With more than five and half million homes at risk of flooding in England and Wales alone, flooding can be a major problem at this time of year, causing untold damage and distress. It can spark a frenzy of checking tide times, piling sandbags and pleading for it not to rain.
There are things you can do, however, to permanently protect your home or business, and prevent your life being ruled by tide times or the latest weather forecast. These ideas may not completely solve your problems, but they can really limit the damage that flood water can cause.
Prepare floors
Kit out your ground floor with ceramic tiles and go for rugs rather than fitted carpets; they are much easier to dry, clean or replace if the flood waters do get in.
Raising the threshold of your house means there’s a higher point of entry for flood waters. Also consider raising damp-proof courses and sealing floors.
Think walls and windows
Lime plaster is better than gypsum plaster on walls for properties prone to flooding. Fit air bricks that are especially resistant to floods or use specially made covers, and move any electrical sockets that are less than one-and-a-half metres higher than the ground.
Have UPVC doors and windows or those made from other man-made materials. These are much easier to get clean again after a flood.
Kitchen preparation
You may want to consider having free standing units rather than a fully fitted kitchen. These can then be moved if the need arises. Also consider getting rid of chipboard units in favour of more durable solid wood, plastic or stainless steel.
Added extras
Try to install the major components of any ventilation or heating system, such as your boiler, on an upper floor. If this is not possible, try to ensure that it is as far above ground level as possible.
Flooded sewer systems can lead to water backing up through your toilets and sinks. To minimise the chance of wading through you-know-what, have non-return valves fitted to water inlet pipes and drains. These will only let the water flow in one direction, minimising the flood risk.
Kitemark
Where possible, try to ensure that you use products that have been awarded a ‘Kitemark’. This will ensure that you are buying 
quality products that have undergone rigourous testing to certify that they are fit for purpose.
A comprehensive list of flood protection products can be found in ‘The Blue Pages’ directory on the National Flood Forum website.
Some of these measures are undoubtedly costly, but in the long run, they really can save you time, money, energy and potential heartache in the event of future flooding.
