Flood Plans and Flood Survival Kits
Flood plans and flood survival kits are useful tools that help you and those in your home or business to stay safe. If your property is located within an area at risk of flooding then it is strongly recommended that you create both of these in case of emergency.
Click a link below to find out more:
Flood Plan
Flood Survival Kit
Creating a flood plan
A flood plan is a simple strategy that will allow quick and efficient security of life and valuable resources within a property. This may be for a workplace or domestic property. The Environment Agency have produced this short manual that details what should be included in a flood action plan. The guidance also gives advice on the people that you should contact in an emergency. An additional document outlining what should be included in both your flood plan and flood survival kit, is available here.
If you require any extra assistance or have a disability, then your local council may keep records of those people who require extra help in the time of a flood event. You can find contact details of your local council here.
Creating a flood survival kit
In your home a flood survival kit may be the most vital resource you have in an emergency flood situation. It is advised that you prepare TWO separate kits. The first kit will contain everything you may need in case you are trapped in your property for a few days. The other kit should contain items you will require if you have to leave the property in a hurry.
A flood kit should contain/cater for the following as a minimum:
- Food and Drink supplies
Ideally supplies for three days per person in the property, these should require no preparation.
- First aid and medication
A full first aid kit should be part of your flood kit, clean all open wounds thoroughly with antibacterial wipes.
- Pet Items
Remember to include supplies for your pets, which may be forgotten if leaving in a hurry. This should include food and any medicine your pet may require.
- Light and communications
Include a fully charged mobile phone to hand, a torch with spare batteries and a wind-up radio to follow local radio updates. A good supply of matches and candles would also be recommended in case of lost power.
- Protective Clothing and blankets
Warm and clean clothing is essential in case power to your house is lost.
- Hygiene
Antibacterial wipes or hand sanitising gels.
- Important documents
Copies of important documents (such as your insurance policy and medical documents). These may be paper or digital documents, such as on a USB device.
- Cash
In case local shops are unable to accept electronic payments (such as debit cards or Apple pay), it is a good idea to have a reasonable amount of cash available for supplies in the short term.
- Keys
If you are in a rush to leave your property, keys are something that may get forgotten in the panic of getting to safety. Pack a spare key for your building just to be safe.
Please note that this is what is recommended as a minimum for a flood survival kit. There may be other things that you should consider including.
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Image attributions
3D Home Inspection Checklist by Chris Potter | CC BY 2.0