Preparedness for when

Karmacat

Thats a nice little summary page of what to do, GQ.

Worrying to hear of another banker; it really, really makes me wonder. Will it blow over? Will it blow up? Will we hear about it in 5 years time when the culprits have taken the money and run?

Back to the floods, though, I was wondering where to buy sandbags? They'd be my first line of defence - I'd be taping over the airbricks - I've heard that if the water gets up that high, the pressure of the water itself helps ensure that the plastic and tape stay on, which makes sense (as long as the tape is waterproof, I guess). But it'd be nice to keep it away from the walls altogether. Seen a lot of plastic though, sheets of plastic folded and then weighted down by sandbags ... I mean, think about it, if it was our town, how would we know how to build a flood defence, apart from a simple line of bags?

ETA - just seen the posts about the leccy. Time to get the candles and matches to stand right by me.

[Deleted User]

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

I find it hard sometimes to get willies to fit properly, they are too narrow on the calf....

You do know bestiality is illegal?

greenbee

Thanks for that GQ - I keep looking at it, doing bits and then forgetting what I've read!

The cake - pigeons are stupid. Tree surgeons say that pigeons come in to land and then look down and realise their tree is missing

Karmacat - you can get sandbags from builders' merchants. Some sell sand and bags separately, others sell them filled. Out local place fills them to order. I've got some proper sandbags, but mostly bags of builders' sand which I haven't bothered to decant into sandbags. And my brother has just texted to say he has a whole lot at home so will bring another dozen bags over at crack of dawn tomorrow on his way to work to save me driving all over the county looking for more.

I blocked my airbrick with a special seal (£2) and then as it is very low down, banked earth up against it. You can block them with plastic bags and a sandbag. It really depends where they are. Amazon do packs of seals.

I've also got flatpack polymer sandbags (hydro pad and hydro snake) which as long as I keep dry I can store for ever. Or I can use them to block the loo. I currently have hydrosnakes surrounding my boiler, as it's in the garage.

[Deleted User]

Possession wrote: »

the roof just blew off the rabbit hutch.

That must have been a hare raising experience.

BettiePage

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

I have been trying to find a GOOD pair of willies, as I find the cheap ones My feet ache really quickly in them, and I must admit I don't feel confident wearing them in the fields, if that makes sense... they are ok, for walking on a wet road lol


found these ones on the bay, do you know what these ones are like??


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AIGLE-PARCOURS-2-VARIO-WELLINGTON-BOOT-WELLIES-NATURAL-RUBBER-HUNTING-SHOOTING-/310787115272?pt=UK_Sporting_Goods_Athletic_Shoes_ET&var=&hash=item485c5b0908




edit... also found the neoprene ones


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AIGLE-PARCOURS-ISO-2-KAKI-NEOPRENE-LINED-WELLINGTON-BOOTS-/110986017178?pt=UK_Sporting_Goods_Athletic_Shoes_ET&var=&hash=item19d748399a


also found wool lined ones in my size...


I find it hard sometimes to get willies to fit properly, they are too narrow on the calf....


I really do need to invest in a good pair of willies, but I am afraid I might get hassle if I want to return the,

Are these 'Willies' (PMSL) genuine from this seller do we know? I'd like a pair of Aigles, but not sure how to spot fake ones?

greenbee

Actually, can anyone on here advise about the best way to deal with my drains?

We have an Entec Biotec system that's about 30 years old. It was built for 7 4-bed houses in the late 80s. Only 6 houses were built, and the current population using it is 12, so is running way under capacity. However, my dad keeps insisting that my drains can't back up and claims it is something to do with hydraulics. But logic says as the ground water levels get higher and the river that the ground water drains into gets higher, it is going to be harder and harder to pump the grey water out as the filtration beds just won't be draining.

So I'm wondering whether a. I should ask people to minimise their water use to reduce the volume of water going in and b. what I need to do if it does stop draining (I'm assuming the water won't be able to flood it, but it will just fail to drain and the pumps will probably burn out as they seem to be going constantly - I'm dreading the electricity bill!). I'm assuming a sandbag down the toilet is a good idea if the manhole in my garden starts looking full. But what about the washing machine and dishwasher outlets? And the plugholes and overflows? And the AAV next to the toilet that I've already had to remove once as there was obviously a pressure problem that meant the toilet wouldn't drain...

I have a feeling i'm going to have to learn more than I want to about drainage systems...

[Deleted User]

Karmacat wrote: »

ETA - just seen the posts about the leccy. Time to get the candles and matches to stand right by me.

I always have two pillar candles, in glass ashtrays, on my sideboard, along with a lighter.

In the event of a power cut, they will provide enough light to see what I'm doing, while I get out the lanterns.

[Deleted User]

It was lashing it down, and howling a gale, earlier.

The rain has now stopped, but it's still howling a gale.

Karmacat

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

I always have two pillar candles, in glass ashtrays, on my sideboard, along with a lighter.

In the event of a power cut, they will provide enough light to see what I'm doing, while I get out the lanterns.

Absolutely - I have candles and matches on each floor, but I felt really uneasy just as I was typing

Karmacat

greenbee wrote: »

Karmacat - you can get sandbags from builders' merchants. Some sell sand and bags separately, others sell them filled. Out local place fills them to order. I've got some proper sandbags, but mostly bags of builders' sand which I haven't bothered to decant into sandbags. And my brother has just texted to say he has a whole lot at home so will bring another dozen bags over at crack of dawn tomorrow on his way to work to save me driving all over the county looking for more.

I blocked my airbrick with a special seal (£2) and then as it is very low down, banked earth up against it. You can block them with plastic bags and a sandbag. It really depends where they are. Amazon do packs of seals.

I've also got flatpack polymer sandbags (hydro pad and hydro snake) which as long as I keep dry I can store for ever. Or I can use them to block the loo. I currently have hydrosnakes surrounding my boiler, as it's in the garage.

Thank you for this, greenbee! This is a great post Hydrosnakes sound especially interesting - I've been looking at that Action List again, from the EA:

• Fit flood protection products if you have them, eg flood boards, airbrick covers, sandbags, and toilet bungs on downstairs toilets.
• Put plugs in sinks and baths. Weigh them down with a pillowcase or plastic bag filled with soil.
• If you do not have non-return valves fitted, plug water inlet pipes with towels or cloths.

It just sounds like a non-return valve isn't enough - and I don't have one of them yet either tho I'm not really in danger of flooding. Though I bet a lot of people who're flooded right now said the same thing.

What I *do* have is a couple of bags of compost, a couple of mahoosive bags (80 litres) of bark chippings, and a bag of builder's sand. I guess I'd do what I could with them, if push came to shove!

I'm off to Amazon to look at those seals. And hydrosnakes