Preparing for floods
The impacts of flooding can be devastating. Preparation can help save lives and reduce damage.
Despite Australia holding the title for the driest inhabited continent in the world, many areas of the country are prone to flooding events. These events cause extensive damage and can cost lives.
If you're in an area at risk of flooding, there's plenty you can to do ahead of time to limit damage to your property and protect you and your loved ones in the event one occurs.
1. Be prepared
Have an emergency & evacuation plan.
2. Emergency alerts
Subscribe to emergency alerts and warnings.
3. Pack supplies
Have an emergency kit ready in advance.
1. When to start preparing
By the time a flood warning has been issued, it can often be too late to prepare and sometimes evacuate. The earlier you can prepare, the better.
Even if you've never seen floodwaters near your home in the past, it's still important to have preparations in place and know what to do in case it does happen.
Aim to have basic preparations including your emergency plan, insurance, and emergency kit ready before any warning for floods has been issued. Review these annually and adjust as needed.
2. Assess your flood risk
Check with your local council to see if they have any flood maps or information available. This can help you better understand if you are at risk of flooding and better plan an evacuation route if necessary.
3. Check your insurance
If your area is at risk of flooding, check that you have flood cover included in your Home & Contents insurance policy. Exclusion periods usually apply, so don't leave it to the last minute.
4. Have an emergency & evacuation plan
What actions you will take in the event of a flood? Your local council may have an existing evacuation plan or you can create your own.
You flood plan should include things such as:
- When will you leave?
- Where is you kit kept and what is included in it?
- What will you do if your household is separated (e.g. work or visiting friends)?
- Where can you locate sandbags, window tape, and materials to tie down loose items?
- Where is your nearest evacuation centre and how will you get there (your local council can assist with this)?
- If you can't leave, where will you shelter?
- If you have pets, where will they shelter during floods? When will you relocate them and are their registration details up to date? What will they eat, drink, and sleep on?
It is strongly recommended to have your flood plan written down, and ensure everyone in your household has a copy and understands it.
It's important to stay informed and connected prior to and during a flood.
Subscribe and sign-up for any emergency alerts and warnings on your devices such as phone, tablet, laptop and/or desktop computer. These alerts could be with your State Emergency Service, Local Councils, Department of Main Roads or state equivalent and Bureau of Meteorology.
Familiarise yourself with the flood warning levels for your state or territory and what they mean in practice.
Prepare your essential emergency kit
Have an emergency kit with a checklist ready in advance. Your emergency pack should at a minimum include:
- A first aid kit
- Torch and spare batteries
- Drinking water
- Non-perishable food (including food for pets).
Prepare secondary emergency kit
If you have time prior to evacuating consider also packing:
- Spare clothes (including protective clothing if you have access to it),
- Essential medication and other personal aids (such as glasses, hearing aids, etc.)
- Toiletries
- Important documents such as birth certificates and passports (in a waterproof folder where possible).
- Pet supplies such as carriers and leads
- Blankets and towels
- A tent or tarp for shelter
- Spare phone charger
- Non-electronic entertainment such as books or playing cards.
1. Before a flood
Preparation is key.
2. During a flood
Keeping safe and connected.
3. After a flood
Safety, documentation & clean up.
'Floodproof' your property
- Regularly check and clean your gutters to prevent the clogging of debris.
- Check that all windows and doors are closed properly and locked, and that there are no gaps. If gaps are found, use gap filler to prevent water seepage.
- Stock up on sandbags. These can be purchased from hardware stores or landscaping suppliers. Although sandbags won't fully protect your home, they usually significantly minimise the damage caused from flooding.
- Store all chemicals or poisons up high to reduce risk of leaking into flood waters (this can also prevent children or pets getting into them).
- Where possible, locate electricity sockets and power points above floor level.
Emergency planning
- Waterproof any valuables and important documentation (such as birth certificates, passports, etc.). Store these in waterproof containers or consider taking with you in your emergency pack.
- Discuss your evacuation strategy with family and friends. Ensure that someone outside of your household knows your plan and where you will take refuge.
- Ensure your emergency kit is ready and pack other essential supplies (as listed above).
- Identify items you may want to move to higher ground if floodwaters approach (such as valuable furniture, cars, electronics etc.).
- Know the locations of your electrical switchboard, gas connection, water supply, solar inverter, and any other power sources. These will need to be switched off as soon as a flood hits.
When a flood warning has been issued
- Follow directions in the official flood warning.
- Remind your household of your flood plan.
- Locate your emergency kit and other items in the event you need to evacuate.
- Secure your property as best you can, including sandbagging, relocating or securing all outdoor loose items (especially chemicals or poisons).
- Continue to watch for alerts and updates as flood conditions can change quickly and without warning. It's important to stay connected and updated on conditions and road closures.
- Move vehicles to higher, safer ground as required.
- Move furniture, clothing, and valuables to the highest point in your home.
If you do need to evacuate
- Leave early. Don't leave it to the last possible moment, as this could risk your route becoming blocked by floodwaters.
- Turn off all electrical, gas, water and solar power sources.
- Disconnect all electrical appliances.
- Take your emergency kit and supplies.
- Notify non-household members if you've decided to evacuate, where you are going, and the route you will be taking.
- If you are in a life-threatening situation, call 000.
Travelling through floodwaters
- Floodwaters are incredibly dangerous. Do not under any circumstance drive or swim in flood waters. They can have strong currents, contain dangerous and sharp objects, along with diseases and pollutants like raw sewerage and toxic chemicals.
- Floodwaters can take control of a 4WD in just 30cm of flowing water, and smaller vehicles in just 15cm.
- If a road is closed, do not continue. If water is over the road, do not drive through it. Even if you are familiar with the road, the road itself might have debris or damage you can't see.
- If you are considering travelling by boat, take extreme caution or reconsider altogether. There could be fallen or submerged electrical wires which could electrocute you or ignite your fuel, the current may be too strong and there could be submerged objects that could damage your boat. Always wear a life jacket and carry oars, rope, extra fuel and an anchor.
- Once you are safe and secure, check in with family, friends and neighbours to make sure they are safe and well.
Sheltering at home
- Plan to manage without electricity, water and other essential services.
- Have a battery powered radio to keep up to date on emergency messages in case of the power being cut.
- Relocate to the highest point in the home.
Ensure safety first
- Wait until authorities have told you it's safe to return home. Ensure your home is safe before entering (look for any obvious signs of structural damage such as cracks, sagging ceilings, loose floorboards, nails, hard to open doors or windows, wet electrical circuits, fallen powerlines).
- Do not turn on any power sources until your home has been checked and cleared by an electrician. Any electrical source that has touched water or mud must be assessed as it could be unsafe. Likewise, do not turn on gas supplies until a gasfitter has given you the ok or use water from the tap until told it is safe to use.
- Floodwater contains a lot of contaminants like sewerage and chemicals, so wear ensure you're wearing protective gear including gloves (such as rubber or leather), rubber boots, and a mask before you enter the house.
Assess damage
- Take photos and record all damage to help support your insurance claim and back up digitally (such as emailing to yourself).
- If you have damage, contact your insurer. After most emergencies, insurers can be inundated with calls, so consider lodging an online claim.
Recovering & disposing of items
- Thoroughly clean and disinfect anything that has touched floodwater. Even if they haven't touched floodwater, they could still be affected by mould. Check in with your insurer before cleaning or disposing of items to make sure it's not going to affect your claim.
- Dispose of any food that has been in floodwater, as it is likely unsafe to consume.
Take care of yourself
- Ensure you stay hydrated and get some rest during the clean-up process (if applicable), however do not drink water from the tap until authorities have given you the all-clear that it's safe to use.
- Floods are stressful and can be traumatic for those affected. Ensure that you reach out to family and friends for support.
The information provided is intended to be of a general nature only. We do not accept any legal responsibility for any loss incurred as a result.
First steps in any disaster
If your situation is life-threatening, call 000 immediately.
If you've been impacted by disaster, contact your local State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500 for assistance and advice on what to do next.
For insurance claims, please visit our Make a Claims page.
