Case study
This is a case study of a mid-terraced residential property in Cockermouth, Cumbria that has been flooded multiple times, with the most severe flood occurring in 2009 when the property was submerged in 46cm (18 inches) of water. It highlights the homeowner’s experience of recovering from these floods and the various flood-resilient measures she has implemented, such as elevating the boiler, installing a wood-burning stove, and using water-resistant materials throughout the home. The property was the first customer for the Flood Re insurance scheme when it launched in 2016.
Recoverable measures included:
The homeowner made use of the government’s £5,000 grant to fund modifications after the 2015 flood. The property then become the first customer for the Flood Re insurance scheme when it launched in 2016.
The case study highlights a proactive approach to improving the flood resilience of a home through a range of passive and low-cost measures, enabling faster recovery after flood events. It demonstrates good practice in residential flood adaptation.
Recoverability measures have reduced the time and energy needed to clean up after a flood, while moving the gas boiler mean that some quality of life is maintained even after a flood event.
Being prepared for potential flooding is an important element of being flood resilient as it leads to approaches to use PFR measures. It’s about understanding your flood risk, now and for the future.
