This week’s Blog starts with a quick look around at the weather, and luckily according to the Met Office and Environment Agency we in the UK are not forecast any severe weather events as I write this blog. In fact this week looks to be hot and sunny in England and Wales with only the chance of thunder later in the week, these may bring very localised flooding if there is intense local rain, but on the whole there is very little chance of any flood event for the next five days.
On the other hand if you live in North West Florida you will have already felt the effects of Tropical Storm Claudette which thankfully did not get enough time over the warm waters to gather hurricane strength, but towards the end of the week it may be worth keeping a weather eye out for Hurricane Bill and its effects. All the weather models thankfully steer Bill away from Florida but its effects as a heavy rain event may impact on us here in the UK in about 10 days or so, keep an eye on the weather forecast.
It the world of FloodBag we are working with several Local Authorities who are looking to use the FloodBag system to protect school course work and IT equipment from the effects of flooding. A student's coursework is irreplaceable and if it's lost in a flood it can be very distressing and disruptive for the individual.
Our FB08 was designed specifically to take a four drawer filing cabinet so a school or college can protect valuable coursework and files. For more information on the FloodBag call us on freephone 0800 045 7898 or visit www.floodbag.co.uk
Monday, August 17, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Local Authorities Get Protected!
The number of enquiries we're receiving from Local Governments are picking up as they look to take on the Floodbag and include it into their flood mitigation strategies.
Having had a small Floodbag on loan at Bosbury Primary School, Herefordshire Local Authority are considering ordering Floodbags to protect students' course work, IT equipment and essential items that will allow the schools to be operational as soon as possible after a flood.
This is what the Floodbag was designed to do – help protect the things that cannot be replaced.
Having had a small Floodbag on loan at Bosbury Primary School, Herefordshire Local Authority are considering ordering Floodbags to protect students' course work, IT equipment and essential items that will allow the schools to be operational as soon as possible after a flood.
This is what the Floodbag was designed to do – help protect the things that cannot be replaced.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Are you at risk of flooding?
Do you know if your home or workplace is at risk of flooding?
Knowing if your property is at risk is the first step to taking action to protect yourself.
If you don't know whether your home or workplace there is an easy way to find out, just go to visit the Environment Agency's website and put the relevant post code into the box towards the top right of the screen, entitled "Flood Map". The resulting map will give you a good idea of how much risk the location is at from flooding.
If you don't know the risk, find out now!
Knowing if your property is at risk is the first step to taking action to protect yourself.
If you don't know whether your home or workplace there is an easy way to find out, just go to visit the Environment Agency's website and put the relevant post code into the box towards the top right of the screen, entitled "Flood Map". The resulting map will give you a good idea of how much risk the location is at from flooding.
If you don't know the risk, find out now!
Friday, July 24, 2009
Protect Your Business
According to research, around 90% of businesses that suffer an interruption to their operations from a flood, fire or other major disaster will close within 18 months due to a loss of business.
To minimise the impact of an interruption to business, it is important that a company has a comprehensive Business Continuity Plan in place in the event of a major disaster. A Continuity Plan can allow a business to carry on operating without the use of its primary premises, for example, or with key staff missing. Getting your business back up and running when others around you are still experiencing disruptions to their service can give companies a significant competitive edge, winning new customers, enticing customers over from competitors, and maintaining good service and satisfaction with your existing customers.
Protecting your computers, paperwork and office furniture from flood damage in a Floodbag is a important part of your Business Continuity Plan and will greatly improve your ability to be back up and running quickly.
A construction company in the Cayman Islands recently purchased a number of Floodbags to protect their office equipment and electrical tools during a hurricane. The months following a hurricane are busy times for a construction company so the last thing they want is to have to build their own business back up before they can take on any work. With their business protected by the Floodbag this construction company can ensure they are one the first to be back in business helping everyone else repair their buildings.
Whatever your business, where ever you are in the work, a Business Continuity Plan relevant to the threats you might face is an important part of your corporate strategy.
To minimise the impact of an interruption to business, it is important that a company has a comprehensive Business Continuity Plan in place in the event of a major disaster. A Continuity Plan can allow a business to carry on operating without the use of its primary premises, for example, or with key staff missing. Getting your business back up and running when others around you are still experiencing disruptions to their service can give companies a significant competitive edge, winning new customers, enticing customers over from competitors, and maintaining good service and satisfaction with your existing customers.
Protecting your computers, paperwork and office furniture from flood damage in a Floodbag is a important part of your Business Continuity Plan and will greatly improve your ability to be back up and running quickly.
A construction company in the Cayman Islands recently purchased a number of Floodbags to protect their office equipment and electrical tools during a hurricane. The months following a hurricane are busy times for a construction company so the last thing they want is to have to build their own business back up before they can take on any work. With their business protected by the Floodbag this construction company can ensure they are one the first to be back in business helping everyone else repair their buildings.
Whatever your business, where ever you are in the work, a Business Continuity Plan relevant to the threats you might face is an important part of your corporate strategy.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Do you know if you are risk from flooding and if so what type of flood waters will affect you?
There are several different types of flooding that occur, each one poses its own set of risks and complications. Here is a brief outline of the different types and where they might occur.
Pluvial flooding can be regarded as flooding that occurs as a result of overland flow of rainfall before it enters a water course or drainage system. Pluvial flooding normally occurs as a result of very intense rainfall (e.g. more than 30mm/1 inch per hour). It can occur with lower rainfall intensities because the ground is saturated, high ground water level, frozen ground, or urban development where the topography causes the water to collect/pond. In Urban areas Pluvial flooding can be caused by the drainage and sewage systems being completely overwhelmed.
Fluvial flooding occurs as a result of a water course (river/stream) rising above its normal channel and spreading on the surround area (floodplain).
Surge conditions are caused by astronomic tide plus storm water and low atmospheric conditions combining to raise water levels, which will be accompanied with large waves that can help drive water in land.
Failure of a reservoir can lead to a catastrophically dangerous body and flow of water downstream from the Dam or reservoir.
Sudden snow melt can lead to a large and quick rise in water levels leading to pooling of melt water and quick rises in water courses.
Water course and Drainage Blockage can lead to a build up a backlog of water that can come back up through the drains and cause localised flooding, in areas that do not normally collect flood waters.
The Environment Agency's website has useful information on types of flooding, and don't forget to look up your postcode on their floodmap to see the threat posed to your home or business.
Pluvial flooding can be regarded as flooding that occurs as a result of overland flow of rainfall before it enters a water course or drainage system. Pluvial flooding normally occurs as a result of very intense rainfall (e.g. more than 30mm/1 inch per hour). It can occur with lower rainfall intensities because the ground is saturated, high ground water level, frozen ground, or urban development where the topography causes the water to collect/pond. In Urban areas Pluvial flooding can be caused by the drainage and sewage systems being completely overwhelmed.
Fluvial flooding occurs as a result of a water course (river/stream) rising above its normal channel and spreading on the surround area (floodplain).
Surge conditions are caused by astronomic tide plus storm water and low atmospheric conditions combining to raise water levels, which will be accompanied with large waves that can help drive water in land.
Failure of a reservoir can lead to a catastrophically dangerous body and flow of water downstream from the Dam or reservoir.
Sudden snow melt can lead to a large and quick rise in water levels leading to pooling of melt water and quick rises in water courses.
Water course and Drainage Blockage can lead to a build up a backlog of water that can come back up through the drains and cause localised flooding, in areas that do not normally collect flood waters.
The Environment Agency's website has useful information on types of flooding, and don't forget to look up your postcode on their floodmap to see the threat posed to your home or business.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Worcester flood defences finished
Flood defences have been completed for a road in Worcestershire (UK) badly affected in the summer 2007 floods.
The Environment Agency began work in July 2008 to protect 13 homes and six businesses in Hylton Road, Worcester.
It used 14,000 tonnes of clay from Upton Marina to create defensive flood banks and walls.
It said it had some landscaping work outstanding, but if the river were to rise again the new bank would offer immediate flood protection.
The Environment Agency began work in July 2008 to protect 13 homes and six businesses in Hylton Road, Worcester.
It used 14,000 tonnes of clay from Upton Marina to create defensive flood banks and walls.
It said it had some landscaping work outstanding, but if the river were to rise again the new bank would offer immediate flood protection.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
What's the risk to your home or business?
Do you know how high the risk of flooding is to your home or business?
To find out if your property is at risk of flooding consult the Environment Agency's free flood map. Simply follow this link and put your postcode in the box on the right hand side of the page. This will bring up a map of the area marking any locations at risk of flooding.
If you are at risk it is recommended you register for flood warnings with the Environment Agency here and follow the link to sign up for Floodline Warnings Direct. Floodline Warnings Direct is a free service that provides flood warnings direct to you by telephone, mobile, email, SMS text message and fax.
To find out if your property is at risk of flooding consult the Environment Agency's free flood map. Simply follow this link and put your postcode in the box on the right hand side of the page. This will bring up a map of the area marking any locations at risk of flooding.
If you are at risk it is recommended you register for flood warnings with the Environment Agency here and follow the link to sign up for Floodline Warnings Direct. Floodline Warnings Direct is a free service that provides flood warnings direct to you by telephone, mobile, email, SMS text message and fax.
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