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.

What to do next

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Call 0800 587 1377

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Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

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Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

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contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

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Preparing for a flood

Checking risks of flooding

Reduce the impact of flooding

Contacting utility suppliers

Reducing the risk of flooding

More useful links

Help improve this page - send your feedback

What to do next

Carer's Allowance

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Disability Living Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Personal Independence Payment

Translation help

Select a language

Preparing for a flood

Checking risks of flooding

Reduce the impact of flooding

Contacting utility suppliers

Reducing the risk of flooding

More useful links

Help improve this page - send your feedback

Messages

What to do next

Carer's Allowance

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Disability Living Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Personal Independence Payment