A recent study has shown risk of flooding in one area of Merseyside has increased the most out of every area in the UK.
Sefton, takes first place with the number of properties with a flood risk of 1% or higher increasing by almost 32%. In 2020, Sefton had 325 properties with high flood risk, compared to just 247 in 2018.
Four of the top five entries in the list hail from the North West with Wirral coming in at second place with the number of properties with a flood risk of 1% or higher increased by 17%, rising from 487 in 2018 to 571 in 2020 according to a study by Utility Builder.
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The top ten are:
- Sefton
- Wirral
- Blackpool
- Lancashire
- Wiltshire
- Bury
- Dorset
- Warrington
- Devon
- Torbay
How do you prepare your home for a potential flood?
1. Move important documents and valuables upstairs
To avoid damage to any important business documents or sentimental items in your house, move them upstairs, or as high and away from the ground as possible. Important documents can be replaced, it’s a stressful process, which you don’t want to have to go through after a flood.
2. Take photos of your property before the flood
Taking photos of your property and its contents before the flood can help with any insurance claims after. Therefore, you may be entitled to a claim with your insurance company. To ensure you get the money to make the necessary repairs, having evidence of the damage will help this process.
3. Contact your insurers
They can offer additional advice on your current policy, and how to make sure your insurance stays valid in the event of a flood. It can also alert them in case you need to make a claim after the flood.
4. Weigh down any furniture
Things like sofas and refrigerators will be extremely difficult to move upstairs. Although they might be too heavy for you to lift, they can potentially float in a flood. This can cause damage to the windows or walls and make for an even longer list of repairs.
5. Unplug electrical equipment
Water is a conductor of electricity, and if water gets onto your sockets, it could cause an electrical fire. They could also break which means you may not be able to power or charge any devices. It’s also a good idea to move any electronics, such as computers or televisions, upstairs, and turn off the gas and electricity.
A spokesperson for Sefton Council said: “Flood risk varies across the Borough and can be caused by overflowing rivers or streams, coastal inundation, blocked drains, high groundwater or pumping station failures. Even in areas not located near a body of water, surface water flooding (caused by extreme rainfall) can occur in any location at any time of year.
“Across England 1 in 6 properties are at risk of flooding and this number is only set to increase due to climate change. Sefton Council work in close partnership with the Environment Agency and United Utilities to manage flood risks, and is a Lead Local Flood Authority. As such, the Council oversee a number of responsibilities and actions to manage flood risk across the Borough. People can learn more on the Sefton Council website: https://www.sefton.gov.uk/floodrisk
“We urge residents to check their level of risk and prepare homes accordingly by following the resources available at www.sefton.gov.uk/floods or https://thefloodhub.co.uk/ ”
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