During and after a flood

As a householder or business, it is your responsibility to protect your property from flooding. In some circumstances other organisations or property owners may also be liable.

Find out if you’re at risk

To find out if your home is at risk of flooding, please visit Gov UK, Prepare for a flood. You can also sign up for flood warnings, or call  Floodline on 0345 988 1188.

Prepare your property

• Sign up to the Met Office weather warnings.
• Read the National Flood Forum's advice on preparing for a flood.
• Read the London Fire Brigade’s advice on flooding.
• Have a flood kit, and make a flood plan, you can use GOV.UK's flood plan template.
• Check your buildings and contents insurance policy to make sure you're covered for flooding and that you've not underestimated the value of your home contents.
• Know how to turn off the water, gas and electricity. Ask your supplier for advice if you're not sure how to.  
• Put stickers or labels on the mains water taps and gas an electricity switches so you can identify them easily.
• If you have them, know how to use flood protection products, for example, flood barriers or air brick covers.
• Plan what you will do with pets, cars, furniture, electrical equipment and garden furniture.
• Move food and valuables upstairs.
• Meet with neighbours and make a community flood plan (see the Purley Community Flood Plan as an example).

For more information on groundwater flooding see the GOV.UK website.

For more information on how to prepare for an emergency please visit Emergency planning.
 

Flood resilience and resistance equipment

Flood resilience is about minimising the impact to your property from flooding. Flood resistance is about reducing the risk of flood water from entering your property. For more information about flood resilience and flood resistance and the steps you can take to increase flood protection see  The National Flood Forum.

• You can buy flood protection products, for example, air brick covers, flood doors and demountable flood barriers on The National Flood Forum Blue Pages Directory. 
• Get information and an online estimate on how to protect your property using the National Flood Forum's Property Protection Advisor, funded by DEFRA.
• Ensure you understand and learn how to use flood resilience and resistance equipment.
• See more information on property flood resilience and recovery at the Flood Mary website.