Managing flood risks

Protecting your property against flooding

• Ensure that you have basic flooding prevention equipment, i.e. sandbags.
• If possible, raise electrical and telecommunication sockets to at least 1 metre.
• Consider fitting flood protection devices such as airbrick covers, demountable barriers, non-return valves for drains and sewerage waste pipes.
• Ensure that your place of worship is inspected and any maintenance undertaken on drainage systems annually.
• Report any street drainage problems to your local authority.
• Move any valuable items that could get damaged to a higher elevation in the building.
• Create a flood kit which could include any important contact details, as well as details of the locations of utility shut off points such as your stopcock.
• If flooding is common for your area you could consider raising plug sockets and fuse boxes so that flooding doesn’t interfere with electrics.
• Ensure that you have drainage systems in place.
• Ensure you have a flood risk assessment in place.

Subscribe to flood warnings alerts from the Environmental Agency.

For further information about preparing for flooding, have a look at the government’s website.