Flood
Protect your home from flooding
The Environment Agency provides a 24-hour Floodline service, which allows you to check if your property is at risk.
Contact details are on the emergency numbers page.
The Environment Agency also issues flood warnings to local authorities and emergency services if there is a risk of flooding.
These flood warnings are also circulated to local TV and Radio stations, so that announcements can be made to enable residents to prepare for any localised flooding.
Warning symbols
Watch out for the following warning symbols on TV or on the Environment Agency's website:
Flooding possible
Be aware! Be prepared! Watch out
Flood warning
Flooding of homes, businesses and main roads is expected. Act now!
Severe flood warning
Severe flood is expected. Imminent danger to life and property. Act now!
All clear
All clear is issued when flood watches or warnings are no longer in force. Flood water levels receding. Check all is safe to return. Seek advice.
What can I do to prepare for a flood?
Insurance
Check your level of insurance cover by asking your insurer the following questions:
- Is my property insured against flood damage?
- Does my cover provide me with temporary accommodation?
- Will any necessary clean up or repairs to my property be taken care of?
- How much compensation will I receive to cover any damages to my property and contents?
Valuable items
Store important documents in waterproof containers or sealed plastic bags and put them at the highest part of the property. Valuable documents may include:
- Birth certificates
- Passports
- Financial papers
- Photos
- Pension books
- Benefit books
- Insurance details
Household appliances
- Find out how to turn off your gas and electricity from the mains
- Electrical appliances, which can be lifted should be unplugged and moved to the safest and highest part of the property
- Large appliances such as washing machines, tumble dryers, cookers, fridges, freezers that are too heavy to move should be unplugged and disconnected from their pipe work and raised off the floor using bricks and blocks
- Large appliances should be kept away from walls. This will speed up the drying out process after a flood has occurred
Furniture
- Roll up any small carpets or rugs and place at the highest part of the property
- Empty out the contents of any furniture that cannot be moved and place the contents high up
- Raise any furniture that cannot be moved using bricks or blocks
- Weigh down any items that cannot be raised as this will prevent any movement in the floodwater
Outside your property
- Ladders, garden furniture and any other items that could become damaged or float away should be secured down
- Animals should be brought indoors or if you’re property is being evacuated, animals should be prepared so that they can be removed quickly
- Move vehicles to higher land where possible
Emergency flood pack
Prepare an emergency flood pack containing items that you might need should a flood occur. The flood pack should be stored in a place that is safe, easy to reach and should include:
- A list of useful phone numbers
- Home and car keys
- Mobile telephone
- A torch and spare batteries
- Blankets and warm clothing
- Waterproof clothing, including rubber gloves
- A first aid kit, including sanitary supplies and any prescribed medication
- Portable radio with spare batteries
Key contacts
The grid below will help you to put together a list of useful numbers:
| Contact | Telephone number |
|---|---|
| Emergency services | |
| Local police | |
| Hospital | |
| South Tyneside Council | |
| NHS Direct | |
| Local doctors surgery | |
| Environment Agency Floodline | |
| Telephone provider | |
| Gas provider | |
| Electricity provider | |
| Water company | |
| Bank/finance | |
| Insurance – Property | |
| Insurance – Car | |
| School |
Download and fill in this form
Reduce the effects of flooding
Sandbags
Sandbags act as a barrier against floodwater and can prevent or reduce the amount of water from entering your property. However, they will need to be put in to place before any flooding occurs.
Sandbags are cheap to make but can also be purchased from DIY stores and builders merchants. Sandbags will also be available from South Tyneside Council if a flood has been predicted, but supplies could be limited if large areas are affected. Filling pillowcases or refuse sacks with garden soil can also work as alternatives to sandbags.
Making and laying sandbags
- Do not fill bags more than half full
- Do not tie the end of the bags
- Remove any debris from where the bags are going to be laid
- Lay the sandbags parallel to the direction of the water like brickwork. Make sure that each bag in the layer above overlaps every bag in the layer below by half
- Ensure that the bags are stamped down so that a seal is created
- Any sandbag protection of more than three layers high will need to be built in a pyramid format. To ensure that the wall is stable, it should be built three times wider than the required height
- Additional waterproofing can be provided by laying plastic sheeting across the flood-facing side of the sandbag wall