Protecting
your possessions
Be ready for a flood and
safeguard your belongings.
Even without extensive flood resilience measures, there are practical and effective ways to safeguard your belongings when a flood threatens. Here’s how you can minimse potential damage:
1. Move Valuables to Higher Ground
Only return to your property once authorities have declared the area safe. Flood-damaged areas can have hidden dangers, such as weakened structures, contaminated water, or hazardous debris.
2. Use Plastic Crates for Vulnerable Items
Place delicate or valuable belongings in waterproof plastic crates or boxes. These containers offer extra protection from water and are easy to move to higher ground if needed. Prioritise items like photo albums, electronics, or important paperwork.
3. Prevent Water Backflow
To reduce the risk of water backing up into your home through the plumbing system, put plugs in sinks, bathtubs, and any other drains. You can also weigh down the plugs with a heavy object to keep them secure.
4. Protect Your Curtains
Fold your curtains upwards, securing them halfway up with string to prevent them from soaking in floodwater. This simple step keeps fabric away from rising water and reduces damage and the need for extensive cleaning.
5. Reduce Water Damage to Furniture
To shield your furniture from water damage, place items like vases, buckets, or even welly boots under the legs of tables and other furniture pieces. This raises the furniture slightly, keeping it above the waterline and reducing potential water damage.
6. Elevate Heavy Furniture
For larger pieces of furniture, use bricks or sturdy blocks to lift them off the ground. Elevating sofas, beds, and cabinets by even a few inches can prevent water from soaking into them and causing irreversible damage. Be sure to distribute the weight evenly to avoid tipping or instability.
