Preparation for flooding

How to prepare for flooding

No one can stop flooding altogether but you can be prepared by taking a few simple precautions:

  • Prepare well in advance for autumn and winter rainfall.
  • Maintain a stock of useful materials such as plastic sheeting, plywood and empty sandbags or polythene bags.
  • Consider a floodgate type device for your front and back doors.
  • Contact the Environment Agency's Floodline on 0845 988 1188 and ask for copies of their free publications.
  • Make sure you know how to turn off your electricity, gas and water.
  • Flood kit - keep a battery radio and a torch (with spare batteries), necessary medication, emergency contact telephone numbers, rubber gloves and your insurance policy in a safe place.
  • Think about how to cook without gas or electricity.
  • When choosing furniture and floor coverings keep in mind how they may be affected by water.
  • Keep outside drains clear to let surface water escape.
  • Use polyethene sheets with sandbags or rubbish bags filled with earth to protect doorways and low air vents.
  • Protect food and valuables, for example: move them upstairs.

Your own flood plan

Are you a business, household or community in need of a flood plan? If you are you can make a flood plan.

Multi-Agency Flood Plan for the borough

This document is prepared, maintained and updated by the Borough Contingencies Unit.

Multi-Agency Flood Plan(pdf, 3747KB)

Sandbags

Richmond upon Thames Council cannot provide sandbags or other materials to members of the public.

For more information see Flooding and sandbags.

Useful websites