PREPARE FOR FLOODING. A GUIDE FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR ADVANCE FLOOD WARNINGS
Your property could be at risk of flooding. But help is available. The frequency of floods has risen dramatically in Scotland over recent years. Although we can t prevent them, you can limit the impact they have on your home or business. That s why everyone should be prepared. Even if you live or work in an area that hasn t flooded before, or is above ground level, it s still important that you are prepared to take action. After all, the roads leading to and from your home or workplace could get flooded. Power and water supplies may be cut. Or you may have family, friends and neighbours who could be at risk and need your help. This guide will help you understand the role of the organisations working to limit the damage caused by flooding; and your role in protecting yourself and your property. So read it carefully. Otherwise you could be putting yourself and your property at risk. 2 Prepare for Flooding
STEP 1: BE AWARE. who is responsible for what? Many organisations work together to predict and protect you from river and coastal flooding. This table shows who is responsible for taking preventative action, but also outlines your personal responsibility. You: Make sure your building is fully insured. Consider installing flood protection products (see page 9 & 10). Have a family or business flood plan in place to protect your property and belongings (see page 8). Sign up to receive free flood warning messages direct to your phone. SEPA: Monitors the rivers and the sea to predict the likelihood of flooding. Issues flood warning messages and offers flood preparation advice through Floodline 0845 988 1188. Provides information on areas at risk of river and coastal flooding. Helps local authorities identify sustainable actions to manage flooding. Scottish Water: Manages the public water and waste network, including assessing risk of surface and sewer flooding. Minimises risk of sewer flooding. Reservoir maintenance. Works with other organisations to reduce impact of floods and create surface water management plans. Police: Emergency services co-ordination. Road traffic control. Responsible for saving lives, evacuation and public information. Your local authority: Plans flood defence schemes. River and burn maintenance (non-agricultural land). Gully (gutter and drain covers) maintenance for local roads. Manages flood defences and puts flood barriers in place. Works with emergency services in response to severe flooding. Co-ordinates shelter for people who are evacuated. The Fire & Rescue Service: The Scottish Fire & Rescue services have a duty to save lives in the event of serious flooding which is likely to cause one or more individuals to die, be seriously injured or become seriously ill. Transport Scotland: Gully (gutter and drain covers) maintenance for main roads and motorways. Main road closures. Scottish Government: Responsible for overall flooding policy. Funds SEPA s Flood Warning and Informing services. Scottish Flood Forum: Offers support and advice on flood protection, insurance, recovery, advice on establishing community flood groups and business continuity planning. Represents the interests of people affected by, or at risk of flooding. For more information visit www.sepa.org.uk/floodingwhodoeswhat Prepare for Flooding
SEPA FLOODLINE. A service you can count on 24/7. Wherever you are in Scotland, Floodline is here to help. SEPA uses river and coastal monitoring systems, in areas where we have a formal flood scheme, to accurately predict the likelihood and timing of flooding. When flooding is predicted within a local target area, we will issue a flood warning message through the Floodline service. In areas where we do not operate a formal flood monitoring scheme, SEPA works with the Met Office to examine weather forecasts and will issue a Flood Alert for a wider geographical area, normally matching local authority boundaries. It s important that you monitor weather updates and check Floodline regularly to be kept informed of potential flooding within your area. All you have to do is call (charged at local rate) or click online. Your area even has a dedicated quick dial code to take you straight to the flood messages that are relevant to you. FREE FLOOD MESSAGES DIRECT TO YOUR PHONE. You can now sign up to receive free flood messages sent direct to your phone for your local area; which means you ll know in advance when a flood is likely to occur. Just remember, it s important that you know what action to take to protect your property. Sign up now at www.sepa.org.uk/floodingsignup or call Floodline on 0845 988 1188 For more information visit www.floodlinescotland.org.uk 4 Prepare for Flooding
THE SCOTTISH FLOOD FORUM. Scottish Flood Forum Supporting flood risk communities The Scottish Flood Forum is an independent organisation representing the interests of people and communities affected by, or at risk of flooding. Funded by the Scottish Government and working alongside SEPA and many Local Authorities, the Scottish Flood Forum offers advice on: Setting up community flood groups. Flood protection products. Cleaning up and recovery after a flood. Insurance claims. Dealing with the stress caused by flooding. Business continuity planning. simply call 0178 448411 OR visit www.scottishfloodforum.org Prepare for Flooding 5
STEP 2: BE PREPARED. PLAN before flooding HAPPENS. If flooding looks likely call Floodline or visit www.sepa.org.uk/ floodupdates Prepare a flood plan and put together a family flood kit. Include a torch, first aid kit, warm and waterproof shoes and clothing, supplies of prescription medicines, bottled water, food, rubber gloves, children s supplies, pet supplies, insurance details, portable radio and spare batteries, and a bag or rucksack in case of evacuation. Check you have adequate insurance against flooding for common insurance questions, visit www.sepa.org.uk/floodingfaqs Check your insurance policy covers loss of revenue and provides sufficient cover for your stock and buildings. Set up a business flood plan and make your staff familiar with it. List emergency numbers in a place where all staff can access them. Protect critical business records and equipment such as computer servers. Consider flood protection products that can be fitted to your property and practice how to fit them (see page 10 & 11). Familiarise yourself with how to shut off gas, electricity, oil-fired heating and water supplies. Keep a list of useful contact numbers, including your Floodline quick dial code. Make sure all the family know what to do and how to keep in touch if the area floods. Keep monitoring the situation. If instructed, evacuate. ADDITIONAL PREPARATION ADVICE FOR BUSINESSES. Identify stock or equipment that requires protective measures to prevent damage. Hazardous materials will need special care and attention. Consider which staff may have had their homes flooded. The Scottish Flood Forum can help you provide support for them. 6 Prepare for Flooding
Flood warning symbols and what they mean SEPA uses flood warning symbols when predicting the likelihood of flooding. They have been designed to be easy to understand and make it clear what action you should take. Familiarise yourself with these flood symbols and what they mean. FLOOD ALERT FLOODING IS POSSIBLE. BE PREPARED. Flooding is forecast within the next 24-48 hours. Monitor weather reports and check with Floodline for updates. Flooding is predicted in the next -6 hours. Immediate action is required, take measures to protect yourself and your property. It may not be possible to give hours notice in areas prone to rapid flooding or when water levels have escalated quicker than expected. Flooding is imminent and could pose a risk to life and cause significant disruption to essential services, such as water and electricity supplies. Prepare to evacuate and co-operate with the emergency services. No Longer in Force messages Issued when no further flooding is currently expected for your area. But flood water may still be around for several days. Remember! The volatile nature of flooding means that these flood messages may not always occur in this order. So it s important that you monitor weather updates and check Floodline regularly. Prepare for Flooding 7
FLOODING HAS BEEN FORECAST, what should you do next? Make sure friends, family and neighbours are aware and prepared especially if they are elderly or vulnerable. Move business stock and supplies into a safe place. Move important documents and valuable items to a higher place. Get your flood kit and keep it with you. Install flood protection products to your property. Move vehicles out of the flood risk area. Secure any loose items in your garden. Charge your mobile phone. Monitor weather updates and check Floodline regularly on 0845 988 1188 or www.sepa.org.uk/floodupdates 8 Prepare for Flooding
STEP : BE PROTECTED What precautionary measures CAN you take? Water can seep into a property via a number of channels. But there are temporary measures you can take to protect it. Installing flood protection measures won t reduce flood risk, but it can reduce the damage to your property. Insurers may recognise that you ve taken these measures when it comes to calculating your premium. Seepage through cracks and joints in walls and gaps around service pipes and cables Backflow through backed up drains Ground seepage Water enters via doors and windows Water enters through airbricks and other wall vents Prepare for Flooding 9
British Standards Institution (BSI) Approved Flood Protection Products. Flood barriers Plastic or metal flood boards fitted across a doorway or window before the flood water arrives, can provide a watertight seal. Flood skirts A more advanced system of flood protection, which completely encloses the bottom 600-900mm (2- feet) of a property in water resistant sheeting. Ideal for detached properties prone to flooding for long periods. Sandbags Available from DIY stores, these can be used to create a dam in front of doorways and, when put in a toilet bowl, can prevent sewage from entering your home. Be sure to discard them after flooding as they may be contaminated. Bin bags filled with soil are an alternative option. Airbrick covers A plastic cover clips to frames fitted around airbricks on exterior walls. The Scottish Flood Forum can provide advice on the most suitable products for your property as well as a list of flood prevention manufacturers and suppliers. Please visit www.scottishfloodforum.org or call 0178 448411 for more information. 10 Prepare for Flooding
BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS YOU CAN MAKE. If you re making home improvements or repairs, consider the following to make your property more flood resistant: Avoid using wallpaper. Use water-resistant paint or horizontal plasterboard which can be replaced easily. Fit stainless steel or PVC kitchen units, rather than MDF or wood. Raise switches, sockets and meters to a height of at least 900mm ( feet) above floor level. Replace perishable flooring such as carpet or laminate with rugs or ceramic tiles. Raise kitchen and catering appliances above floor level. Raise gas meters, central heating boilers and pumps above maximum expected flood water level. Install plastic skirting boards. Check internal and external walls for cracks and seal them. Consider having extended concrete footings and a waterproof membrane put into property foundations. Additional information and an indication of the costs involved can be found in the Association of British Insurers publication Flood Resilient Homes at www.abi.org.uk; or the Construction Industry Research & Information Association s Improving the Flood Resistance of Your Home advice sheets at www.ciria.org.uk/flooding Prepare for Flooding 11
This brochure gives you advice and information on how to prepare yourself, your home and your business for flooding. By taking these small measures, you can make a big difference to the impact that floods can have on your property. Further information and support For information on dealing with a flood and the recovery process, please refer to SEPA s Dealing with a Flood leaflet, available to download at www.sepa.org.uk/floodingpublications. It includes information on what steps to take during a flood and how to get life back to normal as quickly as possible. www.floodlinescotland.org.uk Printed on 100% recycled paper from sustainable forests.