Surviving floods

•  Before a flood
• • Preparing your home for a flood
  • Preparing your school for floods
  • Preparing your workplace for floods
  • Preparing your community for floods
• During a flood
• After a flood

Before a flood

Preparing your Home for a flood

• Find out if your home, school, or place of work is at risk from flooding
• Establish a safe evacuation plan, a safe place on high ground you can move to should you need to evacuate
• Prepare a supply of food and water for you household, enough to last 3 days (your emergency survival kit), don't forget food and water for your pets
• Put valuables in a safe place, high up above any flood waters, the roof space or attic are ideal
• Make sure all chemicals are put up, high above flood waters, this will help stop flood waters becoming contaminated
• Make sure you have enough flood coverage in your insurance policy and this is kept up-to-date
• If you think there is a likely chance you will have to evacuate, ensure your car has enough petrol. Remember if the power goes out gas stations may not be working, keeping a gas can of spare fuel may be helpful, especially if you live in a remote area.

       More Information

                   Emergency survival kit and get away kit
                   Evacuating your home
                   Pets 
                   Storing Water

                  

Preparing your School for floods

Information to help get your local school ready for flooding and other natural disasters

Preparing your Workplace for floods

Under the Health and Safety in Employment Act, all businesses have an obligation to be prepared for an emergency. Here are some web sites that will help you put together an Emergency Plan for your business or workplace and ensure your staff and colleagues are ready should disaster strike.

Civil Defence on how to be prepared at work
Advice for the work place

 Preparing your Community for floods

Be aware of your neighbours, especially those who are elderly, live on their own, have small children, suffer from ill health or a disability , do they have places to go, do they have any special needs that they will need help with.

Information on how to be prepared if you have a disability
Disaster preparedness for people with disabilities booklet

During a flood

• Listen to your local radio station for information and instructions 

• Move household items and chemicals as high above the floor as you can
• If you need support contact your local district council or emergency services
• If you need to evacuate take your emergency items with you
• Get animals to safety
• Turn off the water, gas and electricity supply to your home
• Stay out of flood waters unless absolutely essential
• Fill sinks and storage containers with clean water so that you will have enough clean water should the water become contaminated
• Don't drive through floodwaters, especially deep or fast flowing water, unless absolutely necessary
• Don't go out sightseeing in flooded areas

After a flood

• Only return to your home once it has been confirmed safe to do so
• Don't go sightseeing in flooded areas
• Don't drink floodwaters, they may be contaminated
• Ensure tap water is safe to drink before drinking or preparing food with it, your local council will be able to advise you
• Throw away any food that may have become contaminated due to floodwaters, even tinned goods
• Report any damage to your insurance company