Flood Preparedness: A Calm Before/During/After Guide
Floods are the most common natural disaster in much of the world — and among the most survivable, *if* you know a few firm rules. The most important one fits on a bumper stick
Floods are the most common natural disaster in much of the world — and among the most survivable, *if* you know a few firm rules. The most important one fits on a bumper sticker: Turn Around, Don't Drown. Most flood deaths happen in vehicles, in water that looked shallow.
Here's the calm, practical guide, based on FEMA's Ready.gov and the CDC.
The quick version
- Never walk, swim, or drive through floodwater — Turn Around, Don't Drown.
- Six inches (15 cm) of moving water can knock you off your feet; two feet (60 cm) can sweep away a vehicle.
- Know your flood risk + evacuation route before the water rises.
- Keep documents, meds and a kit upstairs/high; check flood insurance.
1. Before a flood
- Know your risk. Check whether your address is in a flood-prone area (your national flood map / `gov.uk` flood-warning service in the UK).
- Make a plan & evacuation route. Decide where you'd go and how (see our family emergency plan); practise it.
- Protect documents & essentials. Keep IDs, insurance, and medication in a waterproof bag, ideally upstairs or high up.
- Gather supplies for several days — water, non-perishable food, meds (emergency kit, water supply).
- Check insurance. Standard home policies often don't cover flood; look into dedicated flood cover (in the US, the NFIP) (Ready.gov — Floods).
- If a flood is forecast: move valuables up, charge devices, fuel the car, and be ready to leave early.
2. During a flood
- Turn Around, Don't Drown. Do not walk, swim, or drive through floodwater, and never drive around barricades (Ready.gov).
- Six inches of moving water can knock an adult off their feet; two feet can float and sweep away most vehicles — including SUVs.
- Move to higher ground and stay there. Avoid basements and low rooms.
- Listen to a battery/NOAA weather radio or official alerts for instructions.
- If told to evacuate, go immediately — don't wait to see how bad it gets.
3. After a flood
- Return only when authorities say it's safe.
- Avoid floodwater — it can be contaminated with sewage, chemicals, or hide downed power lines. Don't let children or pets near it.
- Cleanup safely: wear heavy gloves, boots, and a mask for mould/debris (CDC — Floods).
- Throw out food and bottled water that touched floodwater. Document damage (photos) for insurance.
Want to know your home's specific gaps — including flood? The free Resilience Score takes about three minutes. → Take the Resilience Score
Your flood checklist
- [ ] Know your flood risk + evacuation route
- [ ] Documents/meds in a waterproof bag, stored high
- [ ] Several days of water + no-cook food
- [ ] Flood insurance checked
- [ ] Everyone knows: Turn Around, Don't Drown
- [ ] Battery/weather radio for alerts
FAQ
What should I do before a flood? Know your risk, plan an evacuation route, protect documents up high, gather several days of supplies, and check flood insurance.
Is it safe to drive through floodwater? No. Just six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet and two feet can sweep away a vehicle. Turn Around, Don't Drown.
Does home insurance cover floods? Often not — flood cover is usually separate (e.g., NFIP in the US). Check before you need it.
What's dangerous about floodwater after a flood? It can carry sewage, chemicals, and hide live power lines — avoid contact and wear protection during cleanup.
Pair with a family emergency plan, water supply, and emergency kit. See your gaps in 3 minutes: free Resilience Score.