Flash flooding in the North-West of England has left roads and shops submerged after heavy downpours struck the region.
Thunderstorms hit parts of Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire, causing police to urge drivers to drop their speed following reports of traffic collisions. Homes in Sheffield, Sutton Coldfield, in the West Midlands, and Wirral, Merseyside were hit by lightning which caused fires. The Met Office warned there may be more storms coming.
What is a flash flood?
Unlike a flood, flash floods are generally a surprise. While floods have any number of complex origins, flash floods typically stem from sudden, heavy rain. There are other sources as well, like a dam or levee collapsing. A flash flood is any sudden influx of water into a dry area, typically within 6 hours or less.
Flash flooding happens when rain falls so fast that the underlying ground cannot cope, or drain it away fast enough. Roads can become like rivers and if there is a lot of water, it can flood buildings and carry cars away. So, if the rain is falling too fast for the ground or drains to cope, there is a risk of flash flooding.
Flash floods can be extremely damaging and dangerous, because they combine the destructive power of a flood with incredible speed. They can happen within minutes of the causative rainfall, limiting the time available to warn and protect the public.
Cleaning up & Repairing Your Property After The Flood
Flood damaging is often devastating. Before you can even consider going back to your property, you should make sure all electric devices are switched off. You can find advice on how to clean and sanitise your property after a flood on the government’s site here
Once the initial flood panic is over, one of the first things to do is find yourself a good loss assessor. Insurance claims are a tricky thing to navigate and storms and flooding can prove extremely stressful, so it’s important to get an assessor you like and feel you can trust.
He or she will be able to look after your insurance claim for you, including helping you fill in the paperwork. They’ll also be able to put you onto a good and reputable building repair company like Action Insurance Repair.
At Action Insurance Repair, we specialise in helping people whose properties have suffered any type of damage caused by a flood. From helping with your insurance claim to organising emergency works, handling the clean-up and undertaking the remedial work, our team of insurance specialist is on hand ready to help!