Log in Find a branch Contact us Savings Mortgages Insurance Future Planning Support About Us Home Guides Insurance guides Preparing for floods Preparing for floods If your home is at risk of flooding, it’s worthwhile taking steps to prepare yourself. We’ve gathered a few simple ideas to help you protect your property against rising water, and advise what to do should the worst happen. Follow our ten hints and you could be home and dry. Ten tips to get you flood-ready and help you cope in a flood 1. Sandbags and boards – If you’re under flood alert, make sure you have sandbags at the ready and boards you can use to block off doors to help keep water at bay. Your local council may be able to provide these. 2. Watertight documents – Place insurance documents and emergency contact details in a watertight bag, in a safe place. This way you’ll be able to lay your hands on them in an instant should you need to make calls. 3. Prepare a 'flood pack' – Gather together a torch (with spare batteries), wind up radio, first aid kit, bottled water and warm blankets, and put them somewhere easy to get to, in case you need them in a hurry. 4. Furniture and valuables – If you can, move furniture, electrical items and valuable documents upstairs. Anything of high sentimental value should also be a priority – photographs or jewellery, for example. 5. Car – Think about where your car is parked. Is it safe or is there another location you can move it to for the time being? 6. Pets – Ensure you have somewhere upstairs where your pets will be comfortable. Keep a supply of pet food up there, too, to avoid it being damaged by incoming water. 7. Stay in touch – Keep your mobile phone fully charged and in a safe place. This could be a valuable means of contact if you become the victim of flood water. 8. Know your neighbourhood – Have a map of your local area handy. This can be very useful if you need to evacuate, but don’t forget to consider any local roads that may be shut off. 9. Gas and electricity – If water starts to enter your home, switch off gas and electricity supplies immediately. Listen to local radio stations or keep an eye on local TV news for advice on what to do next. 10. Have a list of useful phone numbers– If your home is flooded, call your insurer as soon as possible. Having emergency numbers together in one place means you won’t waste time looking for them if the worst happens. If you are unsure about carrying out any of these checks then please consult an appropriate and trusted tradesperson. Useful numbers Environment Agency 24-hour Floodline: 0345 988 1188 Online flood alerts and advice: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency Home insurance Click here to apply or read more about our home insurance Underwritten by Insurance guides Our insurance guides provide helpful information on our insurance product range and any useful information you may need to know. View guides Insurance FAQs Do I have to have both contents and buildings insurance? Does home insurance apply to me if I rent? View all Insurance FAQs You'll be right at home with our home insurance Our home insurance product has been designed to work around you and your life. So when it comes to protecting your home and everything in it, it makes perfect sense that you only pay for the cover you need. View Home Insurance Privacy and Security Centre Accessibility Site terms Suppliers Careers Gross is the rate of interest payable without the deduction of tax. AER stands for Annual Equivalent Rate and this illustrates the amount of interest paid on your account if it were to be paid and compounded once a year. Tax-Free is the contractual rate of interest payable where interest is exempt from income tax. Tax benefits are subject to change and individual circumstances. ISAs will be operated in accordance with the appropriate Income Tax Legislation (“The Government’s rules”). The Government is responsible for the tax treatment of ISAs and for how long the favourable tax treatment will be maintained. West Bromwich Building Society - Head Office, 2 Providence Place, West Bromwich B70 8AF. The West Brom is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Register No:104877. 'the West Brom' is a trading name of West Bromwich Building Society © West Bromwich Building Society