Whether it’s nervously eyeing up the roaring swell at high tide or fretting about how tall those ducks in the river suddenly look, anyone with experience of flooding will know it’s no joke.
And it’s getting worse.

Flooding is becoming more frequent, more severe, and less predictable. It’s no longer just a winter worry; summer months are increasingly seeing their fair share of floods. When we do get those prolonged spells of warm, dry weather, the inevitable deluge which follows takes longer than normal to soak into the ground – and it has to go somewhere.

But all is not lost. While we can’t control the weather, we can certainly prepare for it. Forewarned is forearmed, as they say.

Crossing your fingers and clutching your insurance policy isn’t the way to go.

There are some steps you can take to give your home a fighting chance of turning back the tide.

We’re not saying you have to do all of these, but if you’re in a flood risk area (you can check your risk here) then it’s well worth giving consideration to a few of these.

Intentional landscaping

Are you even in the mid-2020s if you’re not doing everything ‘intentionally’ (as opposed to accidentally, we assume)? Your garden isn’t just for barbecues and sunbathing – yes, we know it’s rarely for those things either but we can always hope. It’s your first line of defence against flooding.

• Slope the ground away from your home to encourage water to flow away from the building.
• Add rain gardens or permeable paving to help absorb excess water.
• Plant trees and shrubs strategically; roots can help absorb water and prevent soil erosion.

Seal and protect

Water has a knack for finding its way through the tiniest openings. Get your property sealed up.

• Regularly inspect and seal any cracks in exterior walls.
• Pay special attention to gaps around pipes and cables entering your home.
• Apply waterproof sealants to walls and foundations for an extra layer of protection.

Elevate and relocate

Sometimes, the best defence is to get things out of harm’s way:

• Raise electrical sockets to at least 1.5 meters above floor level.
• Consider wall-mounting your boiler or moving it to an upper floor if possible.
• In flood-prone areas, store valuable or irreplaceable items on upper floors or high shelves. If you can, invest in some waterproof containers for extra protection.

Invest in flood barriers

Modern flood defence technology can be an investment, but worth the ticket price if you ever need it.

• Install flood barriers for doors and windows. These can be quickly deployed when needed.
• Look into automatic flood doors for more permanent protection.
• Don’t forget about low-lying air bricks (the bricks with holes in them to allow ventilation) – get covers for these.

Pump it up

If your home has a basement, or is in a low-lying flood area:

• Install a sump pump to automatically remove water that enters your property.
• Ensure you have a backup power source for the pump in case of power cuts.

Stay updated

Knowledge is your friend when it comes to flood preparedness.

• Sign up for flood warnings from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).
• Create a flood plan for your household, including evacuation routes and emergency contacts.
• Prepare an emergency kit with essentials like torches, batteries, and important documents in waterproof containers.

Check your tech

Tech and water might not be obvious bedfellows, but some binary finery can help manage flood risk.

• Install flood sensors in vulnerable areas of your home.
• Smart home system that can alert you to potential flooding, even when you’re away. Like Ring, only maybe it’d be called Wringing.

When nature prevails

While these measures can significantly reduce your flood risk, it’s important to acknowledge that sometimes nature will win. This is where insurance comes in. Make sure your policies are properly updated and that you’re covered for the right things. The last thing you need is to call on your insurance policy only to find that it doesn’t do what you expected it to do.

At a minimum, make sure you’re adequately covered for flood damage, and look into additional flood insurance if you’re in a high-risk area.

Of course, speak to your insurance broker for more detailed advice. Or maybe your mortgage broker if a house on a hill suddenly feels more attractive.

For more information contact Laura.Sims@blackfordinsurance.com.