What to do in a flooding emergency
In the event of a flood there are steps that can be taken to help keep you and your family safe.
If you experience flooding:
- You and your family's safety is most important, so move them and your pets upstairs. Don't barricade yourself in a room; make sure you still have a means of escape.
- Turn off your electricity and gas supply, if it is safe to do so, but do not touch sources of electricity when standing in flood water.
- Move your valuable items upstairs or to a high point in your property.
- Disconnect any equipment that uses water, like washing machines and dishwashers.
In some cases you may be evacuated to a rest centre. If you do need to be evacuated you will need to pull together an emergency grab bag.
Useful items for an emergency grab bag:
- Copy of your Household Emergency Plan, including a list of useful phone numbers, for example for your doctor and close relatives
- House and car keys
- Mobile phones & chargers
- Wallet, purse, cash, bank cards
- Glasses and/or contact lenses
- Important personal documents in a waterproof bag (insurance, passports, driving licences)
- Medication as well as copies of prescriptions for regular medication
- Essential childcare supplies (nappies, food)
- Bottled water and some non-perishable emergency foods
Spare money
Further information
The Environment Agency also has information on various flood scenarios along with flood warnings and flood reporting.