Flood warning levels and what to do
| Level | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Flood alert | Flooding is possible | Be prepared: check your flood plan, move cars and valuables from low ground, keep up to date |
| Flood warning | Flooding is expected | Act now: move family, pets and valuables upstairs, turn off gas, electricity and water if safe, put flood protection in place |
| Severe flood warning | Danger to life | Follow the emergency services; be ready to leave; call 999 if you are in immediate danger |
| No longer in force | No further flooding expected | Take care: floodwater can still be deep, fast and dirty |
Never walk, drive or swim through floodwater. Thirty centimetres of moving water is enough to float a car, and drains and manholes may be open under the surface.
Check your long-term flood risk
Live warnings tell you what is happening now. To see how likely a property is to flood from rivers, the sea, surface water or reservoirs over the years, before you buy or rent, use the government’s long-term flood risk service. To be told automatically when a warning is issued, sign up for flood warnings.
- Wales: Natural Resources Wales issues flood warnings and shows river levels.
- Scotland: SEPA Floodline covers flood updates and warnings.
- Northern Ireland: nidirect explains who to contact; the flooding incident line is 0300 2000 100.