More than five million people are at risk from flooding in the UK. Flooding can be caused by overflowing rivers or streams, heavy rain, blocked drains or technical failures such as damage to a water main. 

There are steps you can take if you are concerned that your property is at risk of flooding. If you are a tenant or live in social housing, please speak to your landlord about flooding concerns as it is your landlord's responsibility.

What you can do

  • Check your flood risk and sign up for free flood warnings via the Environment Agency Flood Information Services
  • Plan ahead to make sure you, your family and your home will be protected if the worst happens
  • Keep a list of important numbers with you – emergency services, utilities, insurance company 
  • Familiarise yourself with the isolation points for water, gas and electricity for your property 
  • If you feel you are at risk of flooding, put important documents and belongings in a safer place
  • Contact Floodline on 0845 988 1188 for advice on the risk of your area flooding

Report a flooding issue

Insurance 

Stay up-to-date with flood insurance changes:

How you can help us

As the public, you are our eyes and ears to local flooding events. Flooding can happen quickly and disappear just as fast so we need your knowledge, photos and other records to help us investigate incidents and apply for funding.  Send anything that might help us to [email protected]. 

If you own land or property alongside a river or other watercourse

A watercourse is any natural or artificial channel that water flows through such as a river, brook, beck, or stream. If you own property alongside a watercourse, you may be the 'riparian owner' and could be responsible for up to the centre line of a watercourse.

View the Riparian Ownership guide on the Environment Agency website which explains your rights and responsibilities.

If your house is at risk of flooding

  • Call the council on 443322 to request sandbags, advice and support
  • Take valuable items upstairs including electrical items.
  • Disconnect any other electrical items.
  • If possible raise any furniture you can’t move.
  • Weigh down furniture too heavy to move, to stop it floating and causing damage.
  • Take the curtains down or wrap them round the curtain pole.
  • Put plugs in sinks and weigh them down with something heavy to prevent backflow from the drains if you haven’t had flood prevention works.
  • Bring caged outdoor pets inside, and move all pets with food, water, bedding and litter trays upstairs.
11 January 2023