Protect yourself and your property from flooding

Taking steps to prepare for potential flooding is important for your safety and wellbeing during and after flooding.   

Here are some things you could do to prepare for flooding: 

• Sign up for flood warnings
• Sign up for Met Office weather warnings  
• Check for long-term flood risk
• Download apps like the Flood Alert Watcher or Tide Times to your mobile phone for flood and high tide alerts
• Save the Environment Agency Flood line number (0345 988 1188) and incident hotline (0800 80 70 60) to your phone contacts to report flooding in your area or if your home is flooded
• Implement the National Flood Forum’s property protection measures to safeguard your home
• Have a plan in place for your pets in case you need to leave your home temporarily
• Keep waterproof storage handy to quickly store and safeguard your valuable items
• If your house has multiple floors, try to relocate what you can to the upper floor/s or keep any valuable items with friends or family for safekeeping
• Take photos of your property and belongings now; they may help with insurance claims later if flooding occurs
• Insert a deflated football into the toilet if you can and pushing it down the toilet to avoid the sewage overflow coming up  
• Turn off the electricity, gas, and water, if it's safe to do so
• Keep an eye on vulnerable neighbours, if it's possible and safe to do so
• If you are asked to evacuate, follow this order and remember to take your flood kit with you
• Register for flood insurance
• Sign up for the Hastings Community Flood Engagement Group, which is being set up.

You can also prepare an emergency flood kit 'grab bag' so you are ready, if you decide to stay in your home or are evacuated to a local rest centre. Items you might want to include in your flood kit are:

• Medication: prescription medication/repeat prescription forms
• Documents: including identification and insurance documents
• Electricals: mobile phone and charger
• Finance: emergency cash and credit card
• List of emergency numbers, such as insurance 24/7 claims line, local council, emergency services, family, and friends
• Children’s essentials, including milk, food, sterilised bottles and spoons, nappies, wipes and nappy bags, clothing, and comforters or toys. Pen and paper
• Torch and batteries or a wind-up torch
• Blankets/sleeping bag
• Warm/waterproof clothing  
• Non-perishable food
• Bottled water or water container
• Disinfecting wipes/hand sanitiser
• First aid kit
• Pet food. 

Remember to avoid walking, swimming, and driving through floodwater, as even a foot (30cm) of fast-flowing water can move a car and be really dangerous.  

Floodwater can also contain chemicals and waste, so keeping yourself and your children and pets away from it is important.