How to write a household flood plan
Checked 23 Oct 2026
Flood plan and protection planner
Worked example
For a house with an upstairs in England, 2 external doors, 1 patio or french doors, 4 air bricks low on the outside walls, where the official checker says medium risk:
- Things to consider: sign up for free flood warnings; think about a property flood resilience survey; flood barriers or flood doors for external doors (2); barriers for patio or french doors (1); air brick covers or self-closing air bricks (4); non-return valves on drains and waste pipes; seal gaps in walls and around frames; raise sockets and wiring at your next refurb.
- A printable flood plan with the numbers to call, where to turn off the gas, electricity and water, and what to move upstairs.
- No prices: measure your doors and air bricks first, then get quotes.
Source: Environment Agency, checked 23 Oct 2026; GOV.UK, checked 23 Oct 2026; CIRIA, checked 23 Oct 2026
A flood plan is a page of notes you write before you need them. When a warning comes, nobody wants to hunt for the stopcock or the insurer's number in the dark. The planner above does the writing for you and prints on one sheet.
What goes in a flood plan
The Environment Agency's personal flood plan template covers the same ground as our planner:
- Contacts. Your insurer and policy number, your council, your energy and water companies, and a neighbour or relative. Keep a note of who can help you, and anyone you can help.
- Where to turn things off. The gas shut-off, the fuse box (consumer unit) and the water stopcock. Find them now, in daylight.
- What to move. Documents, photos, medicines, valuables and small electricals, and where they'll go. If you have no upstairs, decide now: high shelves, the loft, or someone else's home.
- People and pets. Who needs help to leave, who'll help them, and where everyone would go.
- Your flood kit and protection. Where the kit is kept, and where any barriers or covers and the tools to fit them are stored.
Make it useful on the night
- Print two copies. Keep one somewhere dry and easy to reach, and save a photo of it on your phone.
- Walk it through once. Find each shut-off and check you can turn it. Try fitting any barriers before you need them.
- Sign up for warnings. A plan only helps if you have time to use it. In England, Scotland and Wales you can sign up by calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188.
- Check it each autumn, before the wetter months.
FAQs
Is a flood plan worth it if my risk is low?
Yes. It costs nothing, and the same notes help in a burst pipe or a power cut. GOV.UK's flood advice puts planning how you'll respond near the top of its list.
Do you see what I type into the planner?
No. It's saved in your browser on this device only, so it's still there next time you open the page. Use the "Clear it" link to remove it.
Sources
- Personal flood plan (Environment Agency template) (Environment Agency), checked 23 Oct 2026
- Prepare for flooding (GOV.UK), checked 23 Oct 2026
- Emergency services (GOV.UK), checked 23 Oct 2026
- Code of practice for property flood resilience (CIRIA C790) (CIRIA), checked 23 Oct 2026
- Check your long term flood risk (England) (GOV.UK), checked 23 Oct 2026
- Sign up for flood warnings (GOV.UK), checked 23 Oct 2026
- Floodline (England, Scotland and Wales) (GOV.UK), checked 23 Oct 2026