Prepare for a flood

Any flood damage in a home is the responsibility of the homeowner or occupier.

Taking steps now can help you and your family with any future emotional, financial, and physical impacts.

Check if you're at risk of flooding

If you're not sure if you're at risk of flooding, visit GOV.UK to find out. You can also sign up to their free flood warning service to get warnings by phone, text or email.

Why not take some time to make sure you are prepared? Our top tips are to:

have supplies of bottled water, medicines, food and baby care items in the house
put valuable items up higher in a safe place
report public drainage problems to us
maintain any private drainage
buy emergency safety products such as a wind-up or battery operated torch, spare batteries, and first aid kits
keep your insurance details and important documents in a safe place and put them in plastic wallets
plan your evacuation and know which roads you may need to take
keep up to date with the latest flood warnings
have the appropriate insurance for your home or business
visit the National Flood Forum to create and view your community plan
sign up to power cut text alerts from UK Power Network
request or buy sandbags.

If flooding happens, it is important to:

report the flooding to the correct people
stick together and look after each other (especially those who are elderly or vulnerable)
protect what you can, but evacuate when you're told to do so
stay up to date through your local radio station
report hazards such as gas leaks and electrical issues to the right people. Do not assume that power lines on the ground or hanging low are dead. They may be live or could become live. Report low and grounded power cables to UK Power Networks. Do not go within 5m of low or grounded power cables.
stay away from high or strong waves
avoid walking or driving through floodwater

For guidance see what to do and who to contact if you've been affected by flooding.