Norfolk residents urged to stay flood ready this summer
Residents across Norfolk are being reminded that flooding can happen at any time of year – including during the warmer summer months – and are being urged to stay vigilant and prepared.
While flooding is often associated with winter storms, flooding can happen at any time of year.
Evidence shows that the risk is increasing during summer, particularly from sudden downpours that can lead to flash flooding.
Last summer, Norfolk County Council’s Flood and Water team received 100 reports of flooding, with 54 confirmed cases of internal flooding.
And it’s been found that over a third (35 per cent) of home insurance flood claims occur between June and August, with almost a quarter (24 per cent) happening in July and August alone, outside of the traditional “flood season” of October to March.
Flash flooding – caused by intense rainfall in a short period of time – can happen anywhere and is often difficult to predict.
It can affect homes and businesses not previously considered at risk and may develop rapidly, even after periods of hot, dry weather.
The Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance (NSFA), which brings together organisations across the county to manage flood risk, is encouraging residents not to be complacent.
Tips include:
Resistance
The following measures can be used to try to prevent floodwaters from reaching or penetrating a property:
*The construction of storm porches
*Peripheral walls/fencing and flood-resistant gates
*Outside wall renders and facings, including veneer walling and water-resistant external doors
*Non-return valves in waste pipes and outlets
*Products needing deployment, such as free-standing barriers, door boards and flood skirts
*Airbrick covers (including periscope covers and those that seal automatically when there is a flood)
*Low bunds around a property and/or the raising of thresholds
*Keeping pipes clear – not pouring fats down the sink or flushing away anything other than toilet paper
Resilience
The following measures can be carried out inside a property and are designed to minimise the damage caused, should any floodwaters enter the building:
*Pump-and-sump systems to extract floodwater
*Sealing of floors (known as “tanking”) and/or flood resilient skirting
*The use of concrete to fill under-floor voids or delay flooding from the ground
Raised electrical sockets, TV points etc
*Flood resilient kitchens (plastic, stainless steel, free-standing removable units)
*The raising of white goods, kitchen units or other vulnerable items
*The storage of vulnerable items off the floor or in upstairs locations
*Changes to internal walls to speed recovery after a flood (eg different rendering, drylining and horizontal use of plasterboard)
*Internal doors that can easily be moved to safety during a flood
Sustainable drainage
*Installing water butts on down pipes from roofs, including sheds, greenhouses and conservatories
*Keeping or restoring permeable surfaces such as grass or gravel to allow water to soak away naturally
*Checking that existing driveways, patios, sheds, greenhouses and conservatories are not draining into the surface water or foul drainage system
*Installing sustainable drainage systems to any new or poorly connected driveway, patio, shed, greenhouse or conservatory
Norfolk County Council strongly recommends seeking professional advice from an architect, building surveyor or other independent professional if you are considering flood protection solutions for your property.
Henry Cator, chairman of the Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance, said: “Flooding can affect anyone, at any time of year – and increasingly we are seeing it happen during the summer months as well as winter.
“Heavy, localised downpours can quickly overwhelm drainage systems and lead to flash flooding, often with little warning.
“That’s why it is so important for people in Norfolk to stay aware of the risk and take simple steps to be prepared.
“Being ready can make a real difference to protecting your home, your belongings and your safety.”
Anyone experiencing flooding anywhere in Norfolk can report it via the Flooding Hotline on 0344 800 8013. In an emergency, or where there is immediate danger to life, always dial 999.