Flooding can happen quickly, sometimes with little or no warning. If it affected your home or community, would you know what to do?
If you live in an area at risk of flooding in the Highlands, taking time to plan ahead can make a significant difference. Think about what you would do if you had to leave your home; where you could go, what you would take, and how you would protect important belongings. Preparing a simple checklist and an emergency grab bag in advance can help you act quickly if needed.
Immediate actions to consider:
- Move family members, pets, and valuable items to a safe place
- Park vehicles on higher ground where possible
- Prepare a bag with essential items ready to take with you
- Turn off gas, electricity, and water supplies if it is safe to do so
- Put any flood protection measures in place, if available
- Check on neighbours, particularly those who may need extra support
Sign up for flood alerts with SEPA
For flood warnings and local information, you can register with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to receive warnings by text, phone, or email. For further advice, you can call SEPA’s Floodline on 0345 988 1188.
Flood Alert
Prepare
- Put together a small emergency bag with essentials such as medication and important documents
- Keep up to date with the latest flood alerts and local information
Flood Warning
Act
- Switch off gas, electricity and water supplies if it is safe to do so
- Move belongings to higher ground or out of harm’s way
- Make arrangements to get people, pets and vehicles to a safer location
Severe Flood Warning
Survive
- Call 999 if you are in immediate danger
- Follow instructions from emergency services without delay
- Focus on your safety and that of those around you
Flooding facts to be aware of
Flood water can be far more dangerous than it appears. Even relatively shallow water can pose a serious risk:
- Just 15cm of fast-flowing water can knock an adult off their feet
- Flood water may carry electrical currents, particularly if power lines are damaged
- A vehicle can begin to float in as little as 60cm of standing water, or around 30cm of moving water
- Flash flooding can create sudden surges of water, sometimes forming fast-moving waves several metres high
Understanding these risks can help you make safer decisions during a flooding event.
Flood protection
There are a range of practical steps you can take to reduce the impact of flooding on your property. These include measures such as flood barriers or gates, sandbags or flood sacks, and specialist options like flood doors or airbrick covers.
For clear, practical guidance on protecting your home, the Flood Mary website is a useful place to start.
Report
Flooding from water mains or public sewers, to Scottish Water on 0800 0778 778
Check
For flood warnings currently in force get information from SEPA Floodline on 0345 988 1188