Flooding conditions

Taking small steps to protect your home can make a big difference if you’re flooded. Here are some tips and advice to help minimise damage to your treasured possessions, and disruption to your daily life later on.

Firstly, prepare an emergency kit – it could be useful if you’re stuck in your home. It should include waterproof clothes, non-perishable food, bottled water, any medication you take and a battery powered radio.

Keep your mobile fully charged and make sure it contains useful numbers. (For home insurance claims call 0330 024 8086¹. For car insurance claims call 0330 024 1305². For commercial claims call 0345 600 2715³.)

Upstairs or somewhere high up is the best place for important things like documents, family photos and electronic devices.

Floods can come day or night, so make sure you know how to turn off your gas, electricity and water supplies, even in the dark.

If you have been advised that a flood is highly likely, you can limit the amount of water that gets into your home by blocking up likely access routes. Sand bags, flood sacks, door guards and air brick covers will help. Fill in holes for cables and check drains and gutters regularly.

If you are worried about flooding, these little things can help. Register with Floodline or speak to your Local council for further advice.

For home insurance claims call 0330 024 8086¹. For car insurance claims call 0330 024 1305². For commercial claims call 0345 600 2715³.

When stormy weather hits, and flood warnings are announced, you’ll want to do everything you can to protect your home and possessions. These little things could make a big difference.

If you have flood prevention equipment, like air brick covers and door guards, fit them now but leave internal doors open.

Put plugs into sinks and weigh them down with something heavy.

Turn off your water, gas and electricity. Unplug all electrical items and move them, along with personal possessions, valuables and light furniture upstairs or somewhere high up, where possible.

Hang your curtains over the rail if there’s no time to take them down.

But above all, stay safe. Don’t try to walk or drive through fast flowing water – you may underestimate how powerful it is. Flood water is usually dirty, so don’t let children play in it and disinfect your hands if you touch it. Importantly, listen to advice from the emergency services and evacuate if they tell you to.

Flooding can turn your life upside down, so acting on these tips could help you get back to normal.

For home insurance claims call 0330 024 8086¹. For car insurance claims call 0330 024 1305². For commercial claims call 0345 600 2715³.

Flooding can have a devastating effect, not just on our homes and possessions but on our whole lives. Here are some small but really important things you can do that will help get you back to normal as soon as possible.

First, make sure it’s safe to return and if it is, don’t use any gas or electrical supplies until the appropriate checks have been made. Remove air brick covers and other flood prevention equipment. Phone your insurer, they’ll usually have a 24 hour helpline, and take photos of damage to help with your claim.

The sooner you phone, the better, so that your insurer can help start the drying out process. Depending on the type of claim and the damage done, drying could take some time. For Flood claims your insurer will normally instruct a loss adjuster who will visit your property and will project manage your claim throughout.

If you have to leave your home because of flooding, your insurance provider will provide cover for alternative accommodation which your insurer or loss adjuster can organise quickly. Accommodation will be arranged to suit your needs; they’ll even find a home for your pets.

Flood damage can leave your home and your life in turmoil, but this advice should help you get back on your feet as quickly as possible.

For home insurance claims call 0330 024 8086¹. For car insurance claims call 0330 024 1305². For commercial claims call 0345 600 2715³.

• Check drains and gutters are clear and in good repair.
• Move equipment and materials out of ground floor areas, basements and yards. If you can’t find alternative storage, think about elevating items off the floor and out of reach of flood waters. 
• If you’re in a flood risk area, consider buying temporary defences. The Blue Pages run by the National Flood Forum is a good place to start. If you already have flood defence products, ensure they are accessible and check they fit correctly.
• You and your staff may have to work from home. Does everyone have access to email, contact details and documents?
• Check your insurance policy: are you covered for people using business equipment at home, for example? Log in to your online My AXA Account to view and print your documents.

Driving in wet conditions always means you need to take extra care. In heavy rain and flood it’s sometimes better to find an alternative means to get to your destination. If you can, leave your car on high ground, make sure it’s locked and any valuables are removed or out of sight.

Some general tips on wet weather driving

• Make sure your windscreen wipers aren’t worn or damaged – and working properly
• Make sure your lights, including your fog lights are working properly
• Double the distance between you and the car in front – your stopping distance in wet weather is longer
• Don’t drive fast through standing water – you could lose steering control
• If you break down in the rain, don’t leave your bonnet open while waiting for the breakdown service – a damp engine is harder to start again

In a flood

• If you can’t see the road, you don’t know how deep the water is. Drive slowly through deeper water and use a lower gear to keep your revs high
• Don’t drive over bridges or fords where there is a danger that your vehicle could be washed away or hit by other objects in the flowing water