Before a flood

When a flood is forecast

If there's a flood warning or flood alert for your area, here's what you can do to prepare.

To make sure you, your pets and your family and friends are better protected, you can:

Listen to your local radio and TV weather forecasts and for advice from the emergency services. See a list of local and regional radio stations covering the borough.
Check on your neighbours living nearby, especially vulnerable or elderly people on your street.
Store food and water upstairs or as high as possible.
Fill jugs and saucepans with clean water in case you have to turn the water mains off.
Remember your prescriptions and move them as high as possible or keep them with you.
Charge your mobile phone fully.
Bring caged outdoor pets inside and move all pets along with their food, water, bedding and litter trays upstairs or as high as possible.

To prepare your property and furniture when a flood has been forecast, you can:

Roll up carpets and rugs and move them upstairs or as high as possible.
Empty furniture drawers and low cupboards.
Take furniture upstairs, if possible.
Weigh down furniture that is too heavy to move to stop it from floating away and damaging walls and windows.
Fasten plastic bags around the legs of wooden furniture to help minimise absorption of water.
Take down curtains or wrap them around the curtain pole.
Store valuable or sentimental items and important documents upstairs or as high as possible.
Use waterproof tape on cracks around external doors and gaps in bricks, but ensure your property is still ventilated.
Contact your insurers. They'll advise you of any actions you need to take to keep your insurance valid.
Take photos of your property and contents now, before any flood occurs.

How to prepare your gas and electricity when a flood has been forecast.

To prepare your drains and water supply for a flood, you can:

Clear house gullies and drains of debris and leaves to help floodwater drain away.
Put plugs in sinks and baths and weigh them down with something heavy.
Turn off water if you're advised to do so by the authorities.