Flooding
What to Do in a Flood
4 min read · Last reviewed 22 September 2026
Sign up for free flood warnings now through Floodline on 0345 988 1188. When a flood warning is issued, move people, pets and valuables upstairs, turn off gas, electricity and water if it is safe to, and follow the emergency services. Never walk or drive through floodwater. If life is in danger, call 999.
Get warnings before you need them
Most flooding in the UK comes with some notice, and the free warning service is how you get it. In England, Wales and Scotland you can sign up online or by calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188, which runs 24 hours a day. Warnings arrive by text, phone call or email for the places you choose, so add your home and anywhere you regularly drive or park.
You can also check whether your address is at long-term risk from rivers, the sea or surface water. It takes a minute on GOV.UK and tells you whether a flood plan is worth making at all.
What each warning means
In England the Environment Agency uses three levels. Scotland and Wales use their own services with similar warnings, run by SEPA and Natural Resources Wales.
| Warning | What it means | Usual notice |
|---|---|---|
| Flood alert | Flooding is possible. Get ready. | Usually 2 to 12 hours before flooding |
| Flood warning | Flooding is expected. Act now. | Usually 30 minutes to 2 hours before |
| Severe flood warning | Danger to life. Act now and be ready to leave. | Issued when lives are at risk |
When a flood alert is issued
An alert is the time to get ready, not to panic. Check the latest warnings, charge phones and power banks, and put your grab bag, medicines and insurance documents where you can reach them quickly.
- Move the car to higher ground if you can do it safely now
- Put important papers, photos and anything irreplaceable upstairs
- Check that everyone in the household knows the plan, including where you would go
- Check on neighbours who may need help moving things or leaving
When a flood warning is issued
Official guidance is to act now. Move family, pets and valuables upstairs or to higher ground. Put flood barriers or air brick covers in place if you have them.
Turn off the gas, electricity and water if it is safe to do so. Never touch electrical switches or sockets while standing in water. If the emergency services tell you to leave, leave: take the grab bag, lock up, and go where they direct you.
Stay out of floodwater
Floodwater is more dangerous than it looks. It can carry sewage, and it hides open manholes, broken drain covers, debris and damaged road surfaces. Moving water is also stronger than it appears: the Environment Agency warns that just 30cm of moving water can float a car.
Do not walk, cycle or drive through it, even if it looks shallow and the road ahead looks clear. Turn around and find another route. If you are caught by fast-rising water, get to higher ground and call 999.
After the water goes down
Do not go back in until you are told it is safe. Have the electrics checked before switching them back on, and treat anything floodwater touched as contaminated: wash hands after cleaning, and throw away food it reached.
Take photographs of the damage before you clean up, and call your insurer early. If your home cannot be lived in, your local council can help with emergency accommodation.
Worth having ready before a flood
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- Check price on Amazon
Grab bag rucksack
Something to keep it all in, by the door, that one person can carry at short notice.
30L rucksack, about £25
- Check options on Amazon
Copies of important documents
Insurance, ID, tenancy or mortgage details and bank information. Paper copies work with no power and no signal.
Waterproof document wallet, about £10
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Head torch
Keeps your hands free for carrying, cooking or looking after children.
Rechargeable head torch, about £36
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USB power bank
Keeps phones alive for calls, alerts and torch use. Charge it every few months so it is ready.
20,000mAh power bank with built-in cable, about £50
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First aid kit
Cuts, burns and sprains still happen when the power is out, and help may take longer to arrive.
Universal first aid kit, about £22
Build a bag you could leave with
The builder makes a grab bag list for your household, including what to add for a baby or pets, and ticks off what you already have.
Build my grab bagCommon questions
- What number do I call about flooding?
- Floodline on 0345 988 1188 for warnings and advice in England, Wales and Scotland, 24 hours a day. In Northern Ireland, report flooding to the Flooding Incident Line on 0300 2000 100. If anyone is in danger, call 999.
- What is the difference between a flood alert and a flood warning?
- A flood alert means flooding is possible, so get ready. A flood warning means flooding is expected, so act now. A severe flood warning means there is a danger to life.
- Should I turn off my electricity in a flood?
- Official guidance is to turn off gas, electricity and water if it is safe to do so, before water reaches them. Never touch switches, sockets or the consumer unit while you are standing in water.
- Is it safe to drive through floodwater?
- No. The Environment Agency warns that 30cm of moving water can float a car, and floodwater hides damaged roads and open manholes. Turn around and find another route.
- What should I pack if I have to leave?
- Medicines, copies of important documents, phone chargers and a power bank, a torch, warm clothes, cash, and anything a baby or pet needs. A packed grab bag means you are not gathering these in a hurry.
Useful sources
- Prepare for flooding (GOV.UK)
- What to do before or during a flood (GOV.UK)
- Flood alerts and warnings: what they are and what to do (GOV.UK)
- Drivers warned not to risk driving through floodwater (Environment Agency)
- Reporting flooding (nidirect)
My Emergency Kit is an independent service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the UK Government or emergency services. Our suggestions are general information for UK households, not professional, medical or emergency advice. In an emergency call 999.
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