Be prepared for a flood event
Find what steps you can take to protect your home and minimise potential damage
Flooding can cause serious damage — with repairs sometimes costing up to £50,000. With 5.2 million homes in the UK at risk, it’s important to take steps early to protect your property and reduce the impact of severe weather.
Knowing what to do before, during, and after a flood can help keep you safe and minimise damage.
1. Check Your Flood Risk
Understanding your area’s flood risk is the first step in protecting your home.
- Find out if your property is at risk of flooding.
- See if you may qualify for a Property Flood Resilience (PFR) grant to help protect your home.
2. Sign up for free Flood Warnings
Stay informed when severe weather or flooding is expected
- Met Office weather warnings – alerts for severe rainfall and storms.
- Environment Agency flood warnings – essential if you live near a main river sign up here: https://www.gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings or call Floodline on 0345 988 1188.
You can receive alerts by phone, text, or email.
3. Protect Entry Points to Your Home
Air Brick Covers
Air bricks allow ventilation but can let floodwater in.
Attach air brick covers during heavy rainfall to help prevent water entering your property.
Flood Boards for Doorways
Flood boards act as temporary barriers that can be fitted quickly when flooding is expected.
They won’t stop water forever but give you valuable time to move valuables and electricals to safety.
4. Raise electrical circuits
Raising electrical sockets and circuits above predicted flood levels helps protect your home’s electrical system.
| Even if circuits are raised, you should always switch off your electricity supply if flooding is likely.
5. Choose Flood‑Resilient Materials
Some building materials recover faster after flooding:
- Solid wood lasts longer than laminate or chipboard.
- Lime plaster dries quickly and is more resilient than gypsum plaster.
- Tile flooring recovers more easily than carpet, laminate, or vinyl.
These choices can significantly reduce repair costs after a flood event.
6. Use Temporary Flood Barriers
Portable flood barriers can be deployed around your home when the flood risk is high and stored away when not needed.
They are particularly useful for homes that flood regularly.
A garage or shed is usually required for storage.