Flood kit checklist (UK): how to prepare for a flood, from the Be Ready guidance

Updated on 27 October 2026How these pages are written (in French)

This page is for households in the United Kingdom, especially those living in a flood risk area. It is an independent summary of the Flooding page of the UK government's Be Ready guidance, developed by the Cabinet Office, and of the GOV.UK flood warning services it links to. The guidance is free at beready.campaign.gov.uk.

Be Ready says: "The people most at risk of flooding are those who live in a flood risk area." According to Be Ready, around 6.3 million properties, homes and businesses in England are in areas at risk of flooding from one or more sources: rivers, the sea, surface water (rain) and groundwater.

Each nation has its own flood risk check:

• England: check the long term flood risk on GOV.UK.
• Wales: Natural Resources Wales, by postcode.
• Scotland: SEPA flood maps.
• Northern Ireland: nidirect.

The GOV.UK service for England covers the long term risk from rivers and the sea, surface water, reservoirs and groundwater (where data is available). GOV.UK states that it does not tell you "how likely it is that an individual property will flood", nor about flood risk from sources such as blocked drains and burst pipes.

In England, the Environment Agency sends flood warnings by phone, text or email. GOV.UK says: "The service is free." You can sign up for flood warnings online, or by calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188 (textphone 0345 602 6340, 24-hour service) if you are in England, Scotland or Wales.

What the service covers, according to GOV.UK:

• Messages about flooding from rivers, the sea or groundwater, depending on your area.
• Not surface water flooding: "You cannot get flood warnings for surface water flooding (sometimes known as 'flash flooding')." For surface water flooding in your area, the GOV.UK check for flooding page asks you to contact your local council.

In Scotland and Wales, there are separate sign-ups: flood warnings in Scotland and flood warnings in Wales.

If you have a disability or need extra help, Be Ready says you can contact Floodline and ask for flood warnings to be sent to a friend or relative on your behalf.

Be Ready says: "Consider packing a 'grab bag' of essentials in advance." The guidance suggests this could include:

• Any medication you need.
• A first aid kit.
• Important documents.
• A torch.
• Bottled water.
• Warm waterproof clothing.
• Baby care items.

Be Ready adds: "Store the bag somewhere you can easily get to." For documents such as birth certificates, it suggests resealable water-tight plastic bags to help protect them from water damage.

A flood grab bag is the bag you take if you have to leave quickly. The household supplies for staying at home (3 days of water and food, FM radio, cash) are on our emergency kit checklist.

Be Ready lists these steps for households in an area at risk of flooding:

• Make a plan: a personal flood plan for you and those around you.
• Move what matters: sentimental or valuable items upstairs, or in a high place such as the top shelf or drawer of a cabinet.
• Know your shut-offs: Be Ready says you'll usually find the water stop tap inside your home where your water supply comes in (or outside near your property's boundary under a cover), the gas shut-off valve next to your gas meter, and the mains electricity cut off on your fuse board.
• Get insurance: Be Ready points to the Environment Agency's guidance on getting insurance.
• Adapt the property: changes to reduce flood damage "do come with a cost", says Be Ready, but planned building work can be a good opportunity. See GOV.UK on preparing your property for flooding. You may need permission for work that affects the flow of a river or diverts flood water.

If you own a riverside or canalside property, read the GOV.UK guidance on owning a watercourse.

Be Ready says that if your area has a flood warning (when flooding is expected) or severe flood warning (when there's a danger to life):

• Turn off your gas, electricity and water supplies, "if it's safe to do so". Be Ready warns: "do not touch an electrical switch if you are standing in water."
• Move your family, vehicles, pets and important items to safety, for example upstairs or to higher ground.
• Use flood protection products if you have them, for example flood barriers or air brick covers.
• Evacuate if asked: "Always follow advice from your local council or the emergency services if you are asked to evacuate. Not evacuating or delaying evacuation can put your life at risk. It can also endanger the lives of emergency responders if you later need rescuing."

In England, you can check for flooding in the next 5 days: GOV.UK's service shows current flood warnings or alerts, and river, sea, groundwater and rainfall levels.

No. Be Ready is explicit on both:

• Walking: "Never walk through flood water. Flood water may contain sewage and hide rubbish, wreckage, uneven roads and pavements or broken drain and manhole covers."
• Driving: "If you come across a flooded road while driving, turn around and find another route. The number one cause of death during flooding is driving through flood water."

If you need to travel, Be Ready asks you to check for flooding and get road traffic information, and to "Always adhere to 'Do Not Travel' notices."

Be Ready notes that water levels may rise and fall for several weeks depending on drainage and any further rainfall. Its advice:

• Stay out of the water: "Do not enter flood water unless absolutely necessary. Flood water can be much deeper than it appears and hide dangers, such as uncovered manholes and sharp objects. If you must enter flood water, move slowly and carefully, avoiding fast-moving water."
• Wash your hands: Be Ready calls it "the most important way of removing harmful bugs and any chemicals found in flood water". Wash regularly with warm, soapy water, then rinse and dry thoroughly after contact with flood water, sewage or any item that has been in the water.
• Insurance: check your policy; insurers may pay costs for temporary accommodation and clean up. Take photographs or video of all damage, mark the water levels on the wall before they recede, get the insurer's approval before any repair work, and do not dispose of any item until you are told to.
• No insurance: contact your local council for information on hardship grants or charities that may be able to help.
• Nowhere to live: if your home is flood damaged and you cannot live there, contact your local council for help getting emergency accommodation.

Be Ready also mentions Flood RE, "a scheme designed to help people who have experienced a flood find more affordable insurance", and GOV.UK's public health advice on flooding.

• 999: emergency services, if you or someone else is in immediate danger.
• 0345 988 1188: Floodline, to sign up for flood warnings in England, Scotland or Wales (textphone 0345 602 6340, 24-hour service).
• 0300 2000 100: to report flooding in Northern Ireland, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, according to nidirect.
• 0800 80 70 60: the Environment Agency's 24-hour line to report severe river or coastal flooding in England. Some types of flooding are reported to your local council: see GOV.UK on how to report flooding.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own guidance: Ready Scotland, Natural Resources Wales and nidirect.

• UK Government (Cabinet Office), Flooding: flood risk, grab bag, flood warnings, evacuation, flood water, after a flood (accessed 27 October 2026)
• UK Government, Be ready for emergencies: 999, household plan, grab bag (accessed 27 October 2026)
• UK Government, Be informed about hazards: 999, evacuation (accessed 27 October 2026)
• GOV.UK, Get flood warnings by text, phone or email (accessed 27 October 2026)
• GOV.UK, Check the long term flood risk for an area in England (accessed 27 October 2026)
• GOV.UK, Check for flooding (accessed 27 October 2026)

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