Tips on how to protect your home from flooding and its devastating effects

Over the past few years, the areas across Poland have suffered from destructive flooding. The most harmful were probably the floods during the summer and winter of 2010. Consequently, they have shown that a great number of houses in Poland are not flood-resilient. With another wet season on its way, now’s the time to protect your home just in case. Find out what you need to do to make sure you’re prepared.

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE 

Undoubtedly, the next step after you decide on building your house is to assess the probable flood depth that the house is subjected to. Ideally, no one would build in a flood zone; however, with such competition for land, compromises have to be made. Nevertheless, we have to remember that not only buildings located in a flood plain are at the risk of flooding. Even in normal conditions, a few rainy days may result in flooding your basement. 

TIPS ON HOW TO BUILD A FLOOD-RESILIENT HOUSE  

- FOUNDATIONS: Solid ground-bearing concrete slabs are much better than suspended floors, in which the subfloor space may need cleaning out after a flood.

- TIMBER: Avoid timber framed walls as they might not withstand long immersion in water.

- GYPSUM PLASTERBOARD: Instead, use more resilient renders, such as cement or lime.

- INSULATION: Such materials as polystyrene or polyurethane are more water-resistant than mineral or natural wool.

- BRICKS: Use engineering bricks up to likely flood levels. They are virtually waterproof.

- EXTERNAL DOORS: Choose doors made up from PCV rather than timber.

- SOCKETS AND APPLIANCES: Place them as high as possible.

WHAT TO DO WHEN A FLOOD STRIKES 

Even if you have already built a house that, unfortunately, is not flood-resilient, there are still a number of things you can do to minimize the damage when a flood strikes. 

1. KEEP INFORMED

Find out if your home falls into the risk category.

2. BE PREPARED

There are some methods you can use to prevent water from entering your home

- Clear your drains

- Keep a supply of sandbags and plywood in your home

- Place non-returnable or backflow valves on all drains in and around the house. They would prevent water from rising through the drain and spilling into the building. They also  stop water from coming up underneath your home

3. PROTECT YOUR BELONGINGS

- Any valuable items or those  with special sentimental value for you should be stored upstairs

- Back up personal data from your laptops and PCs at regular intervals

- Keep valuables on high level shelves. For example, you may mount your TV to the wall

4. COVER YOURSELF AGAINST FLOOD DAMAGE

© Julija Sapic – Fotolia.com

GLOSSARY:

tip –wskazówka 

to protect from –chronić, zabezpieczyć przed

flooding –powodzie, zalewanie

to suffer from –tu: doznać

flood-resilient –zabezpieczony przed powodzią

in case –w razie (czegoś), na wypadek

prevention is better than cure –lepiej zapobiegać, niż leczyć

to assess –ocenić

flood depth –głębokość wód gruntowych

flood plain –teren zalewowy

at the risk of –narażony na

basement –piwnica

foundations –fundamenty

concrete slab –płyta betonowa

suspended floor –tu: fundament podwieszany

subfloor –ślepa podłoga

timber –drewno (konstrukcyjne)

to withstand –wytrzymać

immersion –zanurzenie

(gypsum) plasterboard –płyta gipsowa

render –zaprawa

lime –wapno

wool –wełna

socket –gniazdko

appliance –urządzenie

prevent –uniemożliwić

to clear –przeczyścić, przepchnąć

drain –przewód/rura kanalizacyjna

supply –zapas

sandbag –worek z piaskiem

plywood –sklejka

valve –zawór

belongings –dobytek

valuable –cenny

upstairs –na górze, na piętrze

at regular intervals –regularnie

to cover oneself against –ubezpieczyć się na wypadek

damage –szkoda, uszkodzenie

Magdalena Marcinkowska