Help protect your home before, during and after a flood

When a flood warning is issued, it means that flooding is expected and you need to act fast.

Published: 03 Dec 2024 Last updated: 12 Oct 2026 7 mins read

We understand the devastation that flooding can cause. Sadly, flood risk in the UK is increasing and if your home has flooded once, it's worth considering steps that could help reduce the impact of any future floods.

Before we even get to the 10-part plan of an active flood warning, one of the easiest ways to assess your flood risk is by checking the flood map links relevant to your area.

England: Flood risk summary - Check your long-term flood risk - GOV.UK ^{Footnote [1]}

NI: Flooding risk in Northern Ireland ^{Footnote [1]}

Wales: Natural Resources Wales / Check your flood risk by postcode ^{Footnote [1]}

Scotland: Flood maps | Beta | SEPA | Scottish Environment Protection Agency ^{Footnote [1]}

Sign up to flood warnings and create a plan

Floods can strike at any time of year, day or night. In a life threatening emergency, you may receive a loud alert on your phone created by Emergency Alerts, the UK government system that provides warning and advice based on your location at the time. Having a plan in place will help you be better prepared to respond in an emergency – reducing the impacts of flooding and helping you to recover from it.

Resilico Connect is a free mobile app which enables you to get flood alerts and create a flood plan directly on your mobile. It's available on iOS and Android phones. If you use this code 1696-0000-2025 when signing up you can anonymously participate in research into people's preparedness for flooding.

Get the Resilico Connect App

Make a personalised flood plan on your phone, get real-time alerts for risks near your home, and stay prepared with helpful maintenance reminders - all in one place.

BeFloodReady

BeFloodReady provides guidance and information on how you can prepare your home for a flood, including a flood plan template and tips on what to pack in your flood kit, as well as information and guidance on Property Flood Resilience measures.

How to prepare for a flood

Things to keep handy

It’s a good idea to have warm clothes and wellies on hand, so you can dress quickly for the cold and wet if you need to. Think about the things you’ll need if there’s no power. Keep regular medicines handy. And blankets, waterproof clothing, a torch and batteries could all be useful.

Spare a thought for your neighbours, especially if they’re old or vulnerable. Do they know they might be flooded? Try to keep them up to date with any news you have about the floods.

Stop flood water where you can

Waiting for flood water to approach your home is nerve-wracking, but there’s lots you can do to stop it getting inside. Use sandbags, if you have them, placed against gaps at the bottom of doors. You can also use plastic bags – or even pillowcases – filled with soil from the garden. Of course, if you already have flood defences installed, make sure they are activated.

Double check that all your windows and doors are shut and locked. Put plugs into sinks throughout the house, with something heavy on top them, and toilet bungs into all your toilets. These will stop sewage water backing up into your home through your pipes.

Move your valuables

Collect valuables and place them as high up in your home as possible. Think about the things it would be difficult to live without: passports, family photos, important documents. And concentrate on belongings that are light and easy to move. Pile soft furnishings up high, away from the floor. There’s no point wasting valuable time trying to move large pieces of furniture, however sentimental you may feel about them.

If you have time, move your car to higher ground, away from your home. But don’t risk driving in flood water. The car may start to float, the steering will stop working and it will then be out of control.

Safety first

If you have time – and it’s safe to do so – turn off the gas and electricity at the isolator switch or fuse box. You should also move any electrical items, if you’re able to without help, to higher areas in your home. TVs, toasters and kettles can be carried. Freezers and fridges can be raised off the floor on bricks if there are enough of you to lift them safely.

What to do during a flood

Avoid flood water

If your home floods, keep out of the water if you can. It will be mixed with sewage and full of bacteria. If you get any on your hands, wash them as soon as you can with clean water and anti-bacterial soap. Don’t drink any tap water (use bottled) and don’t let children play in the flood water.

If flood water enters your home, don’t touch any light switches or electrical appliances. Don’t wade through flood water as you can’t see where you’re stepping; there could be unseen, dangerous obstacles under the water.

The emergency services

If the emergency services advise you to leave your home, listen to their advice. Only return to your home when they tell you that it’s safe to do so.

If you or any member of your household are injured or in immediate danger, contact the emergency services if they are nearby or call them on 999.

Action to take after a flood

Let your insurance company know

If your home or contents are damaged by the flood, you should contact your insurer as soon as it's safe to do so.

The sooner you contact them and the more detail you give, the faster they'll be able to process your claim.

Take photos and videos of where the flood water line came up to and the damage it's caused. You should also make a list of everything that's been damaged and keep receipts for anything you've spent on repairs or cleaning up.

Be careful after the flood water recedes

As your home dries out, don’t be tempted to use the sockets or light switches. They could have been damaged during the flood. Only use electricity again once a qualified professional has tested the wiring.

Everything that’s been covered by flood water needs to be dried, cleaned and disinfected, or thrown away. Don’t use anything from the garden – vegetables, for example – that might have come into contact with the dirty water.

You will need to ventilate your home and dry it out. Heaters and humidifiers can help. There are also professional companies who can do this work if you’re not able to yourself.

Structural damage

The damage to your home caused by a flood might make it difficult to live in. If the flood damage is slight, you may be able to stay in your home while it’s repaired. But if you suspect there might be structural damage, it’s best to be safe and move out until it can be checked by a professional.

Moving into temporary accommodation

At Aviva we know how upsetting being flooded out can be, and have insurance that can cover you to stay in alternative accommodation if necessary, until your home is fit to live in again.

If you rent your home, you should contact your landlord and check if they are responsible for providing alternative accommodation if you're flooded out.

If you need to leave your home in a hurry, contact your local council who will have details of shelter and help being offered to those affected by flooding.

Living in a house that’s been flooded

Until life gets back to normal, you should be extra careful around the areas in your home which were flooded. Wear shoes and don’t let your pets or children wander into affected areas.

If the flood water reached any food, this should be thrown away. And you should use bottled water until you are sure tap water is safe to use again.

If you or anyone in your family starts to feel ill after a flood, call your GP surgery.

Cleaning up after a flood

If there isn’t much flood water left in your home, it may be possible to remove it yourself. You can rent pumps and wet vacuums, or use buckets to carry the water outside. But if there’s still a lot of water left, it may be best to get a professional in to tackle the job.

You should speak to your insurance company about what you can move or throw away, as this may impact your claim.

Some household items, such as clothing, towels, cutlery, and plates can be washed and used again. Just make sure to disinfect them, as well as all surfaces, including walls, kitchen cabinets and tables.

Preventing further damage, preparing for future floods

If your home’s been flooded before, you will want to do everything you can to be prepared and reduce possible damage if it happens again.

You can also flood-proof your home in straightforward ways, like raising the height of plug sockets and installing air brick covers. You may be able to get financial help with this work, depending on your eligibility for any local schemes that are available. Your local authority will be able to give you more information.