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What to do immediately to protect life and minimise damage.

If water is coming into your home — stay calm.
Follow this checklist to keep everyone safe and reduce the impact.

✅ 1. Make sure everyone is safe

  • Check on children, elderly family members, and vulnerable neighbours
  • Don’t walk through flood water if you can help it – even shallow water can knock you off your feet
  • Avoid basements or cellars – these fill quickly and can be deadly
  • Bring pets inside and keep them safe upstairs or in crates

🔌 2. Turn off power if it’s safe to do so

  • Switch off the electricity at the fuse box
  • If water has already reached sockets or your fuse board, don’t touch it — call 999
  • Turn off gas and water supplies if possible

🧳 3. Move valuables and essentials upstairs

  • Prioritise important documents, passports, chargers, medications
  • Move sofas, rugs, electronics, clothes off the floor if you have time
  • Place furniture on bricks or tins to lift them a few extra inches
  • Use plastic boxes or sealed bags to store dry items upstairs

🧼 4. Prepare for contaminated water

  • Flood water often contains sewage and chemicals — wear gloves or boots if you need to move through it
  • Don’t let children or pets play in the water
  • If you’ve been in floodwater, wash thoroughly as soon as possible

🗣️ 5. Tell someone what’s happening

  • Contact friends or family outside the flood area
  • If you’re trapped, call 999 immediately — not your insurance company
  • Post in local Facebook groups or community apps to let others know your situation
  • Tag your council and utility companies online if emergency support is needed

📱 6. Document everything

  • Take photos or videos of the water level, incoming flow, and any damage
  • Make short notes of times and events (e.g. “Water came through back door at 2:47pm”)
  • These records will help with insurance claims and pressure for future action

🧺 7. Get essential supplies ready upstairs

If you expect to be stuck upstairs or evacuated:

  • Drinking water & snacks
  • Phone chargers or battery packs
  • Blankets and dry clothes
  • Nappies, wipes, formula if needed
  • Pet food & leads

🚧 8. Block further water entry (if safe)

  • Use sandbags, bin liners filled with soil, wet towels, or plastic sheeting to slow down water coming in
  • Place items at:
    • Door thresholds
    • Air bricks
    • Toilets (to prevent backflow)

⚠️ Don’t waste time trying to fully stop water — just buy yourself time and slow the damage.

🆘 9. Evacuate if told to

  • If the emergency services advise you to leave — go immediately
  • Take essential items, pets, and your phone
  • Lock up only if it’s safe to do so
  • Don’t return home until it’s officially declared safe

💬 Need help right now?

  • Floodline (24/7): 0345 988 1188
  • Emergency Services: 999
  • United Utilities Flooding: 0345 672 3723
  • Stockport Council Emergency Line: [Insert number here when confirmed]