Immediate danger to life: call 999 or 112.
UK Ready is an independent information site. Current official instructions for your area take priority over this general guidance.
Sources checked 13 October 2026
Check the warnings for your UK nation and local area. Sign up in advance where a warning service is available, but do not assume every surface-water or flash flood will come with a personal warning. Rain, river, coastal and groundwater flooding can require different local responses.
Move medicines, documents and essentials to a safer level if you have time and can do so safely. Prepare for an instructed evacuation, include pets and explain any support needs. If told to leave, use the directed route. Do not remain to protect furniture or collect possessions once conditions become dangerous.
Never walk, drive or swim through floodwater. It can hide strong currents, holes, sharp objects, sewage and electrical hazards. Avoid bridges and banks where conditions are unsafe. If you are trapped by deep or fast-moving water, call 999 and follow instructions rather than trying to wade out.
Turn off utilities only if safe and you understand how. Never operate electrical switches while standing in water. Avoid basements and underground parking where water is entering. Move to a safer place without trapping yourself in an inaccessible space.
Protect food and water: Keep children and pets away from floodwater. Do not consume food or use supplies exposed to it without the relevant safety advice. An intact-looking package or clear-looking water is not enough to determine safety. Wash after contact and cover cuts.
Afterwards: Wait for the emergency services' permission to return. Ask appropriate professionals to check unsafe utilities or structural damage. Follow the supplier's water instructions; flushing a pipe does not override a contamination notice. Photograph damage from a safe place and contact the insurer before disposing of items if appropriate.
If the home is uninhabitable, contact the local authority for emergency housing advice. Obtain practical help with cleaning and recovery rather than using an indoor generator or pump. Health effects and distress can continue after water recedes, so seek support if needed.
UK routing: England uses Environment Agency information, Wales Natural Resources Wales, Scotland SEPA and local Scottish guidance, and Northern Ireland the relevant NI services. UK Ready should link to the correct system after asking the nation or postcode, without treating a flood map as a live escape route.