Guidance

How to respond to flooding

Updated 19 December 2023

Flood response

Flood alerts are generally issued between 2 hours to 2 days in advance of flooding. Flood warnings are issued in shorter timeframes, often between half an hour to one day in advance.

In advance of a flood, there is an opportunity to engage the voluntary and community sector (VCSE) as well as neighbourhood networks to raise awareness and prepare to offer support, to help reduce immediate health impacts.

Public communications

At all alert levels, it’s important that public communications reach the affected communities to ensure awareness of the flood location, its potential severity and impacts. Relevant communications should reach the most vulnerable households and their communication needs should be considered.

The VCSE also plays an important role in ensuring public communications reach marginalised communities, through volunteers and community champions.

All organisations that may face business continuity issues should be alerted, with particular consideration of health and care providers and the potential impacts on service provision.

Suggestions for when a flood alert is issued

A flood alert means that flooding is possible. You should prepare now. 

• If not already done so, sign up for flood warnings.    

• Be ready to follow your flood plan and ensure you have an emergency kit ready with vital items like insurance documents and medication in case you need to leave your home. 

• Avoid walking, cycling or driving through any flood water.  

• Keep your family and pets away from floodwater. It may contain debris, sharp objects, open manhole covers, sewage or chemicals. In cold weather it could also introduce a risk of hypothermia.  

• Check you know how to turn off your gas, electricity and water. 

• Move any livestock and farming equipment away from areas likely to flood.  

• Plan how you will move family and pets to safety. 

Keep up to date with the flooding section of gov.uk. You can contact Floodline for advice on 0345 988 1188.

When a flood warning is issued

When a flood warning is issued, flooding is expected. You need to act now. 

• Move family, pets and valuables to safety. Protecting yourself and others and avoiding injury should be the priority.   

• Move to higher ground or the upper floor of a building 

• Turn off gas, electricity and water if it is safe to. Never touch anything electrical if you are standing in water   

• Put flood protection equipment such as flood barriers, or air brick covers in place if you have them 

• Do as the emergency services tell you and help others if safe to 

Keep up to date with the flooding section of gov.uk. You can contact Floodline for advice on 0345 988 1188

When a severe flood warning is issued

A severe flood warning means there is danger to life and significant disruption is expected. You must act now.   

• Stay in a safe place, such as higher ground or an upper floor of a building if it is safe to do so.  

• Call 999 if you are in immediate danger.   

• Follow advice from the emergency services and evacuate if you are told to.  Take your emergency kit where possible, unless advised otherwise. 

Keep up to date with the flooding section of gov.uk. You can contact Floodline for advice on 0345 988 1188

Further resources

The National Flood Forum provides flood-related community engagement advice.

An online module – ‘Community-centred approaches to health improvement’ – is available from e-Learning for Healthcare (e-LfH).

Further information regarding how to get help during a flood is available on GOV.UK.

There are actions that individuals can take to look after their own and others’ wellbeing and mental health during a flood event.

Preparing for flooding

How to prepare for flooding.

Recovering from flooding

How to recover from flooding.