How to prepare for a flood
As flood waters can rise quickly, the time to prepare for a flood emergency is beforehand. Consider these flood safety tips – including a downloadable flood response plan and an emergency kit checklist – to help you get ready for a flood and potentially minimise damage to your home.
Stay informed
Staying informed means knowing where to find accurate, up to date information from reliable sources. Here’s a few things you can do to ensure you have the information you need, when you need it.
- Understanding your level of risk is important in order to prepare. Learn about the flood history in your area and talk to long-time locals about their flood experiences.
- Remember, it doesn’t have to be raining, or even overcast, for flood waters to be heading your way. Pay attention to the news and monitor weather alerts during flood season.
- Follow your local council and State Emergency Services (SES) on social media for updates and advice. Contact your local SES on 132 500 about being FloodSafe.
- Download the relevant weather apps and regularly check for weather updates to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) website.
- Note down any critical contact numbers on your flood response plan.
- Make sure everyone in your household understands the flood response plan ahead of time and knows what to do and when.
Download your flood response plan
Keep gutters, downpipes and drains clear of debris
Rain and flooding often happen at the same time. Clogged gutters, downpipes and drains can cause rainwater to overflow under the eaves and get into the roof cavity of your home. This ‘out of sight, out of mind’ household chore should be a regular job on your home maintenance checklist. If you’re not keen to get up on the roof yourself, call in a local handyperson to do it for you.
Secure loose items around your property
Your outdoor dining setting or trampoline can become a hazard if swept away during a flood. Where possible, bring items indoors or lock them in your garage.
Learn how to safely turn off your electricity, water and gas
State emergency services recommend turning off the electricity, water and gas for safety during severe weather. Learn how to turn them off before flood waters are on their way.
Prepare a flood emergency kit
Prepare a flood emergency kit for you and your family. Don’t forget about your pets!
Print your completed flood response plan (laminate to make it waterproof, if possible), ensure your emergency kit is up to date and then store it in an easy-to-reach place.
A basic emergency kit checklist includes:
- Clean drinking water
- Some non-perishable food (and can opener)
- Important medications
- Emergency blanket
- Mess kit – cups, plates, utensils etc
- Battery powered radio - with extra batteries
- Torch - with extra batteries
- First Aid Kit
- Whistle
- Waterproof Texta or marker
- Phone charger, phone battery and cables
- Cash
- Important family documents – birth certificates, licenses, medical record, insurance etc
- Warm clothing and rain poncho.
Flood safety tips – during and after a flood
Flood waters rise quickly and can be fast-moving. Even still flood waters – such as over roads or in parks – can hide dangers under the surface. Not to mention, when you’re anxious and stressed during an emergency, common sense can go right out the window, so here’s some flood safety tips to remember:
- Don’t drive through flood waters, even if you’re familiar with the road and it ‘doesn’t look deep’.
- Don’t walk or swim in flood waters and don’t let the kids play in them.
- If you must walk through flood waters, wear covered shoes. No bare feet or thongs. Check water depth with a stick, avoiding water more than knee deep.
- Listen to local radio or follow SES on social media for updates and advice.
- Follow any re-location or evacuation orders from local authorities or the SES. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Make a plan with your family about when you’ll leave, where you’ll go and how you’ll get there.
Check your insurance
Making sure your home has the right level of cover can provide peace of mind when wild weather hits. Review your AAMI Home and Contents policy online, via the AAMI App or get a quote today.
How to make an AAMI Home Insurance claim
If your home has been affected by flooding, making a home insurance claim is easy when you lodge your claim online or in the AAMI App. Once lodged, we’ll update you on how it’s progressing and will contact you if we need to confirm anything.
Read more:
- Affected by flood? Here's what to do
- Does my home insurance cover me for flood damage?
- How to prevent damage to your vehicle during a flood
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