Protect your property from flooding

Date Added: 23/09/2024

The Met Office oulitines a number of things you can do to prepare for flooding to keep yourself and your family safe:

Check if you are at risk of flooding
Online: Visit the government website

By phone: Contact Floodline

Telephone: 0345 988 1188
Typetalk: 0345 602 6340

Sign up for free flood warnings
If you live in an area at risk of flooding you could get free flood warnings direct to your mobile, home phone or email:

Visit the government website to sign up or call Floodline

Prepare a flood plan
A flood plan can help you to prepare for flooding and reduce the impact it might have to your home, business or community, it can also help with the recovery process.

You may be able to download a flood plan template from your local flood agency or council or put your own together using the following list as a guide:

A list of useful contact numbers - including your local council, utility providers and your insurance company
How to shut off your electricity or gas supply
Move your valuable belongings to a safe place
What would you need to move to safety during a flood – think about your pets, car, furniture
Who could you ask for help?
Could you offer to help vulnerable friends or neighbours?

Prepare a flood kit
Think about putting together an emergency flood kit with essential items that will help you cope in a flood, including:

Insurance documents and list of contact numbers
Torch & spare batteries
First aid kit and any prescription medicines
Warm waterproof clothes and blankets
Bottled water and snacks
Battery or wind-up radio
Supplies for looking after your baby or pet

Make sure that everyone knows where to find this kit and what to do if flooding happens.

Flood protection equipment

Think about making your property resilient to flooding. To reduce flood damage, you could lay tiles instead of carpets, move electrical sockets up the wall and fit non-return valves. If you know you live in an area at risk of flooding, you could consider installing some flood protection products:

Floodboards – can be fixed to your doors and windows
Plastic covers to seal airbricks
Sandbags

This information is adapted from the UK Met Office website.