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PREPARING
FOR A FLOOD
The Consumer Council
NOVEMBER 2010

PREPARING FOR A FLOOD
START PREPARING TODAY BEFORE A FLOOD
HAPPENS
Flooding in your home is extremely distressing and
upsetting. Unfortunately not all flooding is preventable.
It is important to be prepared as flooding can happen very
quickly even in places where it has never flooded before.
CHECK IF YOUR HOME IS AT RISK OF FLOODING
The Rivers Agency flood map allows you to check if your
property is at risk of flooding from rivers or the sea. This is
available on Rivers Agency website.
INSURANCE COVER
Check your insurance cover - make sure your home and
contents insurance covers against flood damage and find
out if damaged belongings will be replaced. If you don’t
have insurance, shop around now to find a policy that’s
affordable and meets your needs. You should compare
policies and prices by searching price comparison websites,
contacting insurance companies and using brokers.
If you find it difficult to get insurance cover talk to insurance
brokers who specialise in difficult to insure properties. You
can find details of insurers in a telephone directory or from
the British Insurance Brokers’ Association.
If you rent your home see the Consumer Council’s Home
Contents Insurance Guide for more information.
1

FLOOD WARNINGS
Get the latest flood warnings from local news, weather
and traffic bulletins. The Met Office website also
provides information about weather warnings.
Check the Roads Service Traffic Watch website for
information on roads affected or closed by flooding.
KNOW HOW TO TURN OFF YOUR ELECTRICITY
AND GAS SUPPLIES
If you don’t know how to do this contact your supplier.
Never touch electrical switches or appliances such as
sockets and meters if flood water has come into your
home.
2

DURING A FLOOD
GET TOGETHER A FLOODING KIT
Gather together some essential items and keep them in
a safe place where they are easy to reach. Things to
include in your kit are:
• Copies of your home insurance documents
• Passport/Drivers Licence and benefits information
• Bank cards and cash
• Torch (including spare batteries)
• First aid kit and prescription medication
• Warm, waterproof clothing and blankets
• Mobile phone and phone charger
• Spare set of keys
• Spare glasses or contact lenses
• Rubber gloves
• A wind-up or battery powered radio
• Bottled water and food that won’t go off, for
example, tinned or dried food
• Things to look after your baby (if you have one)
• Key contact details
3 3

Complete the table below of useful telephone numbers and keep
it with your flooding kit:
Contact
Telephone Number
Flooding Incident Line 0300 2000 100
Insurance Company and policy number
Family and neighbours
Bank phone number and details
Work phone numbers
GP
Local Council
Electricity supplier and meter number
Northern Ireland Electricity 08457 643 643
Meter number
Gas meter number
Phoenix Natural Gas 0845 900 5253
Firmus Energy 08456 08 00 88
Northern Ireland Gas Emergency Service 0800 002 001
Northern Ireland Water 08457 440 088
Electrician
Plumber
Builder
Other -
4 4

DURING A FLOOD
AGREE A PLACE TO MEET
Plan now where you will meet members of your
household if there is a flood and how you will get in
contact with each other if you are separated. Remember
to bring your list of useful contacts with you.
MOVE THINGS NOW
Think about moving things that cannot be replaced, such
as photo albums and treasured items, to a safe place for
storage.
MOVING THINGS DURING A FLOOD
Decide now what you will move during a flood, for
example, furniture, cars, electrical items, pets or items in
your garden.
PLANNING A SAFE EXIT
Plan a safe exit from your home as you may find it
difficult to get out of your home if there is flooding.
If you know you will need assistance to leave your home
agree who you will contact to help you, for example, a
carer, family member or friend.
5

PROTECTING YOUR HOME
If your home is at risk of flooding keep some sandbags,
floodboards and plastic covers available so you can
block doorways and airbricks.
Sandbags may be available from government agencies
during a flood but their supply will be limited. Therefore
you should think about buying sandbags from DIY stores
or buying sand and filling bags yourself. You could also
fill pillow cases with earth. Be careful when moving
these following a flood as they may have been in contact
with sewage and will be a lot heavier if they are wet.
Maintain drains on your property. Property owners are
responsible for the drains on their property therefore you
should ensure that these are maintained regularly and
free from blockages.
Floodboards are water resistant guards that can be fixed
to the frames of doors and windows to help stop flood
water from entering your home. These can be washed,
stored and used again. You can make and fit these
boards yourself but, depending on the amount of
flooding, they may leak. Another option is to buy them
and have them fitted for you.
6

DURING A FLOOD
Cover airbricks to stop flood water from entering your
home. Airbricks are bricks with holes that allow
ventilation of under floor areas. You can do this yourself
by nailing boards across the airbricks, but these may
also leak. Plastic covers can be purchased to fit over the
airbricks.
Get professional advice before making any changes to
your home you should get professional advice. More
information on choosing a qualified professional can be
found on the NI Direct website.
Once the flood water has gone down remember to
remove sandbags, floodboards and covers to help your
home to dry out properly.
Reporting a flood
Flooding Incident Line is a single telephone number you
can use to report a flood. Flooding Incident Line can be
contacted by telephoning 0300 2000 100. It is available
24 hours, 7 days a week.
Flooding Incident Line will take all your details and
contact the appropriate organisation on your behalf.
7 7

However, if there is a life at risk you should contact the
emergency services on 999.
Consumers with specific needs
In times of flooding Northern Ireland Waters (NI Water) call
centre receives extra calls from customers needing help.
When this happens NI Water aims to help its Critical Care
customers as quickly as possible.
NI Water has a Customer Care Register for consumers who
have a disability, are an older consumer, have a serious
medical condition or need extra help for any other reason.
To join the Customer Care Register contact NI Water using
the details on page nine.
If you know you will need assistance leaving your home,
agree who you will contact to help you, for example, a
carer, family member or friend. If you are in danger contact
the emergency services on 999.
Other information
In Northern Ireland there are three main organisations that
look after the drainage systems. They are NI Water,
Roads Service and Rivers Agency.
8 8

USEFUL CONTACT DETAILS
Flooding Incident Line - 0300 2000 100
NI Direct - http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/flooding-in-your-area
Northern Ireland Water
Telephone: 08457 440 088
Typetalk: 08457 440 088
E-mail:
waterline@niwater.com
Website:
www.niwater.com
Roads Service
Telephone: 028 9054 0540
Fax: 028 9054 0024
Text phone: 028 9054 0022
E-mail:
roads@drdni.gov.uk
Website:
www.roadsni.gov.uk
Rivers Agency
Telephone: 028 9025 3355
Fax: 028 9025 3455
E-mail:
Rivers.Registry@dardni.gov.uk
Website:
http://www.riversagencyni.gov.uk/
Strategic Flood maps www.riversagencyni.gov.uk/index/
stategicflood-maps.htm
9

Met Office
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/
Roads Service Traffic Watch NI
http://www.trafficwatchni.com/site/default.asp
Association of British Insurers
Telephone: 020 7600 3333
Website:
http://www.abi.org.uk/Information/
Consumers
British Insurance Brokers
Telephone: 0870 950 1790
E-mail:
enquiries@biba.org.uk
Website:
http://www.biba.org.uk/Consumer
Home.aspx
10

The Consumer Council
Elizabeth House
116 Holywood Road
Belfast
BT4 1NY
Telephone: 0800 121 6022
Textphone: 028 9067 2488
Fax: 028 9065 7701
E-mail:
Website:
info@consumercouncil.org.uk
complaints@consumercouncil.org.uk
www.consumercouncil.org.uk