- Make sure you have adequate insurance. Flood Re may be able to help homeowners in flood risk areas to find affordable insurance. Also, a specialist insurance broker should be able to help.
- Keep vital possessions, such as financial and legal documents and items of sentimental value, upstairs or stored as high as possible in waterproof containers. Have plans in place to move such items at short notice.
- Make a list of useful phone numbers you may need.
- For example the emergency services and the Environment Agency's 24-hour Floodline number (0345 988 1188).
- Your personal contact numbers, including friends and family.
- Add an ICE – In Case of Emergency – to the beginning of one number on your contact list. This is the phone number the emergency services will look for and phone if something should happen to you as a result of the incident.
- Make sure you know where to turn off your gas, electric and water supplies.
- If you are not sure, ask the person who checks your meter when they next visit. Mark the tap or switch with a sticker to help you remember.
- Prepare a Kit Bag in case you need to evacuate your home.
- For suggestions of what should be included in the Kit Bag, see: Create a Flood Pack.
- For suggestions of what should be included in the Kit Bag, see: Create a Flood Pack.
- Talk to your neighbours about how you could work together in the event of a flood.
- Make long term preparations:
- Board your loft to make space for possessions above flood levels - very useful in a bungalow.
- Invest in flood protection products that can be fitted to doorways and air bricks for the duration of the flood risk period.
- Install new electrical sockets as high as possible above the anticipated water levels. Put new boilers, etc. on the first floor.
- Make your own personal flood plan: Make a flood plan (GOV.UK).
- Take steps to minimise any damage: Protect your property.
- If you own a business, a business continuity plan could get you back on your feet quicker. For more details and advice, please see: Business continuity. For more about this, read:
