Winter is now fully upon us and with it there is the annual risk of heavy snow, rain and flooding. Over the last few years, we have seen a number of severe flooding incidents around the UK which can be devastating for property owners.
It is important for any property owner to be aware of the possibility of flooding in the local area and to prepare for any potential damage. It is of course often down to chance with natural disasters but it still helps to be prepared for the worst.
Check Your Area
A simple online search will give you a number of websites with details of exactly which areas are the most likely to be hit by floods, but properties in valleys, near riverbanks and with poor drainage facilities are of course the obvious risk areas.
Also remember that it is not just heavy rainfall that can force rivers to burst their banks, heavy snow can also lead to flooding in certain areas. If we experience another cold winter, water is likely to get stocked up in ice packs and, when spring comes, melt away leaving the rivers ready to burst.
Preparation
People within risk areas should think about keeping some sandbags on hand so that they can quickly construct barriers against flooding. In fact, many companies can help you put in low cost precautions to prevent or minimise the risk of flooding in your property.
Another crucial way to protect yourself is to get a comprehensive insurance policy that covers your property from the damage of flooding. If you own your own property make sure to invest in a good Home Insurance policy and if you are renting you may want to check that your Landlord has a comprehensive Landlords Insurance policy or invest in Tenants Insurance.
Although flooding is not a constant occurrence, we have all seen the devastating pictures from Boscastle, Shrewsbury and Carlisle over recent years and I’m sure none of us want to experience that in our own homes! So make sure you properly inform yourself about flooding risks in your local area and make sure you’re protected.
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