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Be ready

Flooding

Around 6.3 million properties, homes and businesses in England are in areas at risk of flooding. You can check your own long-term flood risk.

Before

  1. Check your long-term flood risk, then sign up for flood warnings by phone, text or email (rivers, the sea and groundwater). GOV.UK Be Ready: flooding
  2. Ask Floodline (0345 988 1188, textphone 0345 602 6340, 24 hours) to send warnings to a friend or relative on your behalf if you need extra help. GOV.UK: prepare for flooding
  3. Make a personal flood plan and keep it with spare medication, important documents and contact details. GOV.UK: prepare for flooding
  4. Pack a grab bag in advance: medication, a first aid kit, important documents, a torch, bottled water, warm waterproof clothing and baby items. Keep it where you can reach it. GOV.UK Be Ready: flooding
  5. Keep important documents such as birth certificates in resealable water-tight bags, and move valuable or sentimental items upstairs or high up. GOV.UK Be Ready: flooding
  6. Know how to turn off your gas, electricity and water: the stop tap where the supply comes in, the gas valve by the meter, the big switch on the fuse board. GOV.UK Be Ready: flooding
  7. Get insurance: the Environment Agency has guidance on Prepare for flooding. GOV.UK Be Ready: flooding

When flooding is expected

  1. Check for flooding in the next 5 days, current warnings, and river and sea levels. GOV.UK: check for flooding
  2. If there's a flood warning or severe flood warning: turn off gas, electricity and water if it's safe. Never touch an electrical switch while standing in water. GOV.UK Be Ready: flooding
  3. Move your family, vehicles, pets and important items to safety, upstairs or to higher ground, and fit any flood barriers or air brick covers you have. GOV.UK Be Ready: flooding
  4. Always follow the council or emergency services if asked to evacuate. Delaying puts you and rescuers at risk. GOV.UK Be Ready: flooding
  5. Report severe river or coastal flooding in England to the Environment Agency, 24 hours, on 0800 80 70 60. GOV.UK Be Ready: flooding

Kit for this

Best-value eBay listings for the items this checklist mentions, by class. Prices checked 4 Nov, 22:54 UTC.

Grab bagsfrom £15.25 · 2 buys at the last checkDocument pouchesfrom £2.91 · 12 buys at the last checkFire bagsfrom £8.79 · 11 buys at the last checkTorchesfrom £5 · 19 buys at the last checkWater containersfrom £5.13 · 28 buys at the last checkFirst aid kitsfrom £3.09 · 23 buys at the last checkBlanketsfrom £2.10 · 21 buys at the last check

Information, not advice. Every line links to the official source it comes from; follow that source and the instructions of the emergency services first.