Being Flood Ready – Advice for Before, During & After

Before a flood

Certain areas are more susceptible to flooding than others, and through property surveys and insurance policies you should already know this if you live in one of these places. Home and contents insurance is often more expensive in these areas to account for the increased risk. Additionally, flood risk maps are available for those who are unsure about their area’s propensity for flooding.

Flood warnings

As with most facets of modern day society, smart devices come in extremely handy. You can sign up for flood warnings, a service available via the Government’s website, which provides notifications via email, texts or phone calls, and they don’t cost a penny.

Home insurance

We touched on home insurance above, but it’s worthwhile reiterating that it’s crucial you have a good home and contents insurance policy in place, particularly if you live in a high-risk flood area. Floods can cause huge amounts of damage to homes, and it’s very important that you’re adequately covered for this eventuality. Clarify any parts you’re confused about with your insurance company – it’s much easier to do this before a flood than after.

Protect possessions

Consider moving valuable items upstairs or on high shelving – this will reduce the risk of them being damaged in the event of a flood. You can also place valuables in sealed bags – some are big enough to cover large possessions, like sofas and electrical goods.

Flood plan

A flood plan is particularly useful for businesses; making sure your staff are aware of the protocols required in the event of a flood. This will help minimise confusion and panic during an emergency.  Flood planning might not be so important for homes, but everyone should know what to do in case your home does get flooded. If you know of impending trouble, packing an emergency bag containing food, clean clothes, water, chargers and a torch can prove a lifesaver in the face of severe flooding situations. Even if you prepare a few sandbags at your door, this can provide a worthwhile line of defence against flood water.

After a flood

There are several things that you’ll need to do when returning to your property after a flood. The first step actually comes before you’ve returned – check your property is actually safe enough to return to. Check for structural damage and make sure to contact utilities companies if you think there may be damage to your pipes, sewers, electricity and gas lines.

Photographic evidence

Take pictures of your property before embarking on any drain repairs. This is important for keeping records of the damage to show insurance companies, drain repair cover insurance and more – if possible, take digital photos, and back them up in the cloud or on a hard drive, so they’re less susceptible should flooding strike again.

Call your insurance company

Contact your insurance company as soon as you can after the flood – be mindful that lots of people in your area will likely be trying to contact their insurance provider, too, so lines could be busy. They will need to know the cause of the flood, the extent of your coverage and the repairs required. Before you undertake any repairs yourself, check with your insurer to see if they’d like you to wait for a visit from a drainage insurance adjuster.

This loss adjuster is an individual who investigates and assesses complex insurance claims (like drainage business insurance) on behalf of the insurance company. They are impartial, so they are not trying to catch you out – their job is to assess and determine the cause of any loss and whether or not this loss is covered under your insurance policy.