Preparing for a flood

Sandbags

If you live in a flood risk area, and feel you would like to have a few sandbags at home to keep as a precaution to use in the event of a flood, you can buy sandbags from hardware or DIY stores. There are also other specialist systems available to protect doorways and air bricks.

We do not provide sandbags to individual properties when there is a flood.

It is more effective for us to protect whole streets by using the sandbags to divert the path of flowing water and direct it towards gullies and manholes.

Flood barriers

We do not provide flood barriers to individual properties but they can provided to community flood action groups. Find out more about setting up a community flood action group.

Preparing your home for a flood

During a flood you may be without electricity, lighting, heating or a telephone line. Taking these actions will help you to be prepared. The time to think about it is now - don't wait until a flood happens.

Check your flood risk by postcode on the Natural Resources Wales website (external website)
If your home is in a flood risk area, you can sign up to receive automated flood warnings (external website)
Make sure you have adequate insurance. Flood damage is included in most building insurance policies, but do check your home and contents insurance
During periods of high rainfall, check the Natural Resources Wales Flood Risk Map (external website) to find out if your property is likely to be affected

Flood Re is a joint initiative between the Government and insurers. Its aim is to make flood cover in household insurance policies more affordable. Find out if Flood Re can help you (external website).

Prepare a personal flood plan that contains important information you would need to know if your home was flooded, such as insurance policy numbers, and contact details for people you may need to get in touch with in an emergency. Keep your flood plan somewhere safe and easy to reach in a waterproof folder.

Prepare a flood kit of essential items you would need during a flood, or in case of evacuation, including warm waterproof clothing and any medication you would need.

More resources

Natural Resources Wales has advice on how to prepare your home, business or farm for a flood (external website).

The Blue Pages (external website) is a directory of property flood products and services put together to advise and inform you of what’s available to help reduce the risk of flooding to your home or business.

The National Flood Forum (external website) can help support and represent people at risk of flooding (phone: 01299 403 055).