How to tackle the problem of flooding

With the wettest British winter on record now drawing to a close and much of the south of England still under a few inches of water, the problem of flooding has never been more topical.

Flooding can be devastating for people of all ages but it can be especially dangerous for older people; causing a range of health and mobility problems that can significantly affect quality of life.

Although flooding is hard to predict and difficult to stop, there are some steps that you can take to pre-empt the danger of flooding and keep yourself safe should the worst happen.

Relocate

It’s an unfortunate reality that a lot of homes in the UK are built on flood plains and this makes them extremely vulnerable to rising waters. If your home is on a flood plain or an area prone to flooding then the most effective step you can take to avoid the dangers is to relocate.

As an older person, upping sticks and relocating isn’t always easy but moving is guaranteed to be a lot easier before, rather than after, a flood. A good option for retirees and those looking for a more relaxed way of life is to move into specialist retirement accommodation.

There are likely to be retirement apartments for sale close to where you live but in areas not affected by flooding, providing great value accommodation and peace of mind.

Prepare

If moving is not an option, the best thing that you can do to counter the risk of flooding is to be prepared. Keep supplies of tinned and dried food in the house and try to keep a supply of bottled water to hand as well. Make sure that someone knows you’re home if adverse weather is forecast and keep an emergency mobile phone in case you find yourself without power in the home.

If you need medication or regular medical checkups, it might be a better idea to relocate to a relative’s house if bad weather is on the way as roads can quickly become impassable when the waters rise.

Help

Floods can make it a lot harder for older people to get out and about to get the supplies they need, especially when transport is affected by the water. Try to ensure that you’ve got a reliable person who can assist you with your daily tasks when the weather is bad. This is another benefit of relocating to retirement accommodation as there’s always a friendly member of staff on hand to help out when needed.

Act now!

With the climate becoming ever more unpredictable, it’s likely that flooding will become a more regular occurrence so make sure you’re prepared now in order to avoid the heartache, inconvenience and dangers that come with a flood.

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