It is a good idea to know if your home is prone to flooding, prior to the flood. Use your local council and emergency services, to find answers. Allowing you to plan your flood preparation procedures more effectively.
If you find your home is in a flood prone area, modifications may be needed to your home, to help reduce the water intake and assist with recovery. A home with easily removable floor coverings and items, will suffer less damage. Have you checked with your insurance supplier, to see whether flood insurance is available to you and are you covered.
Before Flooding make sure you:
- Check Emergency : Evacuation & First Aid Kits, making sure they are kept up to date.
- Keep a list of emergency numbers, with ease of accessibility for anyone in the home.
During Flooding [Also when forecast] make sure you:
- Listen to the local radio / media for advice and up to date information.
- Know of your local evacuation centre.
- Assist in the helping of neighbours if possible. Make sure the elderly or infirm are taken care of.
- Secure any items that may float away or cause damage. Prepare all motor vehicles : outdoor equipment : rubbish & chemicals, in readiness for flood waters.
- Make plans for action when water levels reach certain levels. What you are going to move first, where and how?
- Make any necessary plans for pets and other animals if relocation is needed? Check on your pets food supplies. Move stock & feed to high ground.
- Relocate all farm equipment to higher ground.
- Stock up on nonperishable food stuffs and water supplies.
- Keep all family members away from flood waters. If you do have to enter flood waters, use a stick or pole to check the depth of water.
- Stay away from fast currents and drains, culverts.
- Do not eat any foodstuff that comes into contact with flood waters.
- Boil all tap water during the flood and until known to be safe.
If Evacuation is needed make sure you:
Inform the authorities or neighbours, if you make your own decision to leave. Time is wasted by the emergency services looking for people, whom are not known to have evacuated!
- Pack clothing, medications, valuables, personal documents, Evacuation Box into waterproof bags.
- Pack your Evacuation Kit & mobile phone.
- You have placed furniture and contents into higher places or stack.
- Unplug and remove as many electrical items to higher places.
- Turn off the power, water and gas before leaving.
- Secure LPG gas bottles, as they may float.
- Block your toilet and laundry sink to prevent sewage back flow, if possible.
- Empty freezers and fridges and leave the doors open. They will float less this way.
- Lock your home and take a recommended route.
- Do not drive through any high water and fast currents.
- Do not drive on unknown roads where water is over the road.
After The Flood on returning to your home make sure you:
- Get professional advice, as to whether services to your house are OK.
- Electrical items that have been submerged in the flood waters will need to be checked, before power is applied.
- Do not eat any foodstuff that has come into with flood waters.
- Boil all tap water until known to be safe.
- Make sure you check on your neighbours.
As floods often happen very quickly and arrive unexpectedly, there is little time for planning to occur at the last minute. It therefore pays to make sure your family and home is prepared at all times, to reduce the chances of loss. Loss is random whilst preparation is not! Increase you family's protection with professionally prepared Disaster, Evacuation & Survival Kits.
New South Wales - Statistics
- Did You Know 28% Off Land In NSW Is Subject To Flooding? - Averaged annual damage $128M
New South Wales - Flood Help & Assistance
For flood help & information - Contact your local SES office - 132 500
Information on protecting your home and family from floods - Contact the SES on - 1800 201 000
New South Wales Department Of Primary Industries offers information to rural producers for flood preparation. They are responsible for making sure animals are looked after in an emergency. -
