How to Prepare Your Household for Flooding

Flooding is one of the most common natural hazards households face, and it can happen almost anywhere. It doesn't just affect homes near rivers or coastlines — surface water flooding from overwhelmed drains, sudden downpours, and rising groundwater can strike streets and neighbourhoods that have never flooded before. Climate change is making intense rainfall events more frequent, and flood-prone areas are expanding into places that were previously considered safe.

The physical damage is only part of the picture. Flooding contaminates water supplies, destroys food, ruins electronics, renders heating systems inoperable, and can make a home uninhabitable for months. The emotional toll — particularly on children and elderly household members — can persist long after the water recedes. Flood impacts continue far beyond the immediate event.

But preparation makes a measurable difference. Households that have a flood plan, a packed emergency kit, and an understanding of what to do before, during, and after a flood consistently recover faster and suffer less damage. This guide covers all three phases.

1. Know Your Flood Risk

The first step is understanding whether and how flooding might affect your property. Many people assume they aren't at risk because they've never flooded — but flood risk changes over time as climate patterns shift and local infrastructure develops.

Most countries publish a free online flood-risk map you can check by address or postcode (see References).

Understanding your risk means knowing which type of flooding could affect you — river flooding, coastal flooding, surface water flooding (from heavy rain overwhelming drainage), or groundwater flooding — because each type behaves differently and requires different preparations. Surface water flooding, in particular, can happen almost anywhere with very little warning.

2. Sign Up for Flood Warnings

Early warning gives you time — sometimes hours, sometimes only minutes — to act before water arrives. That time is invaluable.

Many countries provide a free flood warning service that sends alerts by phone, text, or email — sign up as soon as you know your risk. Some also issue flood warnings through emergency alert broadcasts and weather radio.

Make sure you understand the alert levels used in your country. Warning systems vary, but most escalate through similar stages — an early alert meaning flooding is possible (be prepared), a warning meaning flooding is expected (act now), and a severe warning meaning there is a danger to life. Learn what each one means in your area, because each requires a different level of response.

Ensure every adult in the household is registered for warnings, and that your family emergency communication plan includes specific actions for when a flood alert is received.

3. Create a Household Flood Plan

A flood plan is a short document — ideally one page — that sets out exactly what your household will do when a flood warning is received. Many authorities offer a downloadable flood plan template — keep yours updated and practised regularly.

Your flood plan should cover where your emergency kit is stored and who grabs it, how you will switch off gas, electricity, and water if safe to do so (and everyone should know where the mains switches are), your evacuation route and where you will go (a friend's house, a relative, or an evacuation centre), who is responsible for pets and any vulnerable household members, a checklist of items to move upstairs or to higher ground before water arrives (valuables, documents, electronics, medications), and emergency contact numbers on paper.

If you have a go bag already packed and stored by the door, you're significantly ahead — flooding is one of the scenarios it's designed for. If you don't have one yet, building a basic flood kit is a good starting point.

4. Build a Flood Kit

A flood kit is essentially a waterproof version of an emergency go bag, with some flood-specific additions. Keep one packed and ready if you live in a flood-risk area. Store it somewhere accessible — ideally upstairs or on a high shelf — so it stays dry even if ground-floor flooding occurs.

Your flood kit should include waterproof clothing and wellington boots, a torch and spare batteries, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, bottled water and ready-to-eat food for at least three days, essential medications and a printed prescription list, copies of important documents in a waterproof bag (insurance policies, identification, medical records, bank details), a fully charged power bank and phone charger, cash in small denominations, a first aid kit, warm clothing and blankets, and supplies for children and pets if applicable.

Also include your home insurance policy number and insurer's contact details prominently in the kit — you'll need these quickly after a flood, and they may not be accessible if your paperwork is waterlogged.

5. Protect Your Property Before Flooding Arrives

When you receive a flood warning, you may have a window of time — sometimes a few hours — to reduce the damage. Every minute counts.

Move valuables, electronics, and irreplaceable items upstairs or to the highest point in your home. Photo albums, hard drives, laptops, passports, and sentimental items should go first. It's worth photographing all household valuables in advance and storing those images in cloud storage to support insurance claims later.

Raise large items off the ground where possible — put furniture on bricks or blocks, and move soft furnishings and rugs upstairs. Disconnect electrical appliances and move them if you can. If you're advised to turn off your electricity, gas, or water supply at the mains, do so — but never touch electrical switches or sockets if you're standing in water.

If you have them, deploy flood barriers, sandbags, or flood boards across doorways and airbricks. Even basic measures like putting plugs in sinks and weighing them down can help prevent drains from backing up into your home. Block toilet and drain openings with sandbags or purpose-made covers if sewage backflow is a risk in your area.

If time permits, move your car to higher ground. A vehicle in floodwater is both a financial loss and a potential hazard.

6. What to Do During a Flood

If flooding is imminent or occurring, your priority is personal safety — not property.

If you're told to evacuate, do so immediately. Take your flood kit, your go bag, your medications, and your pets. Lock your home and leave by the safest route. Do not delay to save belongings. Follow evacuation instructions from emergency services and do not deviate from recommended routes — flooding may have made some roads impassable.

If you're sheltering in place, move to the highest floor of your home. Bring your phone, flood kit, water, food, warm clothing, and torch. Avoid ground-floor rooms and basements. If water is rising inside your home, do not attempt to walk through it — just 15 centimetres of fast-moving water can knock an adult off their feet, and floodwater often conceals sharp debris, open manholes, and contamination.

Never drive, walk, or swim through floodwater. This is the single most dangerous mistake people make during floods. Just 30 centimetres of flowing water can move a car. Remember: turn around, don't drown.

Stay informed using your battery-powered radio. Mobile networks may be overwhelmed or down. Listen for updates from emergency services on when it's safe to move or return.

7. After the Flood: Returning Home Safely

Do not return home until authorities confirm it's safe. Floodwater may still be present, and structural damage may have made the building dangerous.

When you do return, approach with caution. Do not turn on electricity or gas until a qualified professional has inspected your systems. Floodwater can damage wiring, corrode gas connections, and create hidden hazards. If you smell gas, leave immediately and call the emergency gas number.

Floodwater is contaminated. It typically contains sewage, chemicals, fuel, animal waste, and debris. Anything that has been submerged — food, soft furnishings, mattresses, children's toys, wooden chopping boards — should be assumed contaminated. Discard any food that has come into contact with floodwater, including canned goods with damaged seals. Wear rubber gloves and boots during cleanup, and wash your hands thoroughly and frequently.

Document everything before you start cleaning. Photograph all damage — walls, floors, furniture, appliances, structural elements — for your insurance claim. Keep damaged items where possible until your insurer has assessed them, or photograph them in detail before disposal.

Contact your insurer as soon as possible. The sooner you file a claim, the sooner the recovery process begins. Having your policy number and insurer's details in your flood kit (as recommended earlier) saves valuable time.

8. The Emotional Impact of Flooding

Flooding is one of the more psychologically distressing emergencies a household can experience. The violation of your home, the loss of personal belongings, the uncertainty of the recovery timeline, and the disruption to normal life all take a toll — often more than people anticipate.

Children are particularly affected. They may become fearful of rain, reluctant to go to school, or anxious about being away from their parents. These effects can persist long after the physical recovery is complete. For detailed guidance on supporting children through emergencies, see our guide to emergency preparedness for families with children.

Adults, too, may experience anxiety, sleep disruption, irritability, or feelings of helplessness during the weeks and months of recovery. These reactions are normal. If they persist, seek support from your GP or a mental health professional. Many communities also have flood support groups where affected households can share experiences and practical advice.

9. Long-Term Flood Resilience

If you live in a flood-risk area — or have experienced flooding — there are measures that can reduce the impact of future events.

Property-level flood resilience measures include fitting non-return valves on drains and waste pipes (to prevent sewage backflow), installing flood-resistant doors and barriers, raising electrical sockets and boiler controls above expected flood levels, replacing ground-floor flooring with tile or concrete instead of carpet, and using water-resistant plaster on lower walls. These measures won't prevent flooding, but they can dramatically reduce damage and recovery time.

Review your insurance annually. Make sure your policy covers flood damage adequately, and understand what's included and excluded. Keep photographic records of your home's condition and contents updated in cloud storage.

And keep your flood plan, flood kit, and home emergency kit current. Check them every six months — ideally before the season when flooding is most likely in your area.