Both residents living in high risk flood areas and residents in general are advised to take steps to protect their valuables and property from flood damage.
Visit the Environment Agency website to find out if you are living in a high risk flood area.
A variety of flood protection is available, useful website links to flood protection products and services are available under External links.
Temporary flood protection measures
Sandbags
Build a wall of sandbags in front of doors and windows. You could also use pillow cases filled with soil.
Flood boards
Screw flood boards into the frames of doors and windows. Flood boards are large sheets of wood. They are useful in areas prone to flooding as the boards can be washed and used again.
Permanent flood protection measures
Further steps to protect your property and make it easier to recover from flooding:
- lay ceramic tiles instead of fitted carpets
- raise the height of electrical sockets to 1.5 metres above ground floor level
- use lime plaster instead of gypsum on walls
- fit stainless steel or plastic kitchen cupboards instead of those made from chipboard
- position any main parts of a heating or ventilation system, such as a boiler, upstairs
- fit non-return valves to all drains and water inlet pipes
- replace wooden window frames and doors with those made from a synthetic material.
Please note: the council is unable to provide you with any flood protection measures.