uk Home & property emergencies

What to do if…
floodwater is entering your home and rising quickly

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: 18 July 2026 Last reviewed: 12 August 2026 Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Move everyone and any pets to the highest safely reachable place, ideally an upstairs room with a window, without entering floodwater. Call 999 now if anyone is in immediate danger, trapped or unable to reach a safe level.

Do not do these things

Do not delay getting to safety to save possessions or try to stop the rising water.
Do not touch electrical switches, sockets, appliances or cables while standing in water or if they may be wet.
Do not walk or drive through floodwater to leave the area.
Do not return to a flooded lower level to collect items or operate utility controls.
Do not let children or pets enter the floodwater.
Do not ignore an instruction from the emergency services or your local authority to evacuate.

What to do now

Move everyone and any pets upstairs or to the highest safe level available. Use nearby higher ground only if you already have a clear, dry and safe route that does not cross floodwater.
Call 999 if anyone is trapped, injured, in immediate danger or unable to reach a safe level. Give your full address, say that water is entering and rising quickly, explain where everyone is in the building, and mention children, pets, medical needs or mobility difficulties.
If there is no upper floor, or the water is approaching the level you are on, tell the 999 operator immediately and follow their instructions. Stay in a room with a window where responders can locate you unless instructed otherwise.
Turn off the electricity, gas and mains water only if each control is safely reachable from a dry position. Do not go downstairs or enter water to reach a control, and leave any wet or switched-off supply alone until it can be checked.
Take your phone, essential medication, keys, warm clothing, baby supplies and pet leads or carriers only when they are immediately reachable. Keep your phone dry and conserve its battery.
Follow evacuation instructions promptly. Do not choose a route through floodwater because it may contain sewage, hidden debris, uneven ground or uncovered drains.
Avoid contact with the water where possible. If contact has already happened, cover open cuts with waterproof dressings and wash exposed skin with clean water when you can do so safely.
Once everyone is in the safest available place, check official flood and weather warnings and tell one trusted person where you are.

What can wait

Insurance calls, photographs, damage lists, cleaning, moving furniture, fitting barriers, reporting non-emergency flooding and arranging repairs can wait. You do not need to stop the water, protect the building or decide what happens to damaged belongings now.

Important reassurance

You are not responsible for stopping the flood. Leaving possessions behind and allowing property damage to continue while you protect people and animals is an appropriate response to rapidly rising water.

Scope note

This guide covers the first actions during rapidly rising flooding. Returning to the property, restoring utilities, cleaning contaminated areas, making insurance claims and arranging repairs may later require advice from the emergency services, your insurer, your landlord, utility operators or qualified professionals.

Important note

This is general emergency information and does not replace instructions from the emergency services, your local authority, utility operators or qualified professionals. Call 999 when there is immediate danger to life.

Additional Resources

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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