UK Flood Risks

[NorthernRaider]

On the BBC the Environment agency has just stated that 1 in 6 houses in England and Wales is at risk from flooding, especially with the added risk from climate change and the fact that most houses being built these days are now being built on flood plains.

You can check the risk to your area on their Floodline website

Preppers need to take extra steps to minimise the threat to their homes, primarily if possible moving to the areas least at risk. Others should consider some of the preps listed in various forums and my litte free E booklet.

Another point covered by both the BBC and Sky was the risk of flooding is also compounded these days because most if not all councils no longer regularily clean out gullies and storm drains. We I was younger the council used to send its gully suckers out twice a year to clear out every gully along all main roads. They no longer do this so the gully clog up and the flood water cannot escape.

Take the time to do a fdlood risk assesment on your home, Is it on the at risk list , if so develop a place and make sure you have a system so that if a flood warning RED is issued you can get your valuable upstairs at best or elivated at least.

[Tonka]

That is good advice. Everyone really should do this. Not necessarily move house, but at least look up the risk to your property and respond accordingly.

Has anyone tried those self filling water inflated sand bag substitute thingies?

[James Jackson]

i havent seen the water filling sand bags, but have seen the plasticwater barriers for the doors. Their all well and good, but still best to elivate or move the most important items as bags and baracades will only do so much against water

[NorthernRaider]

I think i put and article in my book on prepping about upgrades and precautions and planning for flood prevention.

---

Just checked, I did leave the bit on flooding in the 2012 version, its below


FLOOD PROTECTION


Not all of us can afford to move home to locations that are the most beneficial to survivalists, many of us have to compromise over one or more preferred attributes.

While in many cases we can move within a given area to locations that are more rural, more secure, more remote, more defendable, more sustainable etc, but very often because of work or family or other commitments we are unable to move more than a short distance. One problem that can occur is that because of these restrictions you are unable to move to ground high enough to avoid the risk from flooding.

Of course if you are planning on moving to a property on higher ground it is generally accepted that you buy a property at least 30 feet above the maximum recorded flood height for that area. We need to allow for rising water levels not only due to the possible failure of water pumping stations, but also because of global warming increasing sea levels and triggering more sudden flash flooding.
So if you are stuck in a position where the risk from occasional flooding is unavoidable you need to try to reduce the risks to your home or retreat.

Starting from your boundary line consider these options
Can you raise a levee or earth berm around the perimeter of your home or house?

Can you build a brick / stone or concrete garden wall that is strong enough to hold back at least two feet of floodwater (you would need to be able seal off the gates during a period of high risk.

Can you make your water proofed gates outward opening so that the more the water pushes against them the tighter the seal is made.

Can you create a run off gully or soak away to help the water to rapidly drain away? (Not into your neighbour’s garden)

Can your car be moved to higher ground but still be close enough if you have to bug out?

Moving in from your boundary can you fit one way flap valves to your waste water and toilet outflow pipes to prevent water and waste backing up into your home.

Can your construct or obtain covers to seal off the air bricks in your walls and to seal off any gaps surrounding utility pipes and cables where they enter your home.

Can you obtain or make a shuttering board to seal off your front and back doors (and French or Patio doors)

Can you have your gas and electrical distribution boards moved to a much higher position in the wall?

Can you arrange for the upstairs section of your homes power grid to be isolatable from the downstairs (If you can and your D/Board is not immersed in the flood you may be able to keep the power on upstairs during the flood)

Can you apply a water proof rendering to the outside of your home (only worthwhile in places where flood risks are high and frequent.

Ensure the gap around all windows is well sealed with a quality silicone sealant.

[Timelord]

Hydraulic stilts would be easier..

[Nemesis]

Some times survivalism gets to bloody far-fetched.

[Skean Dhude]

I can't understand the ease in which people move into homes that can easily be flooded in this country. Especially those that insurance companies won't insure.

Madness.

[Bug_out_Bag]

(25 June 2012, 08:20)Skean Dhude Wrote: I can't understand the ease in which people move into homes that can easily be flooded in this country. Especially those that insurance companies won't insure.

Madness.

Could it have something to do with being as thick as two short planks do you think? Oops, I'm sorry, what I mean is those ' hard of understanding' or are they now lumped in with that ever increasing group known as those with 'Special Needs' gawd bless 'em!

[bigpaul]

nope, its because in the main these houses are new and you can move in for £99 down and it includes the carpets and curtains...people cannot afford the deposits or even get mortgages on older properties and they go for the easier options...and who can blame them?? developers dont care the houses are built on flood plains, they dont have to live in them.

[NorthernRaider]

I seem to remember a certain fat git called John Prescott announcing many years ago a new wave of building affordable housing ( prolly to house all the immigrants they were encouraging here) then about ten years later the same obnoxous socialist git was on TV going ballistic because huge numbers of his poor followers were living in houses that could no longer get flood insurance, primarily because labour ignored the experts and allowed hundreds of new dormitory estates to be built on known flood plains.

---

(25 June 2012, 09:14)Bug_out_Bag Wrote: Could it have something to do with being as thick as two short planks do you think? Oops, I'm sorry, what I mean is those ' hard of understanding' or are they now lumped in with that ever increasing group known as those with 'Special Needs' gawd bless 'em!

I assume you are refering to the England soccer team ?