What to do if…
stormwater is pooling against your foundation and rising toward entry points

What to do now

1. Get to a safer pause.
   Keep children and pets away from the pooling water, low vents, cellar steps, garage thresholds, and any water near power. Put on shoes or boots before going near wet areas.

2. Check the lowest places water could enter.
   Look first at doors, low vents and air bricks, garage door gaps, cellar or basement steps, light wells, and any low-level service openings.

3. Find the main flow path.
   From a dry, safe place, look for overflowing gutters, blocked gullies, blocked grates, downpipes discharging beside the wall, runoff down a drive or path, or water collecting against an external wall.

4. Clear only easy blockages you can reach safely.
   If you can do it without standing in flood water, clear leaves and debris from gullies, grates, channel drains, and downpipe outlets. Stop if the water is deep, fast, foul-smelling, or near electrics.

5. Divert water away from the building.
   Redirect a downpipe outlet away from the wall with a temporary extension, hose, tray, board, or plastic sheet if you have one. Use a broom, squeegee, board, or heavy plastic to push or guide shallow water away from thresholds. Only cut a shallow temporary channel in soft ground you know is safe, away from cables, pipes, and neighbours’ property.

6. Block the lowest entry points first.
   Prioritise the door, air brick, garage threshold, cellar steps, or light well closest to the rising water. Use fitted flood boards, air-brick covers, or threshold barriers if you have them. If you do not, use heavy plastic sheeting with towels or blankets as a compressible seal, then brace it with a board or other weight.

7. Move essential items up before water gets inside.
   Move medicines, documents, phones, chargers, pet supplies, and small valuables upstairs or onto high shelves. Do not carry heavy items through water or across slippery steps.

8. Protect electrics only from a dry, safe position.
   Only switch off electricity if you can reach the consumer unit or fuse box without standing in water or touching wet surfaces. If you cannot safely isolate the supply, or you see damaged outside electrical equipment, call 105 to reach your local electricity network operator. If there is immediate danger to life, call 999.

9. Check flood and weather information once entry points are stabilised.
   Check GOV.UK flood information, your local council’s emergency or out-of-hours flooding route, and Met Office weather warnings. Flood warning services may not cover surface water flooding, so do not wait for an alert if water is already rising at your property.

10. Tell the right people when you are out of immediate danger.
    Report blocked drains, road flooding, or public drainage problems to your local council. If water has entered or is about to enter the building, contact your buildings insurer’s emergency or claims line when it is safe.