• River flooding that occurs when a watercourse cannot cope with the water draining into it from the surrounding land. This can happen, for example, when heavy rain falls on an already waterlogged catchment.

• Coastal flooding that results from a combination of high tides and stormy conditions. If low atmospheric pressure coincides with a high tide, a tidal surge may happen which can cause serious flooding.

• Surface water flooding which occurs when heavy rainfall overwhelms the drainage capacity of the local area.  It is difficult to predict and pinpoint, much more so than river or coastal flooding.

• Sewer flooding that occurs when sewers are overwhelmed by heavy rainfall or when they become blocked.  The likelihood of flooding depends on the capacity of the local sewerage system. Land and property can be flooded with water contaminated with raw sewage as a result. Rivers can also become polluted by sewer overflows.

• Groundwater flooding that occurs when water levels in the ground rise above surface levels. It is most likely to occur in areas underlain by permeable rocks, called aquifers. These can be extensive, regional aquifers, such as chalk or sandstone, or may be more local sand or river gravels in valley bottoms underlain by less permeable rocks.  This is not  a significant source of flooding in Wales.

• Reservoir flooding. Some reservoirs hold large volumes of water above ground level, contained by walls, or ‘dams’.  Although the safety record for reservoirs is excellent, it is still possible that a dam could fail. This would result in a large volume of water being released very quickly.

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/31652.aspx

Many people don’t know whether they are prone to flooding from the river or sea until it is too late. To check if your home or business property is considered to be in a flood prone area we strongly recommend visiting the Environment Agency Flood Maps available on their website.

If you already know that you are at risk from floods then the environment agency offer a flood warning service which also has advice on how to prepare for a flood.

If the environment agency flood map doesn’t provide compelling reason enough to consider installing a flood defense for your home, then the flood simulator developed by Norwich Union – which shows the costs incurred during a flood in a house with flood protection against one without – should be visited.

To check whether there is a flood warning currently in force in your area you can check thisflood map on the environment agency’s website, which maps out all current warnings.

Read more at: http://www.floodark.co.uk/uk-flood-maps or http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/37837.aspx

You can prepare your home against the risk of flooding by taking a few, practical steps:

• check your home and buildings insurance covers flooding
• find out if damaged belongings will be replaced with new ones
• if you rent, contact your landlord to find out about the insurance cover for your flat or house
• make sure you know how to turn off your gas, water or electricity – if you are not sure, ask your supplier for advice
• keep a kit of essential items like copies of your insurance documents, a battery powered torch and radio and a first aid kit
• buy special protection flood products like floodboards and airbrick covers to help reduce flood damage
• check your flood protection products have a British Standards Institution (BSI) Kitemark  – this means they have been tested to a recognised standard

If you are interested in this subject please don’t hesitate to go to:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/WhereYouLive/FloodingInYourArea/DG_10014599

“A chunk of Antarctic ice sevon times the size of Manhattan has suddenly collapsed, putting an even larger glacial area at risk.

Satellite images show the runaway disintegration of a 220-square-mile chunk in western Antarctica.

British scientist David Vaughan says it’s the result of global warming.

The rest of the Connecticut-sized ice shelf is holding on by a narrow beam of thin ice and scientists worry that it too may collapse. Larger, more dramatic ice collapses occurred in 2002 and 1995.”

Find out more

Your first thought should be your safety. Find out if family or friends can offer you a place to stay when flooding threatens. If you have a disability contact your local authority social services and ask them how they will help if you are at risk from flooding.

Plan your escape route, particularly if you are in a bungalow. If you live in a house and have window locks, always keep a key upstairs. Find out from your local authority where you would be evacuated to and let family and friends know.

Make a list of useful numbers and keep it in a safe place. This should include, Floodline 0845 988 1188, family and friends, your local authority and your insurance company.

If you face a significant risk from flooding, you should make sure that you are properly insured. Flood damage is not always included in standard business insurance. You may have to buy it as an option, although it should be included as standard for small businesses outside areas of significant risk.

Bear in mind that floods can be very expensive. As well as replacing stock and repairing damaged premises, your business could be disrupted for weeks or even months. Check whether your insurance cover includes business interruption and other costs. Usually sold as part of a business insurance package or added to an existing policy, business interruption insurance compensates a business for lost income, expenses and profits if a disaster, such as a flood, forces you to stop trading. The cost of the policy depends on your type of business and how important your premises and location are, as well as the length of the disruption.

Thinking ahead will help make any insurance claim as straightforward as possible. Keep your insurance policy and an inventory of important possessions somewhere safe. You may want to keep photographic evidence. An independent appraisal of the potential cost of repairs and replacements can also help. If you are flooded, contact your insurer immediately, and make sure that you keep complete records of everything you do.

The UK government’s Pre-budget Report and Comprehensive Spending Review, presented earlier this week, failed to provide any extra cash for flood prevention work in England and Wales.

In July, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn stated that spending on flood management would increase from £600m in 2006/7 to £800m by 2010/11 and, despite pressure from the insurance industry to increase this in the Pre-Budget Report, the amount stays the same. However, Mr. Benn has now clarified how the increases announced in July will be phased in, saying that annual budgets would rise to a minimum of £650m in 2008/09, and a minimum of £700m in 2009/10, reaching £800m by 2010/11.

Reactions to the above have been mixed, with Sir John Harman, chairman of the Environment Agency, saying:

“We welcome the increase in funding for flood risk management, as announced by the government today in its Comprehensive Spending Review – it is moving in the right direction.

“We will never be able to protect everyone against all floods but we can progress now with confidence to deliver more schemes to protect people and property, and plan future schemes over the next three years.

“This welcome increase is an important step towards the long-term level of £1bn annual investment identified by the ‘Foresight’ study as being needed to stabilise flood risk in a changing climate.”

The Association of British Insurers’ director general, Stephen Haddrill, was a lot less positive, stating:

“The insurance industry is helping tens of thousands of people affected by flooding this summer, but the government has now failed to play its part. Millions of homeowners and businesses around the country have been let down by the government’s failure to commit sufficient money to new and improved flood defences.
“Government spending for the next three years is less than we were asking for, even before the floods. It does not begin to address the major issues, including drainage, which were highlighted this summer. The government will have to increase spending substantially as needs are identified by the Pitt review team.”

Defra has overall policy responsibility for flood and coastal erosion risk in England. Defra funds most of the Environment Agency’s flood management activities in England and provides grant aid on a project by project basis to the other flood and coastal defence operating authorities (local authorities and internal drainage boards) to support their investment in capital improvement projects to manage flood and coastal erosion risk. Defra does not build defences, nor direct the authorities on which specific projects to undertake. The works programme to manage risk is driven by the operating authorities. We regard this arrangement as a partnership, try to ensure that risk is managed effectively by the authorities and provide guidance to help ensure this. Traditionally, flooding in this context has meant from watercourses or the sea rather than from other sources. However, Defra’s new strategy (Making space for water) is taking a holistic approach to management of risk from all forms of flooding (river, coastal, groundwater, surface run-off and sewer) and coastal erosion, and seeking to ensure the programme helps deliver sustainable development.

The Environment Agency (EA) is the authority responsible for implementing and managing flood defence schemes inEnglandandWales. The EA also plays an important role in warning people about the risks of flooding, and establishing and maintaining flood-warning systems. Today, the Agency provides and maintains more than 34,000km of river and coastal defences inEnglandandWalesand spends nearly £400 million each year on flood defence.

Move pets, vehicles, valuables and other items to safety, make sure your property is ventilated, plug sinks and bath and put a sandbag in the toilet bowl to prevent backflow, turn off gas and electricity, unplug and move upstairs if possible electrical appliance.

We can minimise the damage

Over 5.5 million, or one in six, properties are at risk of flooding from all types of floods across England and Wales.  The latest UKCP09 climate change projections indicate rising sea levels and increasingly severe and frequent rainstorms mean the risk of floods will increase.

We can reduce the likelihood of flooding through the management of land and river systems; by building and maintaining flood and coastal defences; raising the awareness of  flood risk through the Flood Map and encouraging people to take action to protect themselves and their property.  We also reduce the damage floods can do through effective control of development, providing flood warnings and working with emergency responders to help people who are at risk.