What is the likelihood of your home being flooded?

Here are ways to check:

Find your house on this map or enter your post code on the Environment Agency website, Flood Map Page

Sign up for flood warnings on Floodline 0845-988 1188 or you can sign up on their website to receive warnings by telephone, mobile, text, SMS, email or Fax at: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/default.aspx

Talk to the Environment Agency : 01903-832203

Look for local risk forecasts at: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/default.aspx  (This site has plenty of useful advice)

Floodline Warnings Direct is a free service which sends you a direct message when flooding is possible and may affect your property. Flood warnings will give you time to prepare for flooding, which could save you  time, money and heartache. If your house or premises are in a possible flood zone, then it makes sense to be prepared, even though a flood may not be very likely.

There are a number of ways to check if your house might be vulnerable. See our links section to find companies who provide various barriers to flooding to help protect your home.

• Talk to your neighbours and see what their plans are
• If you are new to Westbourne, ask neighbours who have been here for longer than you about their experience
• Put contact numbers that you may need, somewhere where you will always find them
• Decide what you’d take if you did have a flood and needed to evacuate your property

Useful telephone numbers and links to helpful web sites

Floodline 0845 988 1188 (24 hour)

Defra www.defra.gov.uk

Environment Agency www.environment-agency.gov.uk

Flood Plan UK www.floodplanuk.org

Some ideas and links

Alternatives to  sandbags

www.aqua-sac.com “The Aqua-Sac™ S.O.S bag needs ‘no sand’ therefore, storing 25-50 bags will take up no more space than a couple of thick folded blankets.”

www.absorbeez.com/Products.php “sandbags” made of a light material that absorbs water but is very light when dry.

www.floodsax.co.uk  “FloodSax are the modern alternative to sandbags but they’re like pillow-cases full of hundreds of absorbent crystals…. it absorbs 19.8 litres of water in just 3 minutes. …..FloodSax® mould into doorways and become taut in five minutes”

Floodproofing your airbricks

www.flooddefender.co.uk shows a picture of the kind of airbrick that prevents water flowing through

www.ecocoverage.co.uk has another example

Flood barriers for doors etc.

There are many examples of these – here is one example

www.ukfloodbarriers.co.uk/waterwall_waterdoor.asp

and here are two more: www.carofds.co.uk flood defence systems & www.damfast.co.uk/

Backflow protection from sewage :www.ukfloodbarriers.co.uk/backflowvalve.asp

www.floodtite.com/toiletpanseal.html stops water from flowing up through your toilet

Floodbond provide a post flood service and can dry out any building of any size in only 4 days. You can add Floodbond cover to your existing flood insurance: www.floodbond.com