Property owners residing in Grimsby and Cleethorpes have been advised by the Environment Agency of flood siren tests that are set to take place in their area this week (August 30th).
The network of 18 sirens will be tested between 10:00 and 12:00 BST, with the system put in place to warn property owners across the area of dangerous rises in water levels of the River Freshney.
It will last for around two to five minutes and is an important part of the Environment Agency’s flood protection plans for the region, as should individuals hear these sirens outside of the testing time they should prepare for the potential of flooding if the river bursts its banks.
Anyone interested to learn more about how the system works and what they can do to protect their property are being invited to head along to the Freshney Place shopping centre between 09:00 and 17:00 today and tomorrow, where agency staff will be on hand to give explanations and advice.
Claire Rose, Environment Agency flood resilience team leader, said: “Our flood defences reduce the risk of flooding to thousands of homes and businesses in Grimsby and Cleethorpes but there is always a risk that they can fail or be overwhelmed.
“It is important that people know what to do before, during and after a flood and identify the actions they can take to protect themselves and their property.”
Flooding can be a major issue for property owners living in areas where there is a high risk of this type of natural disaster, with GSI Insurance Services (Southern) Limited offering insurance for flood risk areas at a highly competitive rate.
Individuals keen to mitigate the chances of their home and belongings being damaged in flooding can take several steps to protect their home, with the Environment Agency advising a number of simple steps to do just that.
It recommends purchasing flood protection equipment and keeping it in a handy place that can be easily accessed should they notice waters starting to rise.
This includes sandbags to build up around doors and windows, as well as investing in automatic flood-proof air bricks for walls.
Furthermore, free-standing flood-resistant barriers can be erected at short notice to further hinder waters from entering a property, while exterior walls should be coated in a flood-proof sealant in order to stop liquids entering into porous brickwork and causing considerable and costly damage.
Landscaping is another area where homeowners can make good use of their outside spaces to prevent waters from getting too close to a building. Driveways and gardens can be constructed in such a manner to funnel waters away from a property.
Finally, installing non-return valves on drains and pipework in the home can be an excellent way to stop flood waters from getting in through the drainage system, while whole neighbourhoods can often work together to have flood-proof drainage put in place.
For property owners in the Grimsby and Cleethorpes area, Ms Rose concluded: “We would love people to come and see us in Freshney Place to learn more about flood risk and what they can do to help themselves.”
