Preparing for flooding
Posted: 25 Apr 2009, 16:29
Thought others might be interested to know of preps made by a friend who lives in an area prone to flooding.
Moving from the area was considered and then rejected as too expensive, they have therefore decided to stay in the district and ensure that they will not only survive a bad flood, but also suffer minimum financial loss.
Following the last flood, they purchased, very cheaply, a flood damaged house near theire original home.
The following work was done to make the house flood tolerant.
The downstairs wooden floors had rotted due to past floods, replaced with concrete, well insulated and with wet type underfloor heating.
A non load bearing internal wall was replaced with masonry, both to increase thermal mass, and to better support the floor above and allow all manner of heavy items to be stored above.
This upper floor was renewed, with joists at half the usuall spacing, in order that the floor can support 10 tonnes with an ample safety margin.
This room contains batteries, bottled water, tinned food, candles, a spare woodstove, and all the other heavy supplies.
The house was re wired throughout, with all downstairs socket outlets 2M above floor level, and all lightswitches ceiling mounted and cord operated, fuse box and meter at high level.
A small 12 volt PV powered lighting system was installed, the batteries and controls being upstairs of course.
The food preparation area was placed upstairs since cooking and laundry appliances are expensive to replace after water damage.
Although the main living room is downstairs, the most expensive contents are TV/Hi Fi/IT equipment, this is located above the 50 year flood level, and can be taken upstairs if worse flooding is expected.
Main heating is by a gas boiler, heating radiators upstairs and underfloor heating downstairs. The boiler, pump and controls are upstairs.
Secondary heating is by a very cheap woodstove, at less than £60, replacement after a flood is viable, though it might survive OK
Downstairs floor covering is a mixture of ceramic tiles (only need pressure washing and disinfecting after a flood) and carpet tiles that are very cheap to replace.
Downstairs walls were stripped back to bare bricks, and left thus if attractive, and painted with exterior paint otherwise, would only need pressure washing and disinfecting after the flood.
A door has been installed opening from the upstairs landing onto the flat garage roof, to permit access via a boat if required.
The garage roof was strengthened in order that several persons could stand there, together with a generator.
A large water tank, filled by rain from the house roof, is placed on the garage roof, this is normally used to water the garden but could be used for drinking if suitably treated.
A strong concrete coal bunker is placed next to the garage, in order that persons may board a boat from this, if the water is too deep for wading, but not deep enough to reach near the garage roof. (these arrangements would provide handy access for thieves, therefore the door is a thief resistant type with good locks)
All downstairs doors and windows are UPVC and thief resistant with good locks.
The main bathroom is upstairs with a second WC downstairs, which is equiped with an anti backflow valve to prevent sewage/floodwater entering via the soil pipe.
To facilitate prompt repairs and drying out after a flood, the store room also contains a couple of industrial dehumidifiers, spare carpet tiles, paint, tools, together with spare parts for almost everything (though that is more in case of general disaster rather than flooding)
All this entailed very considerable expense, but has resulted in a house much larger and better equiped than could have been afforded otherwise, and in the right location for schools and work.
Many of the preps are of course useful for other problems as well.
The only thing that cant be saved is the car (unless time permits of driving it to high ground) It however is worth less than £2,000, and wont be replaced with anything worth more.
Moving from the area was considered and then rejected as too expensive, they have therefore decided to stay in the district and ensure that they will not only survive a bad flood, but also suffer minimum financial loss.
Following the last flood, they purchased, very cheaply, a flood damaged house near theire original home.
The following work was done to make the house flood tolerant.
The downstairs wooden floors had rotted due to past floods, replaced with concrete, well insulated and with wet type underfloor heating.
A non load bearing internal wall was replaced with masonry, both to increase thermal mass, and to better support the floor above and allow all manner of heavy items to be stored above.
This upper floor was renewed, with joists at half the usuall spacing, in order that the floor can support 10 tonnes with an ample safety margin.
This room contains batteries, bottled water, tinned food, candles, a spare woodstove, and all the other heavy supplies.
The house was re wired throughout, with all downstairs socket outlets 2M above floor level, and all lightswitches ceiling mounted and cord operated, fuse box and meter at high level.
A small 12 volt PV powered lighting system was installed, the batteries and controls being upstairs of course.
The food preparation area was placed upstairs since cooking and laundry appliances are expensive to replace after water damage.
Although the main living room is downstairs, the most expensive contents are TV/Hi Fi/IT equipment, this is located above the 50 year flood level, and can be taken upstairs if worse flooding is expected.
Main heating is by a gas boiler, heating radiators upstairs and underfloor heating downstairs. The boiler, pump and controls are upstairs.
Secondary heating is by a very cheap woodstove, at less than £60, replacement after a flood is viable, though it might survive OK
Downstairs floor covering is a mixture of ceramic tiles (only need pressure washing and disinfecting after a flood) and carpet tiles that are very cheap to replace.
Downstairs walls were stripped back to bare bricks, and left thus if attractive, and painted with exterior paint otherwise, would only need pressure washing and disinfecting after the flood.
A door has been installed opening from the upstairs landing onto the flat garage roof, to permit access via a boat if required.
The garage roof was strengthened in order that several persons could stand there, together with a generator.
A large water tank, filled by rain from the house roof, is placed on the garage roof, this is normally used to water the garden but could be used for drinking if suitably treated.
A strong concrete coal bunker is placed next to the garage, in order that persons may board a boat from this, if the water is too deep for wading, but not deep enough to reach near the garage roof. (these arrangements would provide handy access for thieves, therefore the door is a thief resistant type with good locks)
All downstairs doors and windows are UPVC and thief resistant with good locks.
The main bathroom is upstairs with a second WC downstairs, which is equiped with an anti backflow valve to prevent sewage/floodwater entering via the soil pipe.
To facilitate prompt repairs and drying out after a flood, the store room also contains a couple of industrial dehumidifiers, spare carpet tiles, paint, tools, together with spare parts for almost everything (though that is more in case of general disaster rather than flooding)
All this entailed very considerable expense, but has resulted in a house much larger and better equiped than could have been afforded otherwise, and in the right location for schools and work.
Many of the preps are of course useful for other problems as well.
The only thing that cant be saved is the car (unless time permits of driving it to high ground) It however is worth less than £2,000, and wont be replaced with anything worth more.
