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Our flood warnings tell you to move yourself, children, pets and possessions to a ‘safe’ place. But what is safe, if you’re at risk of flooding?
The general advice is to move up to higher ground because water will flow downhill and collect in low-lying areas. If flooding is entering or at risk of entering your property, you may not be able to use your front or back door as your normally would. So a room upstairs would be a safe place to wait, with a window you can open and get through, should you need to, helped by the emergency services.
However, it’s not always this straightforward, so consider the possibility of your safe place in a range of different scenarios. This is why understanding the flood risk of your area, and also your property, can help you develop a plan for a flood which is specific to your local risk. Much like you would plan for what to do in case of a fire from different sources in your property.
This will be very personal to you and your property, but below are some things to consider for different types of properties or circumstances:
Floodwater
- Flooding may occur long after rainfall has ceased, and conditions may change unexpectedly. Even when there is not a flood, rivers, streams, lakes and reservoirs can be dangerous.
- Avoid standing on or near anything that may be vulnerable to damage and collapse due to flooding, for example: bridges and riverbanks when water is high.
- It’s very dangerous to cross floodwater, by foot or vehicle
- Always consider an exit route and a safe location to retreat to, in case floodwaters rise quicker than expected and you become cut off.
Basements
- Basements and cellars may flood quickly, as they are below ground level and water travels to low-lying areas first
- Try not to store sentimental or valuable items there, or consider starting to move your belongings elsewhere at a lower level of flood risk before a potential flood and Flood Warning is issued (for example, when a Flood Alert is issued)
- Puddle pumps or other more permanent products may be suitable for your type of flood risk, to limit the amount of water entering your property
- In case of a flood, move upstairs if you have one, or pre-arrange other safe places you could go to
Caravans
- Caravan parks can be at risk from rivers or the sea, due to their close location to areas prone to flooding first. Depending on the type of caravan, it may be best to move the caravan or leave the area before a potential flood
- If you’re an owner occupier, sign up to receive flood warnings and if you’re on holiday, take the advice of park management
Bungalows or ground floor flats
- You may need to leave the area, if you can’t move to a higher place in your property with a means of escape like a loft or attic space
Pets
- If pets are part of your family, Blue Cross and RSPCA have advice on how you can keep them safe
Always remember to consider your entire household, including the needs of the elderly and infirm, children and pets.
More information is available at Natural Resources Wales / Personal flood plan, or request a hard copy of a personal flood plan template by completing this short form, or you can call General Enquires on 0300 065 3000 (Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm).
Sign up to receive free flood alerts and warnings, or call 0345 988 1188 or type talk 0345 602 6340.
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Summer downpours can be intense and happen very quickly, with little if any warning.
A thunderstorm can bring heavy rain and localised flooding to one area, but down the road you could still be enjoying the sun and see no flooding.
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Our 5 day flood risk will highlight if there’s a risk of surface water flooding happening in your local authority and what you can do for different levels of risk. It is difficult to forecast surface water flooding more than one day ahead, so we recommend that you check this daily as well as Met Office Severe Weather Warnings for rainfall and thunderstorms/lightning.
We also have advice on preparing for a flood, what to do in a flood and what to do after a flood.
Tide heights and times vary.
If you’re spending time near the coast this summer, check the times of the tides so you’re not caught out.
Sea levels are also influenced by weather conditions, as stormy conditions cause increases in sea level too through a combination of storm surge and wave action.
So although it’s useful to be aware of high tide heights and times from tide tables, it also important to know that they don’t include the impact of storm surges or waves.
Our Flood warnings and alerts consider this, and other factors which impact flood risk, like the height of the land and any sea defences. So why not sign up to get free notifications?
More advice about spending time safely at the beach is available from the RNLI.
Last year NRW launched the Four Rivers for LIFE Project with the aim of improving the condition of four rivers in south Wales, the rivers Teifi, Tywi, Cleddau and Usk. An estimated 776km of river will be improved.
The project is supported by the EU’s LIFE Programme grant, with funding also provided by the Welsh Government and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water. Over £9 million will be injected into tackling urgent conservation challenges facing the rivers over the next five years.
The rivers are classed as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), meaning they are of international importance for wildlife and plants such as salmon, lamprey, shad, otters and water crowfoot.
The project will work with farmers, landowners, contractors and local communities to:
- Improve conditions for salmon, lamprey, shad and other fish populations that have declined drastically in recent years
- Remove constraints to fish migration - address river obstructions such as weirs and other barriers
- Re-naturalise rivers – re-introducing boulders, woody material and gravel back into the rivers, as well as re-meandering, and floodplain reconnection
- Planting trees along riverbanks to create habitat, increase shading and establish buffer strips, with associated water quality and bank stability benefits
- Reduce the impact of invasive non-native species such as Himalayan balsam, American skunk cabbage, Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed
- Improve land management practices – reducing nutrients and sediment inputs from agricultural land by working with farmers and landowners to promote best practice farming techniques
- Re-establish the critically endangered Freshwater Pearl Mussel in southwest Wales
To find out more, please visit the project website
This grant scheme supports the development of small-scale, retro-fit, sustainable drainage solutions in Wales via an initial feasibility round. Sustainable drainage systems (commonly referred to as SuDS) help to reduce surface water flooding in built up areas and reduce run-off into local rivers and streams. In rural landscapes, schemes can reduce localised flooding and improve water quality.
They use a more natural approach to managing the flows, volumes and quality of surface water by including components such as permeable pavements, wetland creation, soakaways and rain gardens.
To find out more and how to apply, visit NRW’s website.
Below are messages provided on behalf of others, which may be of interest to you.
What the water touched: the story of a flooded community.
On the night of the 16th February 2020, residents in Nantgarw were woken from their sleep and found themselves in a living nightmare. As flood levels rose, water poured into houses, trapping residents in their homes and leaving little time to save precious belongings.
Hundreds of people were evacuated by the emergency services and taken to nearby refuge centres. In some homes, the flood water was as high as the ground floor ceiling. When residents returned to evaluate the damage, they were shocked by what they found. One resident remembers opening the door and crying.
Shortly after the flooding, Covid lockdowns began, placing the lives of those affected on hold. With the community dispersed and unable to make any progress on repairs or arrange urgent building work, damaged homes sat empty for months.
Residents spoke to British Red Cross describing how the flooding impacted all parts of life “physically, mentally and medically”.
According to the British Red Cross’s latest report Every time it Rains, approximately 1,500 properties were flooded with extensive flooding of infrastructure.
 Following the devastating Storm Dennis, the British Red Cross has set up a new emergency response team based in the Rhondda Cynon Taf area. When an emergency happens, British Red Cross responders are there to support people immediately afterwards, whether they’ve been affected by a house fire, a terrorist attack, or a flood like the one the residents of the Rhondda Cynon Taf area experienced in 2020.
British Red Cross can send support anywhere in Wales as their teams work across borders, and travel to wherever they're needed.
Flooding is one of the most severe climate hazards in the UK and is anticipated to cause £195m damage a year in Wales alone. There is a higher proportion of households affected by flooding in Wales than the rest of the UK, with flooding expected to affect 1 in 21 of households annually[1].
Despite this, British Red Cross have found that the majority of people in Wales are unaware what their flood risk is and do not know how to prepare for a flood. It is clear that more needs done to support communities to better prepare for, and recover from, flooding.
In its report, Every Time it Rains, the British Red Cross recommends:
- Better use of future flood risk maps and data to help communities to understand their risk and take action;
- Prioritised support for those communities and individuals who are particularly vulnerable;
- Flooding information that is tailored to the needs of specific communities;
- Support for people to get the right insurance against flooding;
- Clarity on what actions individuals and businesses should take to prepare for flooding;
- Improved engagement between local authorities and affected communities to support local action and build resilience; and
- A coordinated and comprehensive national approach and guidance to respond to emergencies, including floods.
For more information please contact Naomi White, Policy and Public Affairs Officer (Wales) on naomiwhite@redcross.org.uk
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