Blimey it’s been wet!
It’s an old saying … ‘You Can’t Have Climate Change Without The Climate Actually Changing’ ... and this winter has not only been warm but has also incredibly wet.
So wet in fact that some places have seen inundations not seen before and we’re told that we should expect to see more of this year on year.
If you’re fortunate enough to be cast iron certain that you, family or friends, won’t be subject to flooding, feel free to miss out this week’s blog.
Residents up at Haybridge probably felt this way until recently when they woke up to this interesting scene!
And let’s take a moment to think on Croscombe.
If you think where you live might be at risk, then do all the sensible things like keeping your important papers and stuff plus the family heirlooms at height.
befloodready.uk suggest having these items to hand - you can get a copy of their suggested Personal Flood Plan, amongst other resources, by clicking on THIS LINK
If you have neighbours this is a good time to start talking if you haven’t already.
Below you’ll find links to various resources you might find useful when assessing your risk.
1) The national government site so you can check your current flood risk status:
https://www.gov.uk/check-flooding
and your long term flood risk status:
https://www.gov.uk/check-long-term-flood-risk
2) Somerset Council guidance:
https://www.somerset.gov.uk/beaches-ports-and-flooding/assessing-your-flood-risk/
3) Here’s the link to the Somerset Drainage Boards:
https://somersetdrainageboards.gov.uk/about-us/
4) And of course where there’s flooding think sewerage … Wessex Water can be found here:
https://www.wessexwater.co.uk/contact-us
5) You may need to contact your Councillors and even your MP (no jokes now), this is a useful little way of doing that:
6) The Environment Agency has a team dedicated to help those whose houses are risk of flooding. You can contact them to see if you could benefit from their scheme for property level protection: https://wessexenquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
7) Whatever you read about flooding there are copious reminders that we are individually responsible for protecting our homes (yes, even when there is a limit to the action we can individually take) so it’s worth spending time considering what you can do. National Government guidance is here:
https://www.gov.uk/prepare-for-flooding
8) And last, but not least, here’s information about insuring a home which is at risk or which has been flooded.