Staying safe in a flood

At home

Call 999 if life is at risk
Listen to advice given on local radio
Avoid electric shocks - keep extension cables out of water and wear wellington boots. Don't use damp electrical items - get them checked by a professional before using
Flood water may be contaminated by silt, sewage, oil or chemicals. Try to avoid coming into contact with it
Don't eat any foods that may have been contaminated with flood water
Only use crockery, cutlery and work surfaces that have been disinfected
Wear protective gear (for example gloves, face mask) and wash your hands after any contact with flood water. Cover cuts and grazes with waterproof plasters
Only pump out water when flood levels outside your property start to be lower than inside. This reduces the risk of structural damage
Seek medical advice if diarrhoea, fever or abdominal pain affects anyone
Mould can be a health hazard for babies, people with allergies, asthmatics, and the elderly. They should stay away during the clean up
Gas and electricity supplies should remain switched off until a qualified professional has checked the systems thoroughly
If you have children, contaminated toys will need disinfecting

Don't let children or pets onto affected grass or paved areas until cleaned
Remove any toilet waste from affected areas by shovelling it into black bags and sealing them
After the grass has grown and been cut there should be no further risk. Sunlight and soil will usually destroy harmful bacteria within a week
Don't eat any vegetables you may be growing that have been contaminated with flood water

Follow the advice of your local water company regarding the safety of the water supply
If in doubt, boil all water intended for drinking, brushing teeth, washing food and cooking
Take precautions for formula-fed infants. The preferred option is to use bowser or bottled water, brought to a 'rolling boil' and cooled. Unboiled water should not be used

Avoid travel but if you must, drive slowly and cautiously. You may know your local roads well, but a flood can alter the landscape dramatically and turn a quiet road into a potential hazard. Don't drive through water if you can't tell how deep it is. Around two feet of water is all it takes to float many cars
Aqua-planing is much more likely in flood conditions
Drive considerately: remember your bow-wave could flood nearby homes
Don't drive down closed roads
80% of flood-related deaths occur inside a vehicle. If your car stalls in the water, do not attempt to recover it - leave it and move yourself to safe ground
Let someone know your travel plans

Avoid walking through flood water six inches of fast flowing water can knock you over
Man hole covers may have come off and there may be other hazards you can't see. Don't walk along riverbanks or across river bridges if avoidable - they may collapse in extreme situations