1. Follow advice, such as evacuation notifications and procedures, given by the Environment Agency (EA) in England, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), in Scotland or your local council. The EA and SEPA have a 24 hour information service called Floodline available on 0845 988 1188. In Northern Ireland businesses can get information from the Rivers Agency. Advice can also be found on their websites:

• EA – environment-agency.gov.uk.
• SEPA – sepa.org.uk/flooding
• Rivers Agency – riversagencyni.gov.uk

2. Have sandbags ready -your local council may be able to provide these -and boards ready to block doors, etc - do this in good time!

3. Keep your insurance policy documents in a water-tight bag in a safe place.

4. Keep a note of your insurer's Helpline number handy.

5. Prepare a 'Flood Pack' and make sure that everyone in your home or business knows where it is. The pack should include: torch, battery-operated radio (with spare batteries), first aid kit, warm clothes, blankets and bottles of water. Keep it in a safe place upstairs. If you have one, remember to take your mobile phone upstairs too, and keep it charged.

6. Think about where to park your car. Is it safe?

7. Be prepared to move furniture, paperwork and valuable items upstairs and out of danger. Remember to include items like photos that have high sentimental value and will be difficult to replace.

8. If you receive warnings of imminent flooding, be ready to switch off gas and electricity supplies but listen for advice on your local radio station. If water levels start to enter your home or business turn off the gas, and the electricity at the main fuse board.

9. Have a map of your local area handy. If you decide to evacuate, bear in mind that some local roads may already be blocked and impassable. Do not attempt to drive across flooded roads if you are able to drive round.

10. If your home or business is flooded, contact your insurance company as soon as possible. Insurance companies are there to help and

Home contents insurance from MORE TH>N includes (as of 10th October 2005):

• £60,000 contents cover as standard (higher limits available on request).

• Up to £7,500 High Risk items cover for those valuable, more likely to be stolen possessions such as PCs, TVs, Cameras, Jewellery and Art (higher limits available on request).

• ‘New for old’ replacement of damaged or stolen goods.

• 24 hr Emergency Helpline – freephone support and advice available when it’s needed, 365 days a year.

• Up to £150 Emergency Repairs benefit – we will arrange for a competent and experienced contractor to make the repairs – also includes emergency overnight accommodation.

• Children’s College cover – as part of our standard cover, if a child is still living at home, their belongings in their college accommodation are protected (up to 15% of the sum insured).

• Moving Home cover - when moving home belongings are covered against loss or damage as long as professional removal contractors are used.

• Discounts for homeowners with security alarms, British Standard door and window locks and members of Neighbourhood Watch Schemes.

A typical MORE TH>N Business shop or office policy includes (as of 10th October 2005):

• Cover for your property (buildings and contents).

• Employee liability (£10 million limit of indemnity).

• Public Liability (£2 million limit with option to increase).

• Money cover to various limits.

• Small business risk surveyors.

• 24 Hr claims helpline.

• Access to free guidance on heath & safety, tax, PAYE and stress counselling.

• Discounts for risks with good claims histories and if your property is protected by CCTV.

• Option to pay by interest free instalments.