Flooding can happen anywhere and to anyone, not just to those who live near rivers. Heavy rain, surface water, overflowing drains, or groundwater can all cause flooding.
While it’s not always possible to stop flooding, we can always be prepared.
Knowing what to do before, during and after a flood can make a big difference. It can help protect your home, business and community and make it easier to recover if flooding happens.
Protecting your home and your family
A little preparation can go a long way when protecting your home from flooding. Here’s some ways to stay safe and reduce damage.
Make a flood plan
A flood plan helps you act quickly if flooding is expected.
- Write down what you’ll do if a warning is issued
- Make sure adults in your household know how to turn off gas, electricity, and water
- Keep a list of emergency contacts, including insurance, council, utilities, and family
You can view and download a simple flood plan template prepared by Environment Agency, please visit 8 pages from the Gov.uk website: Personal flood plan (8 pages, opens as PDF on GOV.UK).
Check if there is a local flood group in your area
There are a number of community flood groups across Cambridgeshire that work to make their towns and villages more resilient to flooding. Sometimes this may include having a flood plan that is specific to the town or village you live in.
You can visit our community flood groups webpage to check if there is a local group for your area.
Check your insurance
Make sure your home insurance includes flood cover and check that your policy is up to date. If you live in an area at higher risk of flooding, specialist insurers and brokers can help you find suitable cover, including options supported by the Flood Re Scheme. Having the right insurance in place means you can recover more quickly if flooding happens.
- Prepare for flooding: Get insurance (GOV.UK website)
- Flood Re - A flood re-insurance scheme. Flood Re is a re-insurance scheme that makes flood cover more widely available and affordable as part of your home insurance.
- The BIBA, ABI, and Flood Re- Flood Insurance Directory. The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) offers a list of specialist brokers who can help homeowners in flood-prone areas find suitable buildings and contents insurance, including options under the Flood Re scheme.
- Flood Re’s Build Back Better scheme helps householders who have been flooded to install property flood resilience measures, up to about £10,000, when repairing their home so they can be better prepared for any future flooding. The idea is that a home doesn’t just get restored to its previous state but is made stronger and more resilient so recovery is faster and damage less severe.
Notify agencies if you require priority services
If someone in your household has additional needs, consider signing up to your utility company’s Priority Services Register. It’s free and ensures you receive extra support and quicker updates during emergencies, including when flooding affects your power or water supply. Follow these links for more information:
Make your home more resilient to flooding
We can’t make homes completely flood-proof, but we can make them more resilient. This means making practical changes that reduce damage, protect essential areas, and help your home dry out and recover more quickly after a flood.
There are many products that can help reduce the impact of flooding on your home. Choosing the right measures depends on your level of risk, the type of property you live in, and your budget. If you’re unsure which products are suitable for your home, the National Flood Forum offers independent, impartial advice through their Home insurance guidance and practical tips. They can help you understand what would work best for your property and guide you through the options before you commit to buying.
Flood resistance measures
These measures help stop water getting into your home or at least slow it down.
Examples include:
- Flood doors, barriers or covers for doors and air bricks
- Non-return valves to stop water backing up through pipes
- Raised thresholds, waterproof sealants, and coatings for external walls
Flood resilience measures
If water does enter, these actions help you clean up and repair more easily.
Examples include:
- Using flood-resistant materials such as tiles instead of carpets
- Raising plug sockets, meters, or boilers higher up the wall
- Keeping important belongings and electrical items on upper floors
- Choosing lime plaster or water-resistant paints that dry more easily
Small, low-cost actions:
- Move valuables and electrical items upstairs or to higher shelves.
- Keep important documents in waterproof folders.
- Fit airbrick covers or non-return valves to help stop water entering.
- Use rugs instead of fitted carpets in rooms most at risk.
- Use flood-resistant materials when redecorating.
Larger improvements (for properties at higher risk):
- Flood doors or barriers for doors and windows.
- Waterproof coatings for walls or floors.
- Moving boilers, meters or plug sockets higher up.
Flood Alarms
If you live close to a river or watercourse, a private flood level alarm can warn you when water levels are rising. This gives you extra time to put temporary measures in place and act before floodwater reaches your property.
For additional advice please visit guidance at Property Flood Resilience (Environment Agency).
