Flooding can happen quickly and often when you don’t expect it. Preparing a flood action plan in advance of a flood will help you keep calm during a stressful situation. Having something written down for you to follow though, when your mind is whirling round will help to stay focussed on what you have to do. Once you have completed your flood action plan, keep it close to hand and tell everyone in your family where it is. Don’t forget to update it when your circumstances change – for example, a change of school, new furniture etc. Every house has different needs and circumstances, so it is essential that your flood action plan is tailored for the needs of you and your family. Here are a few hints for you when planning for a flood:- • Put important documents in a sealed plastic bag upstairs or on a high shelf. This includes marriage / birth / death certificates, insurance documents, wills, passports, property deeds etc • Do the same for precious photographs, videos and mementos such as baby pictures, children drawings and wedding videos etc. • Make a list of valuable household items. Write down where you will put them • Find out where your main gas and electricity switches are and label them to help you remember • Keep a collection of blocks and plastic crates, bricks or planks of wood close to hand~ in your shed perhaps. This will help you lift furniture off the ground. Write down where you are keeping them. • Consider using an upstairs room to store items. ( pair your children up temporarily if necessary) Write down which room. • Keep a list of telephone numbers of family work place and children’s school, and arrange in advance for a friend to pick up your children from school if necessary • Make plans to evacuate your family, where will they go? Do you have an elderly or vulnerable relative living with you? Arrange alternative accommodation in advance. Where can your children go? Make plans for your pets; write down the number for a kennel or cattery? • Where will you put your car? Many people forget to move cars to higher ground and then find that not only is their home flooded but their car is too! • Go through each room methodically and think what you will do and write it down. The following thoughts will help you. Kitchen • Do the plinths on your fitted kitchen pull off? • Where could the contents of your lower cupboards go? • Put heavy items on the bottom of a pile • Place bin bags over table legs (ensure the bags have no ventilation holes) or buy some cheap plastic vases to stand the legs in • Put plugs in sinks and weigh them down. • If time allows could you ask a friend / neighbour to pick up and store your frozen goods Living Rooms • Do you have rugs that can be taken upstairs? • Do you have fixed storage cupboards that need emptying? • Have you disconnected audio / visual equipment and lifted them up or moved them upstairs, along with the wiring? • Fold curtains in half in situ and tie securely with string • If you can’t carry your sofas upstairs stand on bricks, crates or blocks and pile your other furniture on top • Do you have books that should be moved higher or upstairs? • What about your paperwork? • Are your files safe? • Is your computer or any other electrical equipment unplugged and lifted up high, along with wiring? • Are there any cupboards or draws that need emptying? • Pack an emergency grab bag~ write down where it is here are a few suggestions as to what to put in it. • Bottled water • Snack food • Essential medication/repeat prescription small medical kit • Wind up DAB radio • Strap on head torch • Cash/credit card • Essential toiletries • Change of clothing • Items for Baby if needed • Replica of favourite cuddly toy for a small child as he/she may well be distressed • Copies of insurance documents • Disposable camera • Whistle • Disinfectant hand gel • Rubber gloves |