The UK government has provided tips for homeowners.
Households have been given advice on how to safeguard their homes and belongings as flood alerts have been issued. There are 99 flood warnings and 158 flood alerts in England as the government warns that some properties will flood.
Multiple areas are affected, including Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and East Sussex. Flooding is expected along the River Trent, lower reaches of the River Severn and the River Ouse in York.
The UK Government stated: “Properties will flood and there will be travel disruption.”
In response to flood alerts and warnings, the government has provided tips for homeowners.
It said flooding in homes and businesses is “very disruptive and upsetting”, and while you cannot completely protect your property, there are measures you can take to lessen the impact, reports the Express.
Simple changes can reduce the amount of flood water that gets in, the damage and the cost and time of cleaning up. To minimise the damage caused by flooding, the experts advise moving valuable items and TVs higher up the wall.
It advised: “Fix shelves high up on walls. If you have valuable or important items that you cannot move to another floor or storey, keep them on a high shelf.”
TVs shouldn’t be kept on sideboards or TV stands, and instead should be mounted to the wall. This means if there is flooding in your property, the electrical item will be safer.
The government recommended: “Fix TVs or other home entertainment equipment on a wall, at least 1.5 metres (5 feet) from the floor.”
For properties susceptible to flooding, homeowners can implement more substantial structural modifications.
Fitting plasterboard to internal walls is beneficial, alongside laying tiles with waterproof adhesive and grout instead of carpets.
Water-resistant skirting boards are available for purchase, and the risk of electrical issues can be minimised by positioning electrical sockets, fuse boxes and control systems at a minimum height of 1.5 metres.
To prevent water entering the property, fitting a flood-resistant front door is advisable. For those requiring a quicker solution, temporary, removable flood barriers can be purchased to place against doorways.
Floodline provides round-the-clock support, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for those impacted by flooding. They can be reached by telephone on 0345 988 1188 and 0345 602 6340.
