Norfolk homeowners should take early flood prevention action

Norfolk residents are being urged to protect their homes from flooding after a wet spring and cool summer is set to bring the threat of rising waters earlier than normal.

Months of abnormally high levels of rainfall in the country mean Norfolk is at risk of flooding faster, as well as earlier, than in previous years.

Groundwater levels remain high, while Environment Agency readings show that East Anglian river flows in June were up to 172 per cent on the long-term average as additional water remains trapped in the system.

Using the summer months to check your house and prepare for possible flooding may make the difference between thousands of pounds of flood damage and keeping your home and family safe.

Henry Cator, chair of the Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance (NSFA), said: “For many people in Norfolk the memory of last winter’s floods is still fresh, but because of the wet spring and summer we've experienced we have no time to relax.

“There’s a real chance of flooding earlier than usual this year, which means homeowners can’t afford to wait until the autumn to prepare: we all need to start thinking, planning and acting now to keep our properties safe and dry this winter.”

High groundwater levels mean there is less capacity for water to be soaked into the ground, making alternative means of moving water away from your home even more important.

Guttering, ditches and drains need to be free of blockages to avoid water building up around your home, while installing water butts can give your property additional storage to avoid water pooling on the ground.

Owners of properties in at risk areas can also make additional preparations.

These range from simple approaches, such as keeping valuables upstairs and bricks stored ready to raise up furniture in the event of a flood, to investigating the wide range of property flood resilience products available, from emergency barriers and self-expanding sandbags to non-return valves for household drainage pipes and waterproof front doors.

Cllr James Bensley, Norfolk County Council’s cabinet member for environment, said: “We’ve all noticed the poor weather we’ve had and the lost opportunities for barbecues and other outdoor pastimes this summer, but everyone needs to be aware of the longer term consequences as well.

“Without the normal sunshine and heat, water that normally evaporates or soaks away is still there, leaving less space in which fresh, autumn rainfall can drain away.

“If we want to protect homes and businesses from flooding this winter, we all need to start planning now.”