25 Days of Flood Awareness: an alternative advent calendar - part two

When many of us think of an advent calendar, we picture opening one numbered door a day, behind which is a chocolate treat. But in today’s market, Christmas doesn't have to be all about sweets. In fact, the days of a morning chocolate might very well be numbered with the launch of the ‘alternative advent calendar.’

The alternative advent calendar market has boomed in recent years, meaning you can now have a daily treat of beauty or booze, toys or marshmallows or even luxury food stuffs, to name but a few.

An advent calendar that could save your life

Flashing back to Boxing Day 2015, the joy of the festive season was the last thing on the minds of many Rochdale residents when their homes and businesses were devastated by some of the worst local flooding in living memory brought on by Storm Eva.

Remembering this has inspired Rochdale Online to do something a little bit different to mark the start of the Christmas countdown - we have teamed up with the Environment Agency, as it launches its Flood Action Campaign 2018, to bring you an alternative advent calendar that will ensure you, your home and your family are completely flood aware and prepared in time for Christmas.

View Days 1-7

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/124551/25-days-of-flood-awareness-an-alternative-advent-calendar-part-one
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Day 8 #Act – Bookmark flood forecasting websites

Keeping a list of useful web pages can save time when you want to check:

• The weather (www.metoffice.gov.uk)
• Flood warnings (flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/warnings)
• Local river and sea levels (flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/river-and-sea-levels)

 

Day 9 #Act – List your important personal contacts

We live nowadays in nuclear families with relatives or friends that often that live some distance away. Should the worst happen and you lose your phone to flood water, it is vital to have details of those most important to you to hand.

 

Day 10 #Act – List your utility contact details

How many times do you see flooding on the television or in the press and think "that won’t happen to me"?

In England alone, there are 5.2 million homes at risk of flooding and it's likely that this figure will rise with more extreme weather events predicted.

It is therefore, vital that you fill in the 'utility contact details' of your flood plan so those that need to know that you have been flooded can be updated easily.

 

Day 11 #Act – Find out where you’ll get help if the worst happens

Areas prone to flooding may already have flood groups and community hubs where you can find food, clothing, shelter and advice during a flood. Some areas have community flood wardens - volunteers who monitor a specific local area and inform its residents when flooding is likely.

Visit the National Flood Forum (nationalfloodforum.org.uk) or call them on 01299 403 055 for help in finding local support.

You can also try searching for local flood groups on social media.

 

 

Day 12 #Act – move your most important possessions out of harm's way

When properties flood, belongings that are on or near the floor on the groundfloor are in the path of danger for water damage. Electricals, important paperwork (such as passports or household documents) and those items that mean the most to us such as photographs can be totally lost to floodwater damage. When you get a flood alert move your importand and valuable items upstairs or out of the property.

 

Day 13 #Survive – Prepare a Flood Kit (the essentials)

Being prepared will make things easier if your home is ever flooded. Putting together a Flood Kit that you can grab on the way out of the door is a key way of minimising the risks and surviving the worst.

Essentials include:

• Mobile phones and chargers.
• Emergency cash and credit cards.
• Prescription medication / repeat prescription forms.
• Insurance documents and other important documents.

 

Day 14 #Survive – Prepare a Flood Kit (children’s essentials)

• Milk and baby food
• Sterilised bowls, bottles and spoons
• Nappies
• Wipes and nappy bags
• Clothing
• Blankets
• Favourite toy
• Comforter/dummy