Flooding

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If you live in an area prone to flooding, you need to know what you can do to prepare and how to cope if your home is flooded.

Is my home at risk?

You may be at risk if you live:

• in an area that has been flooded before
• in a floodplain
• in an area protected by river or coastal defences
• near a stream, river or surface water drainage ditch.

You can use Environment Agency (EA) floodmap to identify whether your home is in an area that's likely to flood.

How do I find out about potential flooding in my area?

Flood warnings are issued by the Environment Agency, which monitors rainfall, river levels and sea conditions. You can find out if your area is at risk by:

• calling the 24-hour Floodline service on 0845 9881188
• checking the current warnings on the Environment Agency website
• Sign up for Flood Warnings Direct, a free service that provides flood warnings direct to you by telephone, mobile, fax or pager.
• checking local radio and television bulletins.

What kind of warnings are issued?

Floodwatch

This means that flooding is possible in your area during the next 24 to 48 hours, and you should be prepared.

Floodwarning

If a flood warning is issued, it means that flooding is expected and you should take all the necessary precautions. These include:

• moving pets, vehicles, food, valuables and other items to a safe place
• putting sandbags and other flood protection devices in place
• getting ready to evacuate your home.

Severe flood warning

This means that you can expect severe and dangerous flooding. You should be prepared power cuts and the loss of gas and water supplies, you may be evacuated from your home by the emergency services.

All Clear

Once flood levels have gone down, EA will issue an all clear. If you had to leave your home, make sure it's safe before you return. Call the Floodline for further advice.

How do I prepare for flooding?

If you live in an area that's likely to flood, it's important to be prepared. Floodwaters can rise very quickly, so don't wait until a warning is issued - this may not give you enough time to get things ready.

Get ready

Make sure your buildings and contents insurance covers you for flood damage. Keep the details of your policy somewhere safe and handy.

Keep valuable items and documents in waterproof bags and store them upstairs or in high places.

Make sure you know how to turn off your gas, electricity and water at the mains - you may have to do this in the dark.

Protect your home

Invest in sandbags, vent guards or other flood protection, to help keep the water out. Make sure everyone in your household knows where they are stored and how to use them. In areas prone to flooding, your local council may issue you with sandbags, and you can also make them by filling pillowcases with sand or earth.

You can find out where to buy flood protection at the Environment Agency website or in the Yellow Pages.

Make an emergency plan

Think about what you would do in an emergency. Discuss the plan with your family or housemates, so that everyone knows what to do.

• If you needed to leave your home, where would you go and how would you get there?
• What would you do to secure your home before you leave?
• What would you need to do before you leave? Do you need to move any valuable items upstairs?
• How would you keep your pets safe?

Who is responsible for repairs?

If you are a homeowner, you will be responsible for any repairs that are needed, as well as for replacing any belongings that have been damaged. You should have buildings insurance to cover the repairs and contents insurance for your belongings. Although if you own a leasehold property, the freeholder normally takes out the buildings insurance for the building as a whole. Get advice if you have problems.

If you are a tenant, your landlord will be responsible for most repairs to the property. However, landlords are not normally responsible for replacing or repairing any of your personal belongings that were damaged, including furniture. You should have contents insurance (see below) to protect your own belongings.

What do I do if my home is flooded?

If you're told to leave your home by the emergency services or the council, you must go. If this will be difficult for you, for example if you have mobility problems, get in touch with your local council.

Contact your insurance company

Most companies have a 24-hour helpline you can call. The staff will tell you what you need to do to make a claim.

Clean up

Before you start cleaning up, take photographs of the damage and mark the highest level of the floodwater on your wall. This will help make your insurance claim.

Floodwater is usually dirty, and can contain sewage, chemicals and other contaminants. You'll need to disinfect thoroughly any areas affected by floodwaters, to avoid infection. Wear protective clothing when you're doing this.

Don't be tempted to throw away damaged furniture, carpets and other belongings until your insurance company has given you the go-ahead.

Dry out your home

Before you move back into your home and start redecorating, your home will need to dry out completely. This may take several weeks, or even months, depending on the severity of the flooding and the materials your home is made from.

Start repairing damage and redecorating

Depending on the extent of the damage, you (or your landlord if you're renting) may need to get a builder, structural engineer or surveyor in to look at your home and advise you on what repair work needs doing.

Homeowners must get the go-ahead from their insurers before hiring any contractors. Most insurance firms have a list of approved builders, joiners and other contractors, but you can chose other contractors if you wish. It's worth remembering that, in the event of any dispute over the work, it'll be easier to sort things out if you've hired a contractor approved by the insurance company.

Watch out for cowboys taking advantage of the situation and touting for business from door to door in areas hit by floods. It's important that any contractors you hire are experienced in restoring properties damaged by flooding. They will ensure that the work is done safely and hygienically, and can offer you advice on making your home more flood resistant for the future.

Get gas and electricity systems checked

It's very important that you get your electrical and gas systems checked by a registered contractor before you attempt to use them. Even if they appear to work, they may have been damaged by water or mud, and could be dangerous.

What does my insurance cover?

It's important to check what your policy includes, and make sure you're insured for a large enough amount to cover all your belongings. If not the insurance company won't pay out enough to cover the damage to your property and belongings.

Most buildings and contents insurance will cover you for flood damage. This should include:

• repairing any damage caused to your home and to any outbuildings such as a garage or garden shed
• repairing or replacing any belongings damaged or lost during the flood
• paying for you to stay somewhere else if you can't remain in your home until it's been repaired.

If you rent your home, your landlord will be responsible for taking out buildings insurance. However, you will still need to take out contents insurance to cover any damage to your belongings.

The Association of British Insurers can provide more information about insurance in the event of flooding.   

What if I'm older or disabled?

If you're older or disabled, you may find it harder to cope with flooding in your home. Contact your local council to find out what they can do to help you in the event of a flood. For example, they may be able to help evacuate your home, find alternative accommodation and clear up afterwards.

What if I'm homeless because of flooding?

You should be able to claim the cost of alternative accommodation from your insurer. Contact them directly to find out more.

If you are not covered by your insurance policy and you can't return, you should be able to get help from the council as a homeless person. The council should find you a place to stay while it looks into your situation to see if you are entitled to permanent housing. People made homeless by a flood are automatically in priority need. Use our free online assessment to find out what help you might be entitled to, and make a homelessness application as soon as possible.

Can I get any financial help?

In an emergency, you may be able to get a crisis loan from the social fund, to pay for the essential things you can't afford, such as:

• food or clothing
• rent in advance if you have to move
• replacing essential items, such as cookers, fridges and carpets.

Depending on your circumstances, you may also be able to apply for a budgeting loan or community care grant.

Can I claim housing benefit if I have to move out?

If you have to move out while essential repairs are being carried out, you may be eligible for housing benefit on temporary accommodation if you rent it.

However you will not normally be entitled to payments on more than one home. So if you remain liable to pay rent on your normal home as well, the local council can decide which home housing benefit will be paid for.

Homeowners who have to move out while essential repairs are being carried out will only be eligible for housing benefit on temporary accommodation if they are not making mortgage interest payments on their normal home.

Can I claim any money back from my landlord?

If you are renting and you have to move out because of flooding, you may be able to sue your landlord for 'special damages' to cover the costs of removal or alternative accommodation. You may also be able to claim 'general damages' for the inconvenience of having to move.

If some rooms of the property are uninhabitable during repair work, you may be entitled to an abatement (a reduction or refund) of your rent. The amount of the reduction depends on the proportion of the property that is uninhabitable.

If you want to take this sort of action against your landlord, you should get advice first and will probably need help from a solicitor as the procedures can be very complicated.

News and blogs: Advice for flood-hit Morpeth