Natural disasters such as flooding can wreak havoc on your home and belongings. But with proper preparation, you can help save your valuable and sentimental items from damage.
The UK Flooding Situation
According to BBC News, 2015/2016 saw around 16,000 homes flooded across the North England area. Storm Desmond and Storm Eva caused significant damage to towns and properties across the Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria, with some of these homes still uninhabitable as we enter 2017.
But it isn’t just the north that experiences problems with flooding; in February and April 2016, the Thames burst its banks at several positions. Flooding in large urban areas, such as London, has the potential to be hugely disruptive and costly, with many people living, working and travelling in the area. And with the growing threat of climate change, coupled with urban growth, the threat of flooding to the London will only increase.
As a response to these events, the Environment Agency have drawn up an action plan to invest in more flood defences. A huge £3.7 billion is expected to be spent on flood defences and coastal erosion protection before, and beyond, 2021. Around £1.8 billion of this will be spent on the protection of the Thames estuary alone, as this area is deemed to be more high-risk.
Protecting Your Belongings Against Flooding
Image below: Flood defence spending by region – All construction and development projects
While the Environment Agency tackle the flooding issue, it’s important to ensure that your home is prepared for any extreme weather, especially if you live in a vulnerable area. With proper planning, there are a few simple actions you can take to limit the damage to your home from flooding.
* Stay vigilant. Watch out for severe weather warnings issued by the Met Office, and take their advice. Always be realistic about whether you could be affected.
* Pack an emergency kit bag to keep your important documents safe. Using a plastic wallet, put inside any passports, IDs, birth certificates and insurance documents. For added protection, consider placing this packet in self-storage along with your other valuable items.
* If your home is a frequent victim of flooding, you may wish to consider rewiring your home and placing electrical components above the expected flood level. You should also consider replacing carpets with easy-clean tiles or similar. Insure your belongings as best you can and keep your content insurance up to date.
* In the event of an emergency, have you insurance company’s number programmed into your phone.
* Some items are not valuable in a monetary sense, but in an emotional way. Family heirlooms or sentimental items sometimes can’t be insured, and often can’t be replaced, so preserving them is of paramount importance. Self-storage is an ideal way to keep your most treasured possessions safe and secure in a climate-controlled environment.
Don’t take any chances with flooding. To keep your belongings protected against harsh weather, Simply Storage can offer secure personal storage units for all of your valuable and sentimental items. Our units are located in the London and Surrey areas and are fully alarmed, whilst being monitored by CCTV 24/7. Keep your treasures safe with our dependable service, and give us a call today – we’re happy to answer all enquiries.
Comentários