BRAND ADVICE

How to deal with
a flood

Although two years have passed since the devastating floods of 2007, the summer months continue to bring stress and worry to those in high-risk areas.

According to the Association of British Insurers, around 2 million homes are in danger of coastal or inland flooding, with approximately 200,000 at very high risk. But if you are among this number, disaster needn't be inevitable. Taking simple preventative measures and being prepared could help you protect your home and valued possessions from the flood waters.

Prepare

• Check if your property is at risk on the Environment Agency's Flood Map and keep up to date with Floodline Warnings Direct.
• Raise electrical sockets and wiring to at least 1.5 metres above ground floor level.
• Mount your TV, HI-FI, speakers and other home entertainment equipment to the wall.
• Use a more water-resistant lime-based plaster on your walls instead of gypsum
• Cover floors at ground level with ceramic tiles and rugs, rather than carpets, this way you can move the rugs upstairs to prevent ruin in a flood
• Fit non-return valves to drains and water inlet pipes
• Raise door thresholds
• Landscape your garden and drive to divert flood water away from your property
• Seal floors to prevent flood water rising up from beneath them
• Keep valuable items such as paperwork and photographs upstairs
• Ask your supplier how to turn off your gas, electric and water mains supplies
• Check that your home insurance covers flood damage and make sure to value your goods as accurately as possible

Protect

• Fit door-guards to the bottom half of external doors.
• Place electrical goods and small sofas in extra-large sealable plastic bags.
• Place flood sacks - which expand when soaked in water and can be dried out and shrunk for easy storage - around entrances to your home
• Move small furniture and valuable items upstairs.
• Keep a flood essentials care-kit upstairs, including: A torch with spare batteries; waterproof clothing and blankets; a first aid kit and prescription medicine; bottled water and non-perishable food, a list of important phone numbers and your home insurance documents.

Claim

Do everything you can to ensure that your home insurance claim is handled swiftly and efficiently so you can get back to normal more quickly.

• Call your insurance company's 24-hour helpline as soon as possible
• Mark the water levels on your wall.
• Photograph or video the extent of the flood damage.
• Keep samples of ruined carpets, rugs and fabric to prove damage
• Keep the receipts for all emergency repairs.
• Keep a record of all correspondence with your insurance company.
• If you cannot stay in your home, inform your insurers of your new contact address.
• Check with your insurer that they will pay for alternative accommodation until you are able to move back into your home - this is usually covered in your policy.

Sainsbury's offer a range of financial services including home insurance, life insurance, loans, pet insurance and savings accounts. Visit www.sainsburysbank.co.uk for quotes and more information.