Article · 20 November 2024 · By Mike
What to Do If There Is Flooding | Flood Emergency Guide
A practical flood emergency guide for homes and businesses: what to do first, what not to do, and how to protect a site before water gets worse.
When water approaches your property, speed matters. The order is simple: keep people safe first, stop avoidable damage second, and only then start cleaning up. Waiting creates unnecessary risk and shrinks the protective options still available to you.
What to do immediately
The emergency response checklist:
Personnel and asset protection. Move people, pets, and vital documents or devices to elevated areas before water reaches your location. This stays the top priority regardless of property type.
Utilities and equipment. Switch off power, gas, and non-essential equipment only when it can be done safely. Never compromise personal safety to manage utilities.
Vehicles and stock. Move vehicles and inventory away from low-lying zones. Prevents loss of transport and stock during the event.
Temporary barriers. Place temporary barriers at primary entry points — doors, loading docks, roller shutters, garage openings. Basic protection meaningfully reduces water infiltration.
Stay clear of water. Maintain distance from floodwater, storm drains, and submerged electrical equipment. Floodwater carries dangers well beyond its visible depth.
Call for help early. Don't wait until the situation is unmanageable.
Commercial and industrial site protection
Commercial facilities face distinct vulnerabilities. Loading docks, roller doors, service entries, drains, and cable penetrations consistently represent weak points where water infiltrates buildings.
Inventory and equipment. Raise chemicals, stock, and electronics above anticipated flood levels. Remove forklifts, tools, and pallets from floor-level exposure.
Perimeter defence. Seal low door gaps and cover entry points before floodwater reaches the building. Proactive sealing prevents water entry in the first place.
Drainage protection. Protect drains and backflow points so water cannot rise through the floor from below. Many industrial floods involve water entering through drainage rather than doors.
Long-term planning. For facilities facing repeat flooding risk, permanent protection systems offer better reliability than temporary sandbag arrangements — especially when water depth may become significant.
What not to do
- Do not drive or walk through floodwater. 15 cm of fast-moving water can knock a person over. 60 cm can carry a vehicle.
- Do not touch wet electrical equipment. Electricity poses fatal hazards even in shallow water.
- Do not assume the flood will be minor. Flash floods can rise faster than official forecasts.
- Do not wait for neighbours to act first. Water doesn't slow down because others are unprepared.
- Do not re-enter a flooded building until it has been inspected for structural damage, contamination, and electrical hazards.
- Do not rely exclusively on sandbags for serious commercial sites where significant water depth is possible.
Protecting the site before water arrives
The most effective flood response is one you prepared before the event:
- Permanent kerb sockets for demountable barriers — seal a doorway in under 5 minutes
- Sandless bags stored dry — almost no storage footprint, deploy in 3 minutes with a bucket of water
- Automatic flood gates at basement entries or car park ramps — require no action at all
After the flood
Document damage with photos before cleaning up. Contact your insurer before removing debris. For contaminated areas, use protective equipment — floodwater carries sewage and chemical runoff.
How FLOOD CONTROL can help
We provide multiple product and service options:
- Sandless sandbags for quick deployment
- Portable ABS flood barriers — reusable across multiple events
- Automatic flood barrier systems for permanent, engineered protection
- Site consultation and advice for property owners developing a real strategy
The guidance is to contact us early — before floodwater arrives — so the solution is customised rather than improvised.
Flood emergency FAQ
Should I use sandbags or a barrier?
Selection depends on property type and flood frequency. For small, short-term residential protection, sandless sandbags can help. For higher-risk or repeat commercial exposure, barriers or an engineered system are usually a better long-term answer.
How fast should I act?
As soon as a flood warning is issued or water starts appearing near the site. Early action always gives you more options and lower damage.
Is this only for homes?
No. A good flood response matters even more for warehouses, factories, retail sites, and community buildings — downtime costs can be much higher than for a residence.
Useful references
If your current protection failed or wasn't in place, contact us to review your options before the next event.
