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  1. Home
  2. Property and housing
  3. Your neighbourhood, roads and streets
  4. Flooding in your area

Preparing for a flood

Flooding can have a harmful effect on your health, home or business. By putting some safeguards and planning in place, you can help reduce the risk of flooding and its impact on you.

Checking risks of flooding

You can get flood updates in local news, weather and traffic bulletins.
You can use flood maps to see if your property is at risk from flooding:

  • Check the risk of flooding in your area

You can also get weather information and find out when severe weather warnings are given.

  • Met Office

Reduce the impact of flooding

To reduce the impact of flooding on your home or business:

  • keep a list of useful contact numbers such as your local council, emergency services and your insurance company
  • agree how you and the people you live with will contact each other and where you will go if you become separated during a flood
  • move your valuable belongings to safety
  • know where to turn off your electricity or gas supply
  • make sure your insurance provides cover against flood damage to property
  • if your property is at risk of flooding, have some sandbags or floodboards or plastic covers prepared to block doorways and airbricks
  • consider where to relocate your car when a flooding incident is possible

Prepare an emergency flood kit with essential items that will help you cope in a flood, including:

  • copies of your home insurance documents
  • a torch with spare batteries
  • a battery powered or wind-up radio
  • warm, waterproof clothing, rubber boots and blankets
  • a first aid kit and supplies of medication needed by anyone in the house
  • bottled water and tinned or dried food
  • things for looking after your baby
  • essential medicines

Contacting utility suppliers

If your home is flooded, contact your utility suppliers.

  • ​Utility suppliers emergency contacts

Reducing the risk of flooding

Householders and landowners can take action to prevent the risk of flooding. It is important to:

  • maintain all drains within your property
  • clean private gullies, especially in autumn when fallen leaves  can cause temporary blockages

You must not dump waste or any material in urban waterways as this can cause blockages and flooding.

More useful links

  • Dealing with emergencies
  • Local councils in Northern Ireland
  • Support and safety in your home
  • Rivers and flooding 
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Flooding in your area

  • After a flood - clearing up
  • After a flood - making an insurance claim
  • Check the risk of flooding in your area
  • Emergencies and major incidents
  • Flooding
  • How to protect your home from flooding
  • Preparing for a flood
  • Reporting flooding
  • Rivers and watercourses
  • Steps to reduce the risk of burst pipes
  • What to do if a flood happens

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