Things to do when threat arises:

Things to do when threat arises:

£ Take boats to safer ground/waters

£ Cars in basement car parks will suffer damage. Move it or lose it

£ Involve children so that they understand what is happening. Get them to pack their special toys, games and/or clothes

£ Move household goods to safe places e.g. upstairs or with neighbours or friends on higher ground. Items can be stacked on beds, tables and cupboards or in the ceiling space

£ Consider laying top-heavy items on their sides as toppling may cause damage to other things

£ Rugs are almost impossible to lift when wet - remove and store

£ Expensive glossy books are at serious risk and will be incredibly difficult to save even with extreme care. Store them out of harm’s way

£ Secure all loose outdoor furniture, including BBQ’s, dog kennels and cubby houses as they may float away

£ If you have someone who is handy, get them to unscrew the pool pump, chlorinator and air-con units, then move them to safer ground

£ Tape up your bins and tether them, to prevent spillage and disease

£ Stacks of cardboard and newspapers should be bagged. Otherwise they will disintegrate and clog drains

£ Fill gas bottles for BBQs, camping stoves etc

£ Fill your car with fuel (petrol/diesel/LPG)

£ Fill kettles, bottles with fresh water

£ Buy supplies e.g. bread, milk etc

£ Get in a bulk supply of disinfectant, bleach, rubber gloves, rubbish bags etc

£ Charge your mobile phone

£ Gather computers, photos, artworks, jewellery, family heirlooms and keepsakes to take with you. As well, get spare cash as ATMs may be down. Store in a waterproof container

£ Pack a set of spare clothing as well as a supply of medications, nappies, toys, formula, spectacles and personal aids (hearing aids, walking aids, etc). Remember batteries and chargers for electronic gear and especially for mobile phones

£ Pack photo of pet (handy if pet escapes), cages, leashes, food, meds and toys

£ Tape fridge doors shut

£ Tape your drawers and cupboard doors together, or you will lose everything inside

£ So that there are enough sandbags to go around, only use them in domestic situations and only where there is a chance you may escape the flood

£ Unscrew floor drains (in laundry and bathrooms) and using two screwdrivers as levers remove covers. Cover outlet with a plastic bag and screw back the grates. If they are wedged and won’t unscrew, use a plastic bag to cover the grate and firmly tape it in place with duct tape. If possible, place a sandbag or heavy object over drains

£ Place sandbags in toilet bowls. Otherwise, cling wrap the bowls, put down the seat and lid, and anchor it with a sandbag. If you don’t have sandbags, consider something heavy like pot plants. Or duct tape the lids to the bowls

£ Firmly place plugs in baths and sinks. They also can be duct taped