How to prepare for a flood

How to prepare for a flood

Steve, Team Member
View the video

How to prepare for a flood

View the video
×

Project Overview

Floods can hit capital cities and regional towns across Australia. That’s why good preparation and planning is important when it comes to being ready. This guide gives you tips on what to take if you have to evacuate and what you’ll need once you’ve left. We also have advice for protecting household items and keeping floodwater out of your home.

Continue to step-by-step instructions

Step by Step Instructions

1 Prepare an emergency evacuation kit
2 Protect your personal possessions
3 Essential items
4 Protect electrical items at home
5 Know your escape route
6 Building or renovating
7 Prepare the outside of your house
8 Have your own power supply

  • Step 1. Prepare an emergency evacuation kit

    If you have to evacuate your home because of a flood, you are unlikely to have enough time to put together the things you need. Be prepared and have a large waterproof, plastic container with items you’ll need. This should include a first aid kit, canned food and bottled water, a torch with spare batteries, matches and sand bags if you need them.

    Previous Step Next Step
    Person preparing an evacuation kit

  • Step 2. Protect your personal possessions

    Along with an evacuation kit, a waterproof/fireproof safe and another large plastic container are ideal for your personal possessions. They can contain passports, marriage and birth certificates, wills, children’s report cards, photo albums, vaccination records and home and content insurance documents. The safe and container are ideal for important or sentimental items or ones that can’t be easily replaced.
    Previous Step Next Step
    Displaying waterproof and fireproof safe

  • Step 3. Essential items

    As well as food, water, clothes and important documents there a lot of other essential items you should also have ready to go. A gas bottle with a cooking attachment will help cook food and boil water. You will also need a saucepan, cutlery and plates. Sleeping bags, towels and clothes are very handy. Another large water container would also be worthwhile. Packing a radio with spare batteries will let you stay up-to-date with the latest flood news.

    Previous Step Next Step
    Person preparing food evacuation kit

  • Step 4. Protect electrical items at home

    Once you leave your home it’s unwise to return until the authorities have said it’s safe. An easy way to protect electrical items at home, such as TV’s, stereo’s and DVD players is to unplug them and place them on tables or benches, somewhere higher that will keep them out of the floodwater. Large electrical items like washing machines, dryers and if possible, fridges can be placed on bricks, to lift them off the ground.

    Previous Step Next Step
    Person holding bricks

  • Step 5. Know your escape route

    Once you’ve decide to leave your home because of rising floodwaters, it’s important to know exactly where you’re going and where is safe from the floods. If you have any pets, take them with you, if it’s possible, or work out what you’re going to do to make sure they’re safe.

    Previous Step Next Step
    Escape route

  • Step 6. Building or renovating

    If you’re building or renovating in an area that might be prone to flooding, choose your floor surfaces to suit. Tiles are hard wearing, easier to clean and more resistant to floodwater than other floor surfaces.

    Previous Step Next Step
    Tiles are hard wearing

  • Step 7. Prepare the outside of your house

    There are some easy things you can do to help protect your home from heavy rain and floodwater:

    • Make sure that the gutters are clean and the down pipes aren’t blocked.
    • If you have one, clean out the drainage system at the bottom of your driveway or anywhere else around your home.
    • Tidy up outside and remove any items that might be swept away and damage your home.
    • Fill sandbags and use them to divert water away from your home.
    Previous Step Next Step
    Clean gutters

  • Step 8. Have your own power supply

    Even if your house hasn’t been flooded and you don’t have to evacuate, the authorities might still cut the power in your area. A generator gives you the ability to be able to run power to your home and keep your fridge or freezer running, and any other important electrical appliances. Make sure you have a long extension cord to run from the generator, into your home. You will also need a good supply of fuel to run the generator.
    Previous Step Next Step
    Person starting a power generator

More D.I.Y. Advice

Person laying the pavers 03:50

Paths & Landscaping How to pave a pathway Watch our step-by-step guide and find out how to prepare and lay a pathway with pavers.

Person connecting the top arch 01:21

Paths & Landscaping How to build a garden archway You can make an eye-catching feature in any garden with this metal archway. We’ll take you through the simple steps to build an archway and secure it in place.

How to seal pavers 01:25

Paths & Landscaping How to seal pavers Applying sealer gives your pavers a protective coating that’s also easy to clean. We’ll show you how to do this in your backyard in just four easy steps.

Add mortar on end of brick 07:40

Paths & Landscaping How to build a brick letterbox Find out everything you need to know to help you build a brick letterbox for your front yard.

Removing damaged concrete from path with crow bar 05:09

Paths & Landscaping How to repair a concrete path Learn everything you need to know to repair a concrete path yourself.

water feature

Paths & Landscaping Six garden feature ideas Whether you’ve got an acre or a patio area, chances are when it comes to your garden, there’s always room for improvement. And you’d be surprised, it doesn’t take a lot to transform your outside space and make it a more attractive and enjoyable plac...

Consider your line of sight 01:30

Paths & Landscaping How to create a focal point in your garden A focal point in your garden is a great way to highlight certain features or create a particular mood. We’ll show you a few different types that you can create.

Man cutting pavers with hammer and chisel 02:41

Paths & Landscaping How to cut pavers Find out how to cut pavers to size using an angle grinder or a chisel and hammer. Just follow our step-by-step guide.

diy chalkboard cabinet hanging in the garage 01:27

Shelving & Storage D.I.Y. upcycled chalkboard cabinet We take an old cabinet and upcycle it into a handy chalkboard cabinet that will give you somewhere to store tools and a place to write lists or plans for your next project.

honeycomb wall shelves 02:23

Shelving & Storage How to make D.I.Y. honeycomb floating wall shelves These honeycomb floating wall shelves are a modern and stylish way to make a feature of any wall in your house. They’re easy to make and they’ll give a somewhere to show off your favourite things.

bathroom rejuvination 01:44

Ideas & Makeovers Learn how to give your bathroom a makeover on a budget Simple and affordable ways to give your tired bathroom a makeover.

roses in garden

Planting & Growing Winter garden ideas It may be cold outside in most parts of Australia but there are still a few things that need to be done in the garden at this time of the year. But if you can’t face going outside, you can always bring your garden inside suggests Bunnings horticultu...

diy wood and concrete kitchen island 05:43

Outdoor Living D.I.Y. wood and concrete kitchen island You’d be surprised how easy it is to make this wooden and concrete kitchen island from just a few simple tools and materials.

Modern living room DIY makeover 01:29

Living Room How to give your living room a modern D.I.Y. makeover There are a few simple ways to freshen up a tired living room and make it a real feature in your home. You can create more space by knocking out a wall and updating the furnishings to fit. By adding floating cabinetry and open shelves, you’ll have m...

black diy wooden sofa arm table 02:49

Living Room D.I.Y. wooden sofa arm table A sofa arm table is a great addition if you’re short on space or don’t have a coffee table in your living area.

hampton kitchen

Ideas & Makeovers Hamptons sanctuary Bright, open and stylish are the hallmarks of the Hamptons Sanctuary. The island bench doubles as a workspace and breakfast bar, while the bamboo benchtops and window panel cupboards complete the look.

Top of the content