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By the time the sandbags have been filled it’s often too late to save homes from flood damage. So Gerald Fairbrother of Sandy, Bedfordshire, has applied for patents on an easy way to be prepared for such an emergency (EP 1223294 and GB 2370854). His idea is to fit all exterior door frames on a house with a strong U-shaped frame secured to the bottom and sides. The U-frame has a groove down each side and along the bottom that allows a panel to be slotted in from above when floods threaten. The panel bulges outward slightly, so as the water pressure builds up, it presses the panel ever more tightly against the frame, making a waterproof seal. Homes in high risk areas such as flood plains could have the U-frame fixed permanently in place. Elsewhere, Fairbrother recommends fitting it only when there is a flood warning.