On a day seeing more storms and flooding, we reveal over half of those affected by flooding choose to restore their homes exactly as they were before, even though they know the threat of flooding is increasing.

One in three UK flood victims fear the threat of flooding is increasing, and nearly half believe their property will be at risk again, new research reveals.

Despite this, 80% of homeowners told a Norwich Union survey they would not consider making changes to their homes to provide better protection against flood damage.

The insurance firm questioned more than 1000 victims of flooding and found that householders said the most difficult aspect of the ordeal to cope with was the disruption it caused to family life, with 40% citing that as the main cause of stress, followed by the loss of property and possessions for 27%.

Alison McErlain from Norfolk County Council said: "The recent research shows that only one in ten householders understand that they have a responsibility to protect their homes against flooding, incorrectly believing it is the remit of local government, the Environment Agency, or water companies."

"Unfortunately it is householders who ultimately suffer the brunt of the costs from flood damage."

Nearly a fifth of victims had had to wait for between three and six months before they were able to live in their homes again after a flood, the research found, while more than a quarter had to wait for just under three months.

But if proper flood prevention measures are taken, this devastating time for families can be drastically reduced, or even avoided altogether.

Norwich Union is launching the UK’s first flood resilient demonstration house to show the steps people can take to limit the impact of a flood.

The flood resilient home demonstrates that protective measures are relatively easy to install. They drastically reduce the time taken to make the property habitable again and lower the cost of repairs.

Measures that can be installed include:

• Flood boards which can quickly and easily be erected around doors to keep out flash flood water for several hours
• Pump-and-sump systems which are installed below floorboards to remove water faster than it can enter the house from below ground
• Replacing perishable materials such as floorboards, wooden fittings and gypsum plaster with concrete, ceramic, plastic or cement alternatives
• Moving expensive items above possible water levels – such as boilers, service meters and electrical points
• Installation of one-way valves into drainage pipes to prevent sewage backing up into the house.

Mary Dhonau, from the National Flood Forum, said: "It is impossible to quantify the emotional toll and strain caused by a flood. We would strongly advise anyone to research the potential flood risks in their area and seek advice about how this might affect their property."

If flood protection has been put in place, costs for restoration could be lowered from £48,564 to as little as £8,560 per household. And because damage is on a lesser scale families can return home more quickly.

Norwich Union supported by Norfolk County Council has developed a website that contains a host of information about flood resilient and resistant repairs - www.floodresilienthome.co.uk