13-01-2023

What is My Flood Risk?

Floods are a natural part of the UK weather every winter. Whether it be from severe rainfall, melting ice and snow, or bodies of water overflowi, flood warnings can affect all corners of the country.

According to data, 1 in 6 properties in England is at high risk of flooding from rivers, sea, and surface water.

During bad weather, you should always keep an eye on your local weather forecast and local flood warnings too. Even if it doesn’t affect your home, flooding can affect local services or your journey to and from work.

But you should also be aware of the long-term flood risk of your home and area. This is how likely your home or street is to flood. Gov.uk has a dedicated service for areas in England.

Your risk level can affect your likelihood of home insurance coverage, the likelihood of reselling your home, and how prepared you have to be at all times.

 

How do I prepare for flooding?

If your flood risk is high, you will need to act fast both in terms of prevention and recovery. For prevention, sandbags and perhaps even temporary or permanent flood barriers attached to doors and windows will be needed.

You may also wish to style and furnish your home with flooding in mind. Furniture which can be moved to higher ground, or kitchen cabinets on legs, are just two of the ways you can protect valuable items.

You also need to know where to source flood recovery products from. Here at Speedy, we have a range of submersible pumps available which can get rid of excess water. We also have electric dehumidifiers available to hire, and carpet dryers too.

With over 200 depots across the UK and Ireland, and more than 300,000 itemised assets available for hire, we will have all you need to help your home recover from a flood.

Read our flood recovery guide to ensure you’re clued up about everything you need to do to prepare and act.

 

What increases flood risks?

It can be hard to determine whether individual properties are at risk of flooding, but there are certain key signals which can increase a small area’s risk of flooding. Read below to determine if your home is at risk of flooding

 

Living near water

This is the most obvious signal. If your home or street is near a source of water, such as:

  • A river or stream
  • The sea
  • A reservoir
  • A lake

Then this body of water may be at risk of overflowing in severe rain and storms.

Even if the banks of the water are high, significant rainfall can quickly change this. The foundations of a river can also give way in rain, wind, and strong currents, meaning water breaks free of its natural path. Coastal defences can be breached, too.

Homes close to water, especially if the river or sea wall has burst before, are at higher risk of flooding.

You can check which flood zone your property is in using the Government’s flood map for planning, but it does not take into account the risk of surface water.

 

Surface water

As mentioned above, surface water can affect all homes and properties in the UK, even if nowhere near a large body of water. It’s also hard to predict.

It occurs when heavy rainfall cannot get away. It can also occur when snow or ice is melting at a rapid rate. Water may not be able to get away because the soil is already saturated, natural drainage is not available (for instance, a garden is paved rather than grass), or drains and the drainage system are overwhelmed.

Drains can also be blocked, so it is essential to check your local drains and contact the council if they seem to be blocked.

 

Living in a large, concreted area

Large housing estates or built-up areas (such as city and town centres) can be at more risk of flash flooding from surface water, as above.

It is hard to predict as it depends on the exact location and the amount of rainfall, but houses on hills aren’t necessarily safe as you’d expect. It can also depend on whether your drains are kept in good condition by the local council, or whether they’re blocked/overwhelmed.

 

Low lying homes

While being on a hill is no guarantee you’re protected, homes at the base of hills or in valleys are at higher natural risk of flooding. If water flows downwards, it can pool and struggle to get away in time.

Have sufficient natural drainage in place, such as aerated soil and small gaps in walls or other structures to help water get away.

 

 

IS THERE FLOOD RECOVERY PRODUCT HIRE NEAR ME?

Yes. Speedy, the UK's leading tool hire company, have a range of flood recovery products for hire nationwide.

Speedy has more than 200 service centres across the nation, hire counters in selected B&Qs and nationwide 4-hour delivery. So, we can be there when you need us the most.

You’ll find all the tools you need right here. Why not open a Speedy account today online, for quicker checkouts and local product availability?

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