What a wet winter!

Can you believe it? Ten named storms have battered our shores since September 2023, with three of those landing in January alone (Henk, Isha, and Jocelyn). The sheer magnitude of it all is staggering.

With each storm comes more flooding, more devastation. The ground, already saturated from previous deluges, can’t absorb any more water, so even the slightest rainfall leads to significant disruption. It’s a vicious cycle that seems to have no end in sight.

In the midst of all of this, I’ve been tirelessly working to provide support and guidance to those affected by the floods. Since the start of winter I’ve personally participated in over 80 media interviews, helping to spread awareness and offering advice on various platforms, from BBC Rip Off Britain, BBC Breakfast and Sky News to regional radio stations up and down the country. The goal? To empower homeowners and communities with the knowledge they need to help reduce the awful impact a flood can have to themselves (and their properties).

• One particular project close to my heart is my collaboration with the RAIN project team in Northants.( the project marries up natural flood management and property flood resilience.) Together, we’ve been reaching out to households, communities and landowners in the Wootton Brook and Harpers Brook catchments. From my perspective, I’m offering advice to homeowners on Property Flood Resilience (PFR), and arming them with the knowledge and tools to safeguard their homes against future floods – a mission you know that I’m truly passionate about.

Recently, I had the opportunity to take the Floodmobile to London’s prestigious Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre for the annual ABI Conference. It was the perfect opportunity to engage directly with the insurance industry, discussing topics like PFR, recovery, and the ‘Build Back Better’ initiative. These conversations are crucial in shaping future policies and practices surrounding flood resilience and household cover.

But amidst the hustle and bustle of it all, my thoughts remain with the flood victims – those whose lives have been turned upside down by these relentless storms. It’s heart-wrenching to see the devastation firsthand, but it only fuels my determination to help as many people as I can.

Of course, it’s not always easy. I still meet many individuals who are hesitant to take proactive steps to manage flood risk – convinced that flooding could never happen to them (until it sadly does!). But I refuse to be deterred. My mission to educate, support, and advise knows no bounds, and I’ll continue to champion flood resilience efforts with my red coat on and with continued dedication!

So, to all those wary of when the next storm lands, please know that if you follow my guidance and plan in advance, adding in some recoverability measures, you’ll be one step ahead. This won’t be a picnic but by taking these moves, things won’t be as bad next time.

Copyright 2024, Mary Long-Dhonau