'Flood Mary' Urges Property Owners to be Flood Ready

The last thing you want is for your home to become flooded. 

After one of the driest summers in recent years, experts are warning of an increased risk of surface water flooding this autumn. 

With the ground hard and dry, heavy or prolonged rainfall may struggle to soak away, meaning communities across the UK could face increased risks of flash flooding through the autumn and winter months.

Property flood resilience expert Mary Long-Dhonau OBE, also known as Flood Mary, is urging homeowners to act and be ‘flood aware and flood ready’: “After such an exceptionally dry summer, many communities are understandably worried about the wetter months ahead," she told That's Home and Household. 

"Dry, hardened ground simply can’t absorb water quickly, so even a short, sharp downpour can lead to surface water flooding. Being prepared is the most important thing you can do, and I therefore encourage homeowners and business owners to create a ‘flood to-do list’ to stay one step ahead.

There is also another problem, floods caused or encouraged by drains that often haven't been cleaned in 40 to 50 years.

Over the past two winters, Mary has spoken to over 2,000 people while visiting newly flooded communities with the Floodmobile and FloodPod. Time and time again, she was asked the same questions: “Where can we find trusted advice on flood resilience products, and where can we buy them?”

In response, Mary has produced a brand-new Making Your Home Flood Ready Directory - a free and impartial practical guide packed with tips, tools and trusted products. From flood doors and barriers to recoverable kitchens and simple, low-cost preparedness tips, the directory helps homeowners understand what’s possible and where to turn for support.

It also includes Mary’s popular Flood To-Do List, which is a quick, step-by-step checklist to follow when flood warnings are issued.

In addition, the directory includes advice from Flood Re, plus information on flood insurance, PFR surveys and even how 'greening up' your garden can help to reduce local surface water risks.

Continues Mary: “Unfortunately, most people don’t research flood resilience measures until flooding happens to them. This directory is designed to be a first stop, giving people the knowledge and confidence to prepare now and be ‘flood ready’.”

Access the new PFR directory here: https://floodmary.com/attention-introducing-the-new-property-flood-resilience-pfr-directory/

Designed as a trusted, independent resource, the directory brings together information on proven products, practical strategies and expert specialists, also making it an invaluable tool for flood risk management teams and local authorities delivering flood alleviation schemes.

www.floodmary.com

Also check out https://www.floodre.co.uk for advice on flood insurance.

Gear Up For Winter With Flood Awareness Programme

As the colder weather looms, The National Flood School is reminding householders to check out their free online information, designed to help limit damage to their property in the event of a flood or leak.

The National Flood School offers a step-by-step video guide to help people through some simple processes that can be introduced if a flood occurs, to help get clean-up works on the right track and life back to normal as quickly as possible.

The video at http://www.youtube.com/nationalfloodschool is also supported by a free online guide available at http://www.nationalfloodschool.co.uk/downloads/NFS_SOS_Guide...

Chris Netherton, managing director of the Surrey-based National Flood School, said: “Domestic flood incidents always increase in line with a drop in temperature.

“However, last winter was extraordinary and we reported a huge surge in the number of claims to UK properties, brought on by the extreme weather.

“The number of reports of damage caused by burst pipes increased ten-fold compared to the same period the previous year.

“We understand a flood in a home is devastating, and as a result produced this guide to help householders limit the damage where possible.”

Founded in 1988, the National Flood School is recognised across the UK and Europe as a leader in the research, development, testing and education of a wide-range of techniques and systems to enhance the restoration of property damaged by flood.

It shares its expertise to support and train restoration professionals and provides information and professional guidance for many other associated industries, including insurers and loss adjusters.

To support its work, the National Flood School has built and uses The Flood House – located at its headquarters in Farnham, Surrey.

Believed to be the only purpose-built floodable house in Europe, the structure - comprising of eight rooms and 60 common household materials - is regularly flooded with 1500 gallons of water.

http://www.nationalfloodschool.co.uk

ENDS