To access this guide in the app: Me Tab → Skills → Community Resilience: Flood
Practical guidance on warning neighbours, protecting homes with sandbags, and keeping your street safe when floodwater threatens - drawn from Environment Agency guidance and DEFRA Module 1.
This is not a water rescue guide. It covers awareness, preparation and neighbour support only. Never enter floodwater to attempt a rescue. Water rescue is the responsibility of the emergency services.
Flood warning levels - what each level means and when to act
Warning your neighbours - safely and systematically
Sandbag barriers - filling, stacking and placement
Electricity & gas - what to switch off and how
Staying safe indoors - upstairs guidance and evacuation
Health & hygiene - after contact with floodwater
Before taking any action, understand the real dangers. Floodwater is not the same as a puddle.
Why floodwater is dangerous even when it looks shallow
⚠ Golden rule: if in doubt, stay out. No property is worth a life. If conditions change or water rises unexpectedly, stop all activity immediately and move to high ground.
Wear all PPE before starting any flood response activity
Time is the most critical resource. Early, clear warnings allow neighbours to protect property and reach safety.
| Warning Level | What it Means | Your Action |
|---|---|---|
| 🟦 Flood Alert | Flooding is possible. Be prepared. | Monitor updates. Prepare flood kit. |
| 🟠 Flood Warning | Flooding is expected. Immediate action required. | Warn neighbours now. Deploy sandbags. Move valuables upstairs. |
| 🔴 Severe Flood Warning | Severe flooding. Danger to life. | Evacuate if directed. Call 999 for any life risk. |
| ⬜ Warning Removed | No longer at flood risk. | Continue safety guidance. Document damage. |
Elderly residents, young children, people with disabilities, those living alone. Identify these neighbours before a flood event.
Knock loudly, then call through the letterbox: "Flood warning - water is rising. Please take action now." Always identify yourself by name.
A Flood Warning is in effect. Move valuables upstairs. Switch off electricity at the mains if safe. Be ready to evacuate if told to do so.
Post a pre-written note with key information and the Environment Agency Floodline: 0345 988 1188.
Never conduct door-to-door warnings alone. Never enter a property uninvited - your role is to alert, not to enter.
Sandbags can reduce flood ingress - but they are not a perfect solution. Even well-stacked bags seep water. Use purpose-made flood protection products where possible.
ℹ️ Environment Agency guidance: You will need at least 6 sandbags to protect a standard doorway against 20 cm of water. A 60 cm high wall, 1 metre long requires approximately 80 filled sandbags. Each bag needs approximately 15 kg of sand. Do not assume authorities will supply sandbags - check your local council's policy in advance.
One holds the bag open wide; the other shovels. Fill close to where you'll place the bags - they become very heavy quickly.
Do not fill more than half full. A correctly filled bag weighs ~15 kg. Overfilled bags are too rigid, leave gaps and are dangerous to lift.
Tuck the open end firmly under the filled portion. You do not need to tie the bag. Orient bag mouths facing inward, away from the water side.
Headers (bags laid across, short-side facing you) on courses 1, 3, 5. Stretchers (bags along the wall) on courses 2, 4, 6.
Offset each row by half a bag. Never allow vertical seams to align - this is the most common cause of wall failure.
60 cm wall needs 180 cm base minimum. Tamp each layer firmly. Apply plastic sheeting on the water side; anchor with a final course of bags.
| Height | Min. Base Width | Bags per 1m length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 cm (1 ft) | 30 cm | ~5 bags | Single doorway |
| 60 cm (2 ft) | 90 cm+ | ~15 bags | Standard property protection |
| 90 cm (3 ft) | 150 cm+ | ~30 bags | Pyramid structure required |
| 1.0 m+ | 300 cm+ | Seek professional advice - not for volunteers | |
Pass on this guidance when speaking to residents during a flood event.
Never touch switches or appliances standing in water
Protect the supply and avoid backflow
Upstairs guidance and evacuation advice
After any contact with floodwater
Key actions to remember during a Flood Warning. Save this page or screenshot for offline access.
⛔ NEVER enter floodwater to rescue someone - call 999. This is an awareness guide, not a rescue course.
| Service | Number | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency services | 999 | Immediate life risk, rescue needed |
| Police non-emergency | 101 | Non-life-threatening incidents |
| Environment Agency Floodline | 0345 988 1188 | 24-hr flood warnings & advice |
| National Gas Emergency | 0800 111 999 | Gas leaks or damaged infrastructure |
| Power Cut Helpline | 105 | Electricity supply issues |
| NHS Non-Emergency | 111 | Health concerns after flood contact |
| GoodSAM | goodsamapp.org | Community first response & alerts |
ℹ️ This guide is informed by DEFRA Module 1: Water & Flood Awareness and the Environment Agency's guidance on sandbag use. It does not constitute a formal DEFRA qualification. For DEFRA-aligned certification, contact RLSS UK at rlss.org.uk.
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