Just-in-case Flood Precautions compiled 2014 / 2015

'Just-in-case'
Flood Precautions

Hopefully there won't be any floods for a very long time, but..in case there's a flood
warning and you or family/friends seem to be in the risk area:
These ideas for protecting property & people were gathered from various people's
experiences during the Jan/Feb 2014 Ramsey floods, and other information from websites
(see end). I've probably missed out something important though, so use your own
judgement.

Contents
- Useful kit
- Useful IOM/ Irish Sea sources of info
- Practical short-term steps
- Practical longer term steps
More info
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Just-in-case Flood Precautions compiled 2014 / 2015

Useful kit to have ahead of time:
Flood boards to cover doorways up to about 3 feet high (or above expected flood height).
- Plywood (5 ply+) wide enough to cover door frames & about 3 feet high.
- Cordless drill & screws (to drill plywood flood board to wooden doorframes)
- Saw to cut plywood. Measuring tape & a pencil to mark wood.
- Tube of silicone Gel & mastic gun (to seal around edge of plywood)
- Grease - eg vaseline or engine grease.
LED Torch with charged batteries. Those 'miners lamp' headlight torches are very good.
A battery radio with charged batteries, & spare batteries.
Gaffa Tape & Strong scissors.
Thick plastic bags/ piece of plastic sheet (& Gaffa tape) to cover airbricks.
Sandbags & Sand... enough to cover all doorways above projected flood level....
(plus to cover airbricks, drains & loos) or perhaps keep a couple of bins of sand and some
empty bags.
Dustpan, Buckets & mop, cleaning materials, detergent, rubber gloves.
old towels
Thermos flasks & cake. Bottled water. (The electricity might get turned off by authorities).
Wellies & rubber gloves. Check beforehand that they don't have leaks!
Wet weather gear. Warm clothing & hat.
An overnight bag (for any essential medicine, ID, contact numbers, & a change of clothing
etc) in case you have to leave for a while.
Maybe a water pump.
First aid kit eg sterilising stuff.
Bricks to prop your furniture up if needed. Mind your back if you are shifting furniture.
You might want to consider a bung for the loo!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NomgRKH1lyY
http://www.drainangel.co.uk/products/toilet-panseal.html
Also handy to do, if you live in a fairly vulnerable area:
Check where your airbricks, and drains are.
Often the pipes & services going through the walls of a house have gaps round the pipe...
so if you have time check and seal gaps if necessary. Check for any other gaps.
Identify how to turn off electricity, gas and water. Have contact numbers for insurance etc.
Before a flood if there's news of possible flooding
Keep up to date with information. Manx Radio is usually pretty good.
Department of Infrastructure 'Floodwatch' pages: http://www.gov.im/transport/floodwatch/
Also the Met Office at Ronaldsway: Calls cost 48p per min as of Jan 2014
Recorded Weather Forecast (updated six times each day): 0900 624 3300
Recorded Shipping Forecast (updated five times each day): 0900 624 3322
WeatherMann - speak to a Forecaster (24hrs): 0900 624 3200
Isle of Man interactive flood maps show areas projected to flood for expected events:
http://www.gov.im/water/interactivemap.xml
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Just-in-case Flood Precautions compiled 2014 / 2015

PS ~ Our friend who works for the water board says to zoom in and click on 'satellite'.
Tide times & heights...for irish sea including IOM: http://www.ntslf.org/tides/predictions
http://www.ntslf.org/tides/tidepred?port=Port Erin
http://www.ntslf.org/tides/hilo?port=Port Erin (highest & lowest tides to 2026)
(NB actual seawater levels are a product of tides, weather systems & state of sea/ surge)
Department of Infrastructure non-emergency (ie not 999 call) help numbers during the
recent floods were 850000 and 672000.
List useful contacts - write down important numbers such as your home insurance
provider and policy number, and the numbers above. Keep this information to hand.
Practical steps
- Take responsibility
1) First, don't assume 'the man' will turn up & rescue you or supply sandbags in time (!)
He may be too busy, or have been laid off. (Although workers & volunteers do usually do a
great job). There may be a shortage of sandbags.
2) Tell friends/ neighbours / facebook friends etc if you hear about a flood warning. They
may not have heard.
3) If you're not at risk maybe you know someone who needs a hand.
- Flood boards for doorways / lanes
(best to cut boards well ahead of time... and install the boards before flood)
1) Cut 'flood boards' from sturdy ply (eg 5-ply) to cover doorways, nearly as wide as the
outside of the frame, and higher than the projected flood height. These can be kept in case
they are needed in future.
2) When needed, apply silicone sealant to sides & bottom edges of ply. Then rub thin layer
of grease onto the building where silicone is going to squish onto. This means you can
take the ply off afterwards easily, and replace if needed.
3) Use the drill to drill & screw board into frame (if you don't object to the screw holes).
IF you have the luxury of time, do not fully tighten screws until silicone is half-dry
Sandbag the outside of the board.
Some chaps used railway sleepers (then sandbags) to block off their lane a few yards from
their property. (They still had to bail water coming through.)
If you can block off a lane or gate, and keep the water away from the door that's good.
Best to do the door as well. Then you can bail between the barrier & the door.
- Sandbags
Get enough sandbags to sandbag doorways (to potential flood height, not just a token line)
, lanes/entrances, drains and airbricks. Remember back doors!!! They need to be laid like
bricks and squished down/ together to seal any gaps. Oh, and you may need sandbags for
the loo and inside waste pipes.
If you don't trust your neighbours write your house number on both sides of them.
If you're filling sandbags, they need to be a bit floppy so they can squish..

Just-in-case Flood Precautions compiled 2014 / 2015

Other details if floods expected
- Drains & airbricks
Cut plastic sheet or plastic bags to cover airbricks. Stick on snugly with gaffa tape.
Sandbag too.
You may need to block off drains outside & inside with sandbags, to stop dirty water
coming up through the drains. You may need to block off the downstairs loo too (!).
Oil & chemicals
Water can lift & fracture oil tanks/ pipes, causing a spill. You may be able to lash down
tanks perhaps. You might want to move anything toxic up out of range of water, so it
doesn't get washed around and pollute your property & your neighbours.
- Possessions
Move expensive/ precious things (eg photos & electrical equipment) and important
documents upstairs (preferably) or higher up. Put important papers & photos etc in sealed
clear plastic bags if you have time.
Shift moveable things like rugs. Pin up curtains, or move.
It might help to put furniture, cupboards etc on bricks to lift them a few inches. Be very
careful of your back/ joints etc and don't drop anything on your foot.
Food/warmth
Fill your flasks, find your cake and dress warm and waterproof. Find your rubber gloves.
Overnight bag
Check your overnight bag has IDs, phone charger, medicine, change of clothes,
toothbrush, first aid, small radio, torch etc.
Pipes going through walls
Often the pipes & services going through the walls of a house have gaps round the pipe...
so if you have time check and seal gaps if necessary.

If it does flood
Contacts
Listen to the radio. If you have to evacuate agree where you will go and how to keep in
contact with family and friends.
Gas, electric & piped water.
If flood water is about to enter your home turn off gas, electric and water supplies if safe to
do so. Unplug electrical equipment before the flood arrives. Do NOT touch sources of
electricity if standing in water.
Water
The advice websites say to be careful of moving water, which can knock you off your feet.
Still water can hide hazards like lifted manhole covers, ropes, bricks etc, apparently.

Just-in-case Flood Precautions compiled 2014 / 2015

Hygiene
Flood water is usually really mucky, eg oil, chemicals, sewage so try to keep people out of
it, and wear rubber gloves & wellies if you have to go in. Wash hands before eating.
NB You'll need to sterilise any mucky surfaces after any flooding.
Bailing
Dustpans are good for bailing shallow water. Hopefully you would be bailing some way
away from your house. You might want to think where you can chuck the water so it
doesn't come straight back in....
If you are just going to see & to take photos
Maybe put on wellies & rubber gloves so you can offer to help.
Or be a real hero and take biscuits/ chocolate & a thermos of tea / soup as well.
Evidence
Seems wise to take photos/ videos / notes if may be useful for insurance.

After a flood
Lots of advice out there, perhaps the most crucial is about electricity. Eg:
http://www.quotelinedirect.co.uk/guide/flood.asp

Longer term advice includes..

- Often the pipes, wires & services going through the walls of a house have gaps round the
pipe... so check and seal gaps if necessary.
- You might consider if there are 'weak points'/ low points in the surrounding ground which
could let water in in future.
- You might possibly consider putting one-way valves in your drains.Here's an example:
http://www.watertightinternational.com/flood-protection-products.html
- More quite detailed & some expensive suggestions here :
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/31644.aspx
Various advice to protect your home & yourself
http://www.quotelinedirect.co.uk/guide/flood.asp
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/8257471/Floodwarnings-top-tips-to-prevent-your-home-flooding.html
http://environment.nationalgeographic.co.uk/environment/natural-disasters/floods-safetytips/
www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20497598
http://www.esfrs.org/document/pdf/communitySafety/oncethefloodwaterhasgone.pdf
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/31644.aspx
(the last one quite detailed & expensive)
Disclaimer Please use your own common sense. I don't accept liability for any flooding,
damage or anything else :) This document was put together by Alice Quayle in Jan 2014.
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