Website of the UK government

Planning ahead in case of a flood

Follow these seven steps if you think that you might be at risk of flooding.

1: Check if your area is at risk of flooding

You can check the Environment Agency's flood warning services.

Use the flood warning map

You can enter your postcode on the following flood warning map to get information about any flood risks in your area.

• Check the flood warning map Opens new window

Sign up for flood warnings

If you live in a high risk flooding area, you can sign up for the 'Flood Warnings Direct service' by:

• phoning 0845 988 1188 (24-hour service)
  
• using Typetalk 0845 602 6340

You can also sign up online for the Flood Warnings Direct service by following the link below. The service provides early flood warnings by phone, text, email, fax or pager.

• Sign up for Flood Warnings Direct service Opens new window

Other ways of getting a flood warning

You can also get the latest flood updates on:

• Teletext Page 159, BBC Ceefax Page 419 and Digital Ceefax Page 405
• local weather, news and travel bulletins

Sometimes the Environment Agency will also give flood warnings by:

• sounding a siren, which signals a flood is about to happen in the area
• repeating the flood warning over a loud speaker from vehicles, which are driven around the local area

2: Check your home insurance

Check your buildings and contents insurance policy to:

• confirm you are covered for flooding 
  
• find out if damaged belongings will be replaced with new ones (a ‘new for old’ policy) 

If you live in rented accommodation, contact your landlord to find out about the insurance cover for your flat or house.

Follow the link below to get information from the Environment Agency on how living in a flood risk area may affect your insurance.

• Does this affect my insurance? Opens new window

3: Make sure you know how to turn off gas, electricity and water

If you have any doubts about how to turn off your gas, water or electricity, you should ask your supplier for advice. Marking which taps and switches to turn off during a flood with stickers makes it easier to remember and quicker to do.

4: Prepare a kit of essential items

The following items, kept together in an easily accessible place, will help you cope in a flood:

• copies of your home insurance documents
• a torch with spare batteries
• a battery-powered or wind-up radio
• warm, waterproof clothing and blankets
• a first aid kit and supplies of any medical prescriptions needed by you or anyone else you live with
• bottled water and food that won't go off, like tinned or dried food
• things to look after your baby (if you have one)

5: Plan how you will keep in touch during a flood

You, and anyone you live with, should agree how you'll contact each other and where you'll go, in case you become separated during a flood. Make sure you keep a list of important contact numbers with you at all times.

6: Move your valuable belongings

Make sure you move treasured possessions to safety before a flood. You could do this by moving items like furniture to a higher floor of your home or electrical equipment to the loft. You could also leave belongings like pets or your car with someone who isn't at risk of flooding.

7: Get flood protection

You can buy special ‘flood protection’ products that can help stop flooding damage to your home and belongings. These products (like sandbags or floodboards) help by:

• preventing water from entering your property
  
• slowing down the rate at which water enters your property
  
• reducing damage to walls, floors fixtures and fittings
  
• making the clean-up process easier and faster

You should follow manufacturer instructions to put these products in place when you get a flood warning.

Follow the link below to see information from the Environment Agency about where changes can be made to your home to reduce flood damage.

• Diagram showing how to reduce or prevent flood damage in your home (PDF, 323K) Opens new window

• Help with PDF files

The following flood protection products can help protect your home from the worst flood damage.

Sandbags

Your council may make sandbags available during a flood to help you protect your home. However, supply could be limited so it’s a good idea to:

• buy your own sand and bags
• fill pillowcases and plastic bags with earth

See ‘Sandbags and how to use them properly for flood protection’ below to get detailed guidance from the Environment Agency on how to use sandbags.

• Sandbags and how to use them properly for flood protection (PDF, 390K) Opens new window

• Help with PDF files

Floodboards

Floodboards fix to frames around windows and doors. You can wash, store and use these again. 

Plastic covers to seal airbricks

Airbricks are normally found in brick-built homes on external walls near ground level and are designed to allow air to circulate through the building. Plastic covers can stop water coming in through your airbricks in a flood. 

Kitemark scheme

You should choose flood protection products that have been awarded a British Standards Institution (BSI) Kitemark. This means that the products will have been tested to a recognised standard. Follow the link below to find out about the Kitemark scheme.

• Kitemark scheme - from the Environment Agency website Opens new window