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Floods and water

Preparing for a flood

There are steps you can take to prepare and protect your home or business before flooding.

You can start by checking the long-term flood risk where you live. Use this service to find out:

the long term flood risk
the possible causes of flooding
how to manage flood risk

This service also tells you about an area’s long-term risk from:

rivers and the sea
surface water
reservoirs
groundwater (where data is available)

Floods and Water Guide - Link - GOV.UK Long term flood risk

Check your long-term flood risk

Floods and Water Guide - Text - Blue Pages

Blue Pages directory

You can use organisations like Blue Pages to see what property flood products and services are available to help reduce the risk of flooding to your home or business.

Floods and Water Guide - Link - Blue Pages

The Blue Pages flood directory

Floods and Water Guide - Text - Before Flooding further guidance

Further guidance

If your home or business is at risk from flooding, you should also:

make a flood plan for your home, business or community
pack an overnight bag in case you're evacuated
protect doorways and low-level air vents with flood control equipment such as doorway flood barriers, flood socks or bags filled with sand or earth. Remember to unblock vents before you use gas or ventilating equipment
check on your neighbours, especially if they're ill, elderly or disabled. Make sure the emergency services or local flood warden know about them

The national GOV.UK website has further information about how to prepare for flooding:

Floods and Water Guide - Link - GOV.UK Prepare for flooding

Protect yourself from future flooding

Flooding - Text - Prepare website

The national GOV.UK website also provides simple and effective steps you can take to prepare for an emergency:

Community Safety - Link - Prepare website

Visit the Prepare website