Prepare for flooding
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1. Protect yourself from future flooding
You can:
- check for flooding in the next 5 days
- sign up for flood warnings by phone, text or email
- check your long term flood risk from rivers, the sea, surface water, reservoirs and groundwater (where data is available)
There’s different guidance on preparing for flooding in Scotland, preparing for flooding in Wales or preparing for flooding in Northern Ireland.
Make a flood plan
Plan how you’ll respond to a flood. You can make a:
- personal flood plan
- community or group flood plan - if you’re responsible for an organisation such as a school, hospital, care home or community group
- business flood plan
Keep your flood plan in a safe place with other essential items, for example spare medication, important documents and contact details.
Find local support
Find out what support is available in your local area before, during and after a flood, for example:
- flood action groups - volunteers who work with local councils and agencies to reduce flood risks and represent local people
- community flood wardens - volunteers who monitor a specific local area and tell residents when flooding is likely to happen
- community hubs - where you can find food, clothing, shelter and advice during a flood
You can find your nearest flood action group, community flood wardens or community hub:
- on social media
- on your local council’s website
- by contacting the National Flood Forum
If you own a riverside property
If you own property next to a watercourse, for example a river, culvert, brook or mill stream, you must:
- maintain river beds and banks
- not obstruct the water flow
- not pollute the water
- protect wildlife
Read guidance on the rights and responsibilities of owning a riverside property.
Contact the Environment Agency if you have questions about your responsibilities.
Environment Agency
enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
Telephone: 03708 506 506
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Find out about call charges
If your property’s next to a canal
Contact the Canal and River Trust to check who’s responsible for maintaining the canal.
If you have a disability or need extra help
Ask your local council if you can get extra help during a flood.
Citizens Advice can help make sure you’ll get support if your energy supply is affected.
Ask Floodline to send flood warnings to a friend or relative on your behalf.
Floodline
Telephone: 0345 988 1188
Textphone: 0345 602 6340
24-hour service
Find out about call charges
2. Protect your property
Before a flood happens you can make changes to your property to reduce the damage flooding can do, for example:
- laying tiles instead of carpets
- moving electrical sockets higher up the wall
- fitting non-return valves to stop flood water entering your property through the drains
- getting flood protection products, for example flood doors or self closing air bricks
Read more about how to prepare your property for flooding.
You can:
- get further advice from the National Flood Forum about how to protect your property and how much this will cost
- find flood protection products and services at Blue Pages
You may need permission to do work that will affect the flow of a river or divert flood water.
Know how to turn off your gas, electricity and water
You’ll need to turn off your mains water, gas and electricity if you have to leave your home during a flood.
The water stop tap (also called a ‘stopcock’), gas shut-off valves and the electrical main switch are in different places in different properties.
You’ll usually find:
- your water stop tap inside your home where your water supply comes in, or outside near to your property’s boundary under a cover
- your gas shut-off valve next to your gas meter
- your mains electricity cut off on your fuse board with a big on and off switch
3. Get insurance
If you’re a homeowner, you can:
- get insurance advice from the National Flood Forum or MoneyHelper
- find lower-cost home insurance through Flood Re if you’re in a flood-risk area
- find a broker that specialises in properties that are difficult to insure
If your home has been flooded and your insurer is part of Flood Re’s Build Back Better scheme, you could get up to £10,000 to protect your home from future flood damage as part of your flood damage repairs. If your insurer is part of the scheme, ask them if you’re eligible when you make a claim.
If you’re renting
Ask your landlord what insurance they have as it may not cover your personal items.
If their insurance does not cover your personal items, you can get contents insurance.
Read the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ ‘How to rent’ guide for more information about flooding and insurance.
Businesses
You can get:
- buildings insurance - to cover flood damage to buildings
- contents insurance - to cover damage to items, for example stock
- business interruption insurance - to cover running costs or losses, for example salaries or loss of profit
Get advice from the National Flood Forum on insurance for small businesses.
Get evidence of flood risk
Contact the Environment Agency if your insurer asks for evidence of your flood risk.
Environment Agency
enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
Telephone: 03708 506 506
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Find out about call charges
You’ll get a letter within 20 days. It’s free for individuals and businesses.
If you’ve done work on your property
You or a surveyor can complete a Flood Risk Report. This will tell insurers or buyers how the work has reduced the flood risk.