Flood? What Flood?

The Thames Barrier was raised twice in two days early in November, homes along parts of the East Anglian Coast were evacuated and, well, and nothing actually. The recent tidal surge in the North Sea threatened the east coast of England with the highest tides in almost 50 years.

However, the severe flood warning, while providing some impressive photo opportunities along various promenades, didn't translate into severe floods. But that doesn't mean there won't be a next time. The Thames Barrier has now been raised 10 times this year.

As we head into the winter months, facing an apparently growing likelihood of what the forecasters tactfully describe as 'extreme' weather events, it could well be time to check your home insurance.

Anyone who has a home insurance policy should be fortunate enough to have flood damage included as part of their cover. Most home insurance policies do include this cover as standard but you should double check the small print.

For anyone without home insurance - get some and get it now! After the floods in the last couple of years, many leading home insurers even are considering removing flood cover from their standard home insurance policies unless the government increases its flood defence budget.

When it comes to renewing your home insurance, if your property has been affected by floods in the past or is considered to be in an area liable to flooding your current home insurance provider may decline to continue to offer your insurance altogether.

Your home insurer is under no obligation to renew your home insurance simply because you are an existing customer.

If your insurer is willing to continue to insure your property even though it is at risk of being flooded, you can expect your home insurance premium to rise by 20-30%. This increase reflects the increase in risk you present to them.

When arranging home insurance cover insurers will use your postcode to decide whether you live in an area at risk of being flooded. If you live on high ground or in the concrete equivalent (a high rise flat) it pays to inform your insurer as, although the area around may be at risk of being flooded, it is unlikely that your property would encounter water damage.

Be aware that around 90% of the flood damage sustained by domestic properties is caused by the first inch of water that gets in. Therefore, if you are in a flood risk area, whether coastal or inland flood plain, you should consider investing in flood protection equipment to prevent water entering your home. Flood protection equipment such as that offered by Floodguards reduces the likelihood of water seeping through door and window frames, thus improving your insurance prospect in the eyes of the insurance industry.

What do to before a flood

• Turn off gas, electricity and water at the mains supply.
• Disconnect cookers, washing machines, dishwashers and other appliances connected by rigid pipes to gas and water supplies. This will prevent damage to the pipes if the appliance floats or moves during the flooding.
• Unplug all electrical items and store them upstairs, high up or in a loft space.
• Use silicone sealant to make doors and windows more resiant. Put sealant around the door/window then close and lock until the flooding has passed.
• Reduce the amount of water entering your property. Use sandbags, plywood, metal or plastic sheeting placed on the outside of doors, windows and airbricks. You do not have to seal your property completely, but this will reduce the amount of floodwater entering your property (after flooding remove any covers over air-bricks as ventilation will aid the drying of your property).
• Floodwaters can enter through drains. The easiest way of preventing this is by putting in plugs and weighing them down with sandbags. Washing machines and dishwashers' outflows should be disconnected and blocked with a cloth/plug to prevent back flow. Placing a sandbag in the toilet bowl will also prevent backflow.
• Floodwater can contaminate foodstuffs and chemicals such as paint, garden pesticides, household cleaning products and garage oils. Similarly these can spill or leak into the floodwaters causing additional clean-up problems. Keep these materials upstairs or high up in your garage / shed.
• Move furniture upstairs where you can and (if you have time) roll up rugs, carpets and curtains for suitable storage. (If you don't have time, raise curtains by hanging them over the curtain poles.
• Remember you cannot replace items of sentimental value, photographs or favourite toys. Keep them upstairs or somewhere high up on a permanent basis.
• Should furniture be too heavy to move, empty it and move its contents upstairs. Raise it on bricks to minimise damage and move it away from walls as this can assist in drying the property later.

What to do during a flood

• Avoid contact with floodwaters; they may be contaminated with sewage.
• Do not wade through high floodwaters; manhole covers may have lifted, leaving deep and dangerous unseen holes.
• Do as instructed by the emergency services - you may have to be evacuated. This will be done for your own good.
• Leave internal ground floor doors open (doors may swell and jam if left closed).

What to do after a flood

• Call your insurance company's (24 hour) Emergency Helpline as soon as possible. Your insurer will be able to provide information on dealing with your claim, and assistance in getting things back to normal.
• Keep a record of the flood damage (especially photographs or video footage) and retain correspondence with insurers after the flood.
• Commission immediate emergency pumping / repair work if necessary to protect your property from further damage. This can be undertaken without insurer approval (remember to get receipts).
• Get advice where detailed, lengthy repairs are needed. Your insurer or loss adjuster can give advice on reputable contractors / tradesmen. Beware of bogus tradesmen and always check references.
• If you have to move into alternative accommodations check with your buildings insurer that the cost is covered in your buildings insurance policy.
• Make sure your insurance company knows where to contact you if you have to move out of your home.
• Do not turn on gas, electricity or water supplies until you have contacted your gas, electricity and water companies. Have your power supplies checked before you turn them back on to make sure they have dried out. Wash taps and run them for a few minutes before use.
• Open doors and windows to ventilate the house but take care to ensure your house and valuables are secure.
• Don't think it can't happen again. Restock your supplies.

More advice on what to do in the event of a flood is available from the Environment Agency or you can call the national flood advice line on 0845 988 1188; all calls are charged at a local rate.

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