Before, during and after a flood
Prepare for flooding before it happens, know what to do when flooding hits and the steps to take after a flood.
Watch this short film showing how one community prepared for and responded to flooding.
Before a flood
Check if your property is at risk from flooding
Use our flood maps to find out the level of flood risk in your area.
Check you are flood-insured
Make sure your insurance policy includes adequate coverage for the effects of flooding. Flood RE offers affordable insurance to homes identified as at risk of flooding.
Create a flood kit or flood plan for your home and/or business
Making a Flood kit is one of the ways you can be prepared for flooding. You can do this for your home or for your business.
Your Flood kit should include:
- Torch and spare batteries
- First aid kit
- Any prescription medicines you might need
- Warm, waterproof shoes and clothes
- Rubber gloves
- Bottled water and snacks
- Essential pet and children's supplies (like pet food and nappies)
- Insurance documents
- Passports
- Portable wind-up or battery powered radio (and spare batteries)
- A list of important phone numbers
Store your Flood kit in a waterproof box and put it somewhere high up.
If you're a business, your flood plan should include staff contact lists, location map for key items, checklist of procedures and a copy of your insurance. Make sure your staff know what to do if flooding impacts the business or their travel.
Watch this short video on making a Flood kit.
Know your utilities
Make sure you know where your gas, electricity and water supplies are and how to shut them off in an emergency.
Consider flood protection measures
Preventing the impacts of flooding is better than recovering from the effects of flooding.
When flooding is forecast
It’s never too late to prepare for flooding. There are a few simple steps you can take to when flooding is forecast.
Watch this short video of how to prepare to for flooding.
Stay up to date
- Stay up to date with the latest flooding information
- Keep your mobile phone fully charged
Protect your belongings, property and pets
- Move your vehicle out of the flood risk area
- Move important documents and valuable items to a safe place
- Make sure all flood protection products are in place and working correctly
- Move pets and animals to a safe place and ensure they have enough food and water
Check in on people
- Check on your local community and make sure they are aware and prepared
- If you're a business, keep staff, customers and suppliers informed and consider impacts to transport plans
During a flood
Stay up to date
- Check your Floodline for the latest situation
- Make sure your mobile phone is fully charged
- Follow SEPA on social media for regular updates
Protect your belongings, property and pets
- Move vehicles out of the flood risk area
- Move important documents and valuable items to a safe place
- Shut off gas, electricity and water supplies
- Make sure all flood protection products are in place and working correctly
- Move pets and animals to a safe place and ensure they have enough food and water
- Do not use any electrical appliances
- If you're a business, let staff, customers and suppliers know not to travel into the flood area
Avoid flood water
- Do not walk, drive or swim through flood water
- Do not have any form of direct contact with flood water - it could be contaminated
Get yourself to safety
- Do not stay on lower ground. Move to higher ground and wait for the emergency services to find you
- Do not obstruct the emergency services. Follow their advice and instructions as they are responsible, along with the local authority, for co-ordinating relief measures
After a flood
Flood waters can be contaminated with harmful bacteria so wear appropriate clothing and protection.
Contact your insurance company
When safe to do so assess any damage caused by the flooding, gathering evidence such as photos, assets or stock if you are a business. Do not discard any property until instructed by your insurer.
Become flood resilient
Consider extra protection to become more flood resilient as you make repairs.
Seek support
Contact The Scottish Flood Forum for support and advice on how to recover from flooding.
People impacted by flooding often undergo feelings of stress and traumatic loss so be aware of your overall wellbeing and that of others impacted by flooding. If you're a business, consider the impact on staff wellbeing.