still get damaged, your belongings will be fine in the case of flooding.

It is also highly important that you ensure your electricity is turned off at the mains. If water comes into contact with live electric points it can cause serious damage, fire and electrocution. Unplug all electrical from the wall and make sure that they are stored well above ground level.