What to do during a flood

Be prepared

In the event of very heavy rain flooding can occur. Here’s what you can do to be prepared and minimise your risk.

Step 1: Check

Find out if your property is at risk of flooding

Step 2: Alerts

Sign up for flood warnings

Step 3: Protect

Protect your home or business.

If you are at risk from flooding there is flood protection equipment you can fit. This can include:

• Sandbags. You can get these from most DIY stores or builders merchants
• Hydrosacks or hydrosnakes - a modern alternative to sandbags
• Toilet seals - to stop sewage
• Airbrick covers - to prevent water entering the building
• Door and gate barriers - to hold back flood water from the house
• Submersible water pumps - to help remove water

Bluepages is the UK's leading independent flood directory. It's a list of flood products and services put together to advise and inform you of the range of products available to help reduce the risk of flooding to your home or business.

Step 4: Report

To report flooding to your home in a severe weather incident please contact us at 0345 8 50606

Please keep in mind that out customer service phone line may be busy if there is significant flooding. Please bear with us. We will do our best to answer your call as soon as we can.

What you can do in a flood

Above all keep yourself safe and others safe.

• Do not walk through flood water - underwater obstructions and pollution make it dangerous
  
  
• Do not drive through flood water unless you know it is safe to do so - fast moving water can sweep your car away
  
  
• Keep vulnerable people and children away from flood water and wash your hands thoroughly if you touch it
  
  
• Protect furniture, household items and valuables by moving them upstairs.
  
  
• Turn off mains electric and gas
  
  
• Use battery operated or mobile devices / apps to listen to local radio and TV weather forecasts and advice from emergency services
  
  
• Put plugs in sinks and baths and weigh them down to prevent backflow from drains. Weigh down the toilet seat too
  
  
• Bring caged pets inside, and move all pets with food, water, bedding and litter trays upstairs
  
  
• Evacuate if the emergency services ask you to do so

Contact details

Wakefield Council

Flooding from watercourses, surface water, groundwater and on the highway
contact centre: 0345 8 506 506
www.wakefield.gov.uk/land-drainage-and-flood-risk-management/

Environment Agency

Flooding from main rivers and flood warning service
Contact centre: 03708 506 506 Floodline (24hrs): 0345 988 1188
www.gov.uk/flood

Yorkshire Water

Blocked sewer or sewage flooding
Contact centre: 0345 1 242424
www.yorkshirewater.com

National Flood Forum

Help and advice about flooding
Contact number: 01299 403055
www.nationalfloodforum.org.uk