It’s a stark statistic but one that we should pay attention to – there are 5.2 million properties in England that are currently at risk of flooding.
According to recent polling, only a third of people in areas at high risk of flooding believe that their home could be at risk, with most people assuming it’ll never happen to them.
But with climate change already causing more frequent, intense flooding and sea levels on the rise, we all need to know what to do, should the worst happen.
Knowing what to do in a flood could save your life
According to the Environment Agency, the average cost of flooding to a home is around £30,000.
Flooding also brings a significant risk to life. The mental health impacts of flooding can last for two years or more after flooding has happened. Depression, anxiety and PTSD can affect up to a third of people who have been flooded.
But, crucially, taking steps to prepare for flooding, and knowing what to do in a flood can significantly reduce the damages to a home and possessions (by around 40%), reduce risk to life, and reduce the likelihood of suffering from mental health issues in the future.
Know how to Prepare. Act. Survive.
The good news is that there are some simple things you can do to prepare for flooding. Knowing what to do in a flood could help keep you and your family safe, and save you thousands of pounds in damages and disruption.