We flooded here in Pentre, Shropshire in 1998 and 2000. We live on a flood plain and we are fortunate in the sense that we do not suffer flash floods but have fair warning of an imminent flood. We also do not suffer sewage in our homes. We should, therefore, lose little apart from fixed items. We always try to keep some building blocks in so that in the event of a flood we can put our furniture up on these blocks. Our insurance claim was minimal, both times.

I become very concerned when I read in the press or see on the TV, those people who have had the interior of their homes almost entirely demolished. We didn't have our floors taken up. We didn't have the walls stripped of plaster. We didn't have industrial cleaners in; we did our own cleaning. We are proof that these things will dry out without any lasting effects. Our wooden doors swelled but after only a few days they were back to normal. We threw open our doors and windows and we lit an open fire which proved to be an excellent, natural way of drying out. We lived upstairs for a few days only and then we were able to come back downstairs to live with scatter rugs on bare concrete floors; it was ok. We were able to cook by microwave but our electrical points are high up anyway. I have to admit that the water in our home was surprisingly clear; this was due to the sandbags placed at each entrance. Sandbags are an excellent way to filter any water entering the house; they will not stop the flood as so many people seem to think.(this may be different for flash floods). Unfortunately there is a lot of money to be made out of flooding and I find myself becoming increasingly concerned that flood victims are being given bad advice. I must also mention that we refused the assistance of an insurance assessor (I believe thay take a percentage of the claim).

The above is my experience, my opinions!

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I flooded in 2003 following the opening of Jubilee River. It was not possible to do anything to protect our property from flooding since the water table level rose to a point where water could be seen rising from skirting boards. There is little...