Flood and severe weather warnings were put out by the Environment Agency over the weekend and there is a danger that any further heavy rainfall could burst the banks of already-swollen rivers.
We look at what you should do if your home is affected by storm or flood damage. If you don't have home insurance, you can use our tool to compare quotes from more than 60 home insurance providers.
Checking your home
Even if your home has appeared to weather the storms unscathed, it's worth giving it a once over to double check for damage.
Here are a few important things to look for:
- Loose tiles - cracked or broken tiles on your roof pose a real danger. High winds could blow them off, risking damage to your own property or someone else's.
- Clear drains - your drains and gutters could have filled with leaves or other debris following the recent strong winds. If they have become blocked it's important to clear them as soon as possible to ensure water can easily run off the roof. If the water has nowhere to go, it could result in leaks or damp patches in your home. Also, the weight of sediment and leaf build up can damage your guttering
- Secure your garden. Have the heavy winds damaged anything in your garden? It's worth taking the time to check and make sure nothing has been dislodged or loosened that could then blow around and cause further damage.
- Cut back. If you notice any loose or low-hanging tree branches, cut them back now if you can to prevent them causing damage in high winds.
Coping with flooding
If the worst has happened and you're living in one of the property's that's been hit by flooding then you need to act fast:
- Contact your insurer - it's important to let your home insurance provider know as quickly as possible, especially if they are responsible for alternative accommodation.
Your insurer might offer you drying equipment to help clean up.
- Turn off the power - if water is coming into your home, switch off the power supply as quickly as possible to protect yourself and your home.
- Take pictures - if possible, take some snaps of the initial damage to support your insurance claim.
- Don't clear up - starting the clean-up operation may seem like the obvious thing to do if your home has been flooded but don't do anything until you've spoken to your insurer. It may want to send out a loss adjuster to assess the damage before you touch anything. Your insurer may also ask you to keep hold of items that will be needed to process your claim which you may otherwise have thrown away.
- Don't redecorate - give your property several weeks to dry out before you start redecorating. It'll be a complete waste of time if it hasn't fully dried out.
Protecting your property
As the storms of summer 2007 highlighted, it's not only those who live in high-risk flood areas who could be affected should torrential rain hit. If bad weather is forecast, it's important to take steps to secure your home and belongings even if you think the risk of you being affected is minimal.
- Move costly possessions - shift valuable and electrical goods off the floor for their own protection, ideally upstairs.
- Protect soft furnishings. Rugs can be moved upstairs if flooding looks likely and you can throw curtains over their rails to protect them
- Stock up on sandbags - buy in flood boards and sandbags to block doorways with, as these will help you fight the flooding and protect your home.
- Protect irreplaceables. Items of sentimental value, such as photos, should be packed in waterproof bags and put somewhere safe, ideally upstairs. No amount of insurance money can bring these back, so put them out of harm's way.
- List useful contacts - write down important numbers such as your home insurance provider and policy number, and Floodline (0845 988 1188). Keep this information to hand.
- Pack a flood kit - put together an emergency kit containing personal IDs, any required medication and a change of clothing in case you do need to evacuate your home.
- Keep informed. Watch the weather forecast and check the Met Office to make sure you're up-to-date on any threats.
Planning for the future
Flooding can not only wreck your home, it can also have an impact on your ability to get home insurance in the future. Your existing insurer must continue to offer you cover, but you may struggle to get quotes from other providers.
However, even if you have been affected by flooding or if you live in a high-risk area, there are steps you can take which can cut your insurance premiums by 10%:
- Replace wooden floorboards with concrete and lay tiles rather than carpeting the downstairs of your property.
- Install one-way valves into drainage pipes to prevent water and sewage backing up into the house.
- Replace chipboard kitchen and bathroom units with plastic or steel equivalents.
- Move plug sockets higher up the walls so they are above the likely water level.
- Replaster internal walls with a water-resistant material such as lime plaster or cement render.
- Install water-resistant doors and window frames - UPVC or good-quality hardwood.
- Attach flood skirts and barriers to doors, windows and airbricks. These are permanently fixed to the building, but need to be pulled or slid into position when there is a risk of flooding.
- Fit a pump system below the ground floor to pump out water entering the house through the ground. These systems remove water more quickly than it can enter.
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