Staying safe information guide
No one wants to feel unsafe, especially when we’re in our own homes. Unfortunately, as we get older, we might start...
How to Prepare for a Flood
Flooding can be devastating - it poses a risk to life, property and vehicles, and can force people out of their homes. But by preparing in advance, you can help keep yourself, your home and your valuables safe, especially if you live in a high-risk area.
How do I find out if my area has a flood risk?
If you're not sure whether your house is at risk of flooding, you can check the long-term flood risk for your local area on GOV.UK.
You can sign up to get free flood warnings by phone, text or email too. There are 3 different levels of warning:
- a flood alert means you need to prepare
- a flood warning means you should take action
- a severe flood warning means there's a danger to life.
Sign up for free flood warnings by phone, text or email on GOV.UK
How do I create a flood plan?
Planning ahead can save valuable time, protect your belongings and reduce the impact of flooding on your home. If you're wondering how do you prepare for a flood, taking a few simple steps in advance can make it easier to stay safe and manage an emergency if one happens.
Think about what you might need if you had to leave your home quickly. Keep important documents, such as insurance details, somewhere safe, make a note of emergency contact numbers, and ensure you have enough medication if you take it regularly. It can also help to discuss your plans with family, friends, neighbours or carers so they know how they can support you during a flood.
Here are some practical ways to prepare for a flood:
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Store irreplaceable or valuable items upstairs or, if you live in a bungalow, as high up as possible.
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Keep important documents, including insurance information, somewhere safe and easy to access.
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Buy large sealable bags to help protect important belongings and paperwork.
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Find out how to turn off your gas, electricity and water supplies.
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Prepare a flood kit that you can easily reach in an emergency.
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Make a note of important contact numbers, including your insurer, utility providers and family members.
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If you rely on medication or medical equipment, make a plan for how you'll access what you need during a flood.
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Speak to neighbours, family members or carers about any support you may need.
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Find out if there's a flood warden or community flood group in your area.
If you're already getting some general repair work done to your home, you could consider flood-safe options, like raised electrical sockets and water-resistant skirting boards.
Minimising the impact of flooding
If there's time and it's safe to do so, there are steps you can take to reduce the impact of flooding.
Prepare a flood kit
Include:
- your mobile phone and charger
- important contact numbers
- any medication you take regularly
- a torch
- a battery-powered radio
- your insurance policy details
- rubber gloves
- wet wipes and hand sanitiser
- a first aid kit
- bottled water.
How to protect your home from flooding
- Make sure any pets are safe and cared for.
- Move valuable, sentimental or essential items upstairs or to a higher place.
- If possible, move your car to an area that is less likely to flood.
- Put any property flood protection measures in place, such as flood gates or air brick covers.
How to Prevent Flooding in Garages, Basements and Gardens
There are steps you can take to reduce the risk of flooding around your home, particularly in garages, basements and gardens. While these measures can't prevent all flooding, they may help limit the amount of water that gets into your property.
How to prevent a garage from flooding
Garages can be vulnerable to flooding, especially if they're below ground level or located near sloping driveways. To help reduce the risk:
- keep drains, gutters and gullies clear of leaves and debris
- check that water can drain away freely from driveways and paved areas
- install flood barriers or flood boards if they're suitable for your property
- use air brick covers and other flood protection measures when flood warnings are issued
- make sure any nearby drains or soakaways are regularly maintained.
How to prevent basement flooding
Basements and cellars are particularly at risk during heavy rainfall and floods. You can help protect them by:
- keeping gutters, downpipes and drains in good condition
- checking that water is directed away from your home's foundations
- maintaining any drainage systems, gullies or soakaways around your property
- considering flood-resilient measures, such as flood barriers or non-return valves, where appropriate.
How to stop garden flooding
Standing water in gardens can increase the risk of flooding around your home. To help improve drainage:
- regularly clear leaves, mud and debris from drains and gullies
- check that soakaways are working properly
- avoid blocking drainage routes with garden waste or soil
- consider ways to improve drainage, such as creating permeable areas where water can soak into the ground more easily
- keep garden channels, ditches and drainage features clear where applicable.
If you need to leave your home
- Take any valuables with you if you can.
- Lock doors and windows, if it's safe to do so.
- Let family, friends or neighbours know where you're going and how to contact you.
- Take important information with you, including emergency contact details, email addresses and insurance documents. If possible, make sure you have your insurance policy number, as your insurer may need it to keep in touch with you.
Returning home after a flood
Only return to your home when the emergency services or local authority say it's safe to do so.
Contacting your insurer after a flood
If your home or belongings have been damaged by flooding, contact your insurer as soon as possible.
Your insurer will explain what support is available, how to make a claim and whether you're covered for temporary accommodation. Most insurers have a 24-hour claims helpline. If you have separate buildings and contents insurance, contact both insurers. If you rent your home, contact your landlord as well, as they're usually responsible for repairs to the building.
It can also be helpful to keep a record of all communication about your claim, including the date and time of any phone calls, who you spoke to and what was discussed. Keep copies of emails, letters and other paperwork, as you may need to refer to them later.
If the damage is significant, your insurer may appoint a loss adjuster. They work on behalf of the insurer to assess the damage, coordinate repairs and, if needed, arrange temporary accommodation. They may visit your home, arrange further surveys and provide an estimate of how long repairs are likely to take.
If you need to move out while your home is being repaired, your insurance policy may cover the cost of temporary accommodation and other reasonable extra expenses. The amount of cover available will depend on your policy, so ask your insurer what you're entitled to and whether any limits apply. If you rent your home, speak to your landlord or housing provider about any support they can offer.
If you can't stay in your home because of flooding, you may also be able to apply to your local council as homeless. People who are homeless due to flooding are usually considered to be in priority need, which means the council may have a duty to provide emergency accommodation and other housing support.
Before throwing away damaged items, check with your insurer or loss adjuster. It's helpful to take photographs and make a list of damaged belongings, including details such as make, model and serial number where possible. This can help support your claim.
You may also be approached by a loss assessor. Unlike a loss adjuster, a loss assessor works for you rather than your insurer and will usually charge a fee. These costs aren't normally covered by insurance. If you're considering using one, make sure they're authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and that you understand any charges before agreeing to their services.
Useful information
Cleaning and repairing your home
Your insurer or loss adjuster will arrange for your home to be cleaned and repaired. This work should usually begin within a few weeks of agreeing a plan with them.
The first stage is to remove any silt, mud and debris left behind by the flood, clean affected areas and check that services such as gas and electricity are safe. In some cases, specialist cleaning companies, sometimes called disaster restoration firms, may carry out this work.
Damaged materials may then need to be removed from your home. This can include carpets, furniture, plaster, flooring, fitted units and woodwork. How much work is needed will depend on factors such as:
- how deeply your property flooded
- how long floodwater was present
- the type of construction of your home
- how quickly the property can be dried out.
If your home already has flood-resilient features, such as water-resistant flooring or plaster, less repair work may be needed.
Flood damage isn't always visible straight away, so the full extent of the damage may only become clear once cleaning and repair work has started. This can sometimes mean more work is needed than was first expected.
If you have valuable or sentimental items that were affected by the flood, such as photographs or family keepsakes, speak to your insurer, loss adjuster or restoration company before trying to clean them yourself. They may be able to advise on how best to recover and preserve them.
Cash settlements
Instead of having your insurer manage the repairs, you may be offered a cash settlement. This means you receive a payment and arrange the repairs yourself.
Before you accept a cash settlement, make sure you understand what's included and whether it will cover all the work needed to repair your home. You'll also be responsible for choosing and managing contractors.
If you arrange the repairs yourself, you're responsible for the quality of the work carried out. If problems arise or repairs need to be redone, your insurer may not be responsible.
If additional flood damage is discovered during the repairs, contact your insurer to find out whether you can make a further claim.
If you're unsure whether a cash settlement is right for you, ask your insurer to explain your options and any risks before making a decision.
Moving back home after flooding
Your insurer or loss adjuster will discuss with you when it's safe to return home. Depending on the extent of the damage, this could be after a few weeks or several months.
In some cases, you may be able to move back before all the repair work is finished. For example, redecoration is often completed after people have returned home.
Your claim is usually settled once all repair work has been completed and any outstanding payments have been made.
Before you move back, make sure you understand how any flood-resilience measures, such as flood gates or air brick covers, should be used in the future.
While it's natural to want to return home as soon as possible, it's important that essential cleaning, drying and repair work isn't rushed, as this could lead to problems later on.
Dealing with the emotional impact of flooding
Flooding can be emotionally difficult as well as physically disruptive.
You may feel upset, stressed or overwhelmed by what's happened, especially if you've had to leave your home, lost possessions with sentimental value, or seen your home damaged. It's normal to experience a range of emotions during the recovery process, and it can take time to adjust.
If you're struggling, it can help to talk to family, friends or someone you trust. You can also get support from The Silver Line Helpline, a free, confidential service for older people.
We're here to help
You can call our free Advice Line on 0800 678 1602, open 8am-7pm, 365 days a year. We also have specialist advisers at over 120 local Age UKs.
If you're experiencing a medical emergency or need urgent mental or physical health support, please call 999 or NHS 111.
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