Staying safe: Do you know how to prepare for a flood?

When a flood warning is issued, are you aware of how to react?

Thawing snow and rainfall have combined to produce widespread flooding, including evacuations near Barrow-upon-Soar, Leicestershire, where a caravan park has been flooded.

Before you can react to any warning, you need to receive them. The Environment Agency offers a free flood warning service, currently covering 1.6 million properties, which will alert you of any danger.

There are three levels in the UK: Flood alert, flood warning, and severe flood warning. For an alert, prepare an emergency bag containing medicine and any insurance documents.

In a warning, disconnect your utilities, take any vehicles to higher ground, and move upstairs or to a high point of safety.

Severe warnings generally coincide with evacuation orders, do not waste any time and follow advice from emergency services.

You can contact your local council for help obtaining sandbags to better secure your property, as well as surrounding the perimeter, the Red Cross also suggest placing a bag in toilet bowls to avoid sewage back flow.

Once a flood strikes, remain in place. Water can be deceptively dangerous, just six inches of fast flowing water can knock a person over and sewage contamination brings other dangers.

The government has committed £5.2 billion to flood and coastal defences, which will help protect an additional 336,000 properties by 2027.

Research published in 2022 by the Environment Agency revealed that two in three households at risk of being flooded do not believe it will happen to them. If it does, be prepared.

There are currently multiple flood alerts in effect, if you are covered by an alert be sure to check the WeatherRadar and plan accordingly.