We are now in the season of heavy rainfall and storms and that means that there is a significant increase in the risk of property flooding, particularly if you are in a high risk area. Here is some practical guidance on identifying if you are in a flood risk area, how to protect yourself and what to do in the case of a flood.
Assessing your flood risk
Firstly it is important to find out if your property is at risk of flooding. You can find out by taking a look at the flood mapping sites for each area of the UK:
If your property is deemed to be in a high flood risk area, or you want a conclusive answer, you can commission a property flood risk survey. This is a formal assessment that should be conducted by a chartered surveyor or civil engineer, using industry standard flood risk reporting as outlined by the Environment Agency.
Speak to your broker or insurer about whether or not they take property risk surveys into consideration when assessing your insurance policy, before commissioning your own report.
Protecting your property from flooding
If you are having problems finding flood or property insurance, you should speak to a broker who will be able to offer you advice. They will also have access to more specialist insurance policies than a comparison website, for example who will likely only be able to help if you are in a low risk area.
If your property is at risk of flooding, consider mitigating that risk with flood defences. You can install features such as flood doors and raised electrical sockets.
If you don’t own the property, speak to the owner about reducing your flood risk. Seek professional advice on what measures would be suitable for your property.
Preparing for a flood
Keep an eye on weather and flood forecasts for your area and be prepared if heavy rainfall is likely soon. The personal and property devastation can be huge, so try to protect yourself as much as possible.
Keep your insurance documents and emergency contact numbers safe and easily accessible. You should also have electricity and water supplier details to hand. If flooding is particularly bad, make arrangements to stay elsewhere and prepare an emergency bag in case you have to move quickly. This should include essentials like keys, money, medicines, water, blankets and a torch. In terms of business property, if necessary, initiate your disaster recovery plan and make arrangements for patients’ appointments or alternative working locations.
Move your valuable possessions from the ground floor, or with heavy equipment, try to elevate this or protect it if you can. Your broker and insurer can support you through the effects of a flood If your business or home is flooded, you should contact your broker or insurer as soon as you can. They will be able to help you with everything from the immediate effects through to the repairs. Your insurer should also be able to guide you on timelines for fixing your property. Be mindful that bad flood damage can take some time to sort out as drying and decontamination can take a while, before repairs can even start.
Looking for good flood insurance is key.
At All Med Pro, we can help find specialist insurance for homes that have been affected by historical flooding. If you have a requirement for hard to place insurance, speak to one of our specialists to see how we can help.