Before the flood

• Turn off gas, electricity and water supplies at the mains.
• Unplug all electrical items and where possible store them up high or upstairs. With heavy electrical items such as fridges raise them up on bricks.
• Put the lid down on your toilets and place something heavy, like bricks on top to stop the water coming in through waste pipes.
• Put plugs in baths and sinks, weigh them down with a sandbag, pillowcase or plastic bag filled with garden soil or a heavy object.
• Make sure all personal and valuable items are moved upstairs or out of the house, as these cannot be easily replaced.
• Keep all important documents in a watertight plastic bag in a high safe place. Consider keeping duplicate copies of documents with family or friends who are not at risk of flooding.
• Move as much furniture as possible upstairs. If items can't be carried, move them away from the wall as this will speed up drying times later.
• Make up a flood kit - including key personal documents, torch, battery, wind- up radio, mobile phone, rubber gloves, Wellington boots, waterproof clothing, a first aid kit and blankets. Also have a list of useful numbers such as the emergency services, local council, your insurer's emergency helpline number and details of the policy.
• Make sure neighbours, especially elderly or infirm ones, know there is a flood on the way.

If you live in an area prone to flooding then you probably already know about it. The Environment Agency runs Floodline on 0845 988 1188 which gives real time flood warnings and advice. It is worth updating yourself regularly if you think you are about to be flooded. You can also gain information from the website www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodline.

• Open doors and windows and smear the frame with silicone sealant, then shut and lock them to provide a watertight joint. For floods deeper than a metre, you should allow water to enter the property to prevent any structural damage that could be caused by a build up of water outside.
• If you can, cover windows, doors and airbricks with plywood, sandbags or metal sheeting. The Environment Agency has a practical guide to doing this.
• Move anything not fixed down such as dustbins and garden furniture to a safer location.
• Move your car to higher ground so it is not damaged.
• Don't try and walk or drive through floodwater - six inches of fast flowing water can knock you off your feet and two feet of water will float your car. Manhole covers may have come off and there may be other hazards you can't see.
• Avoid contact with floodwater as it may be contaminated with sewage.