Many of us will remember news coverage of the terrible floods which affected the towns of St Asaph and Ruthin in Wales last year. Over 500 buildings had to be evacuated, causing mass destruction to property, and even the death of 91 year old resident Margaret Hughes. November of this year marked the first anniversary of the devastating floods, but how have the local community taken steps to avoid anything like this happening in future?
Unlike an accidental fire or other disaster stemming from human error, floods are usually the result of natural occurrences, and not our behaviours. As such, it would be impossible for the residents of St Asaph to prevent something like this ever happening again. Just as we cannot control the UK's often miserable weather, we cannot prevent Mother Nature from sending more floods in the future. However, all hope is not lost.
Residents of St Asaph and Ruthin have been working with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to provide advance warning of future flooding, and develop safeguards for future flood prevention. Efforts have been pooled from the emergency services, water company officials, flood wardens and community groups to ensure another disaster does not occur. The St Asaph floods were the result of the River Clwyd bursting its banks, but plans and fundraising have been underway for the construction of effective flood barriers to protect the villages if the same should happen again. Depending on funding, the barriers are expected to be completed during early to mid 2014.
The St Asaph floods were clearly an anomaly, but it can be easy to forget that floods can occur anywhere in the United Kingdom and be caused by a variety of factors. As such it's important for us to all safeguard our homes or communities in times of flood warning, in case the worst should happen.
Home and business owners can purchase a variety of barriers to protect themselves in the event of a flood, from simple sandbags to specially designed door and brick coverings. Flood barriers are often durable and lightweight for easy installation, often providing subtle protection without creating an eyesore or any kind of impracticality. Seals can also be installed around doors or other openings, providing an effective but unnoticeable flood guard. Any number of efficiently installed flood barriers will prevent the spreading of water into your home, protecting both you and your possessions against water damage or harm.
Anti-overflow systems can also help to protect your home or business from floods resulting from overflowing sewage systems. Research in the insurance industry has suggested that almost 50% of the United Kingdom's floods occur as a result of back-filling sewage pipes. Not only can this water cause expensive damage, it can leave a house or building smelling foul for weeks! However, the installation of a relatively inexpensive self-activating backwater valve can easily prevent this type of flooding.
Have you taken steps to safeguard your home or business from natural disaster? Could you install a flood guard or flood barrier to eliminate the risk of damage to your property?
Phil Wallace & Floodguard UK have been providing flood barriers to help people & businesses to protect their homes when the floods come.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Kirton
The Flooding Of Ruthin And St Asaph In Wales
