History
Know your district’s history of flooding and what areas are most at risk.
Emergency numbers
Keep a list of emergency numbers handy.
Raise objects
Identify which indoor items you will raise or remove to avoid being inundated by floodwater.
Windows and doors
Check that all windows and external doors close securely to avoid torrential rain entering and damaging your home.
Children
Talk to your children about floods.
Water leaks
Look out for water stains on walls and ceilings due to internal or external water leaks.
Water tanks
Anchor water tanks to the ground as they could be swept downstream, causing damage to your home or others.
Tarps
Have tarps and ropes ready in the event of roof damage.
Secure outdoor equipment
Make sure your hot water system, rainwater tanks and other outdoor equipment are fixed securely.
Gutters
Keep your gutters clear.
Flood insurance
Ensure your house insurance is adequate and you understand the definition of flood cover as part of your policy.
Exterior corrosion
Inspect your home’s exterior for any corrosion, rotten timber or loose fittings.
Sandbags
Keep a stock of sandbags or floodsax.
Flash floods: warnings
Keep in touch with warnings.
Evacuating
If evacuating, leave well before flooding occurs.
Flash floods: floodwater
Never drive, ride, walk or play in floodwater.
Flash floods: entering floodwater
Avoid entering flood water after a flash flood.
Flash floods: children
Talk to children about what do do in flash floods.
Flash floods: emergency help
For emergency help in floods call the ACT SES on 132 500.
Flash floods: keep clear
Keep away from fallen trees, power lines and damaged structures.
Apartment: discuss with fellow tenants
Get together with your fellow tenants to plan and understand your building's emergency procedure in case of a flood.
Apartment: fellow tenants and gutters
Speak to your fellow tenants, body corporate and property manager about whether gutters and downpipes are cleared regularly of leaves, twigs, bark and other debris. If necessary, request they be cleared more often.
Apartment: building exterior
Get together with fellow tenants or ask your Property Manager to check your building’s exterior for any corrosion, rotten timber or loose fittings.
Rural properties: water and fuel tanks
Anchor water and fuel tanks to the ground as they could be swept downstream, causing damage to your home or others.
Rural properties: machinery and feed
Move machinery, feed, grain and fuel to higher ground.
Rural properties: motors
Move motors and portable electric equipment to a dry location if possible.
Rural properties: underground tanks
Determine whether underground tanks are engineered to keep them from lifting out of the ground if the contents are lighter than water.
Rural properties: inventory
Keep an inventory of livestock and property such as machinery and equipment.
Rural properties: hazardous substances
Prepare a list of hazardous or potentially hazardous substances.
Rural properties: Livestock
Move livestock to higher ground and be sure they have access to feed.
Rural properties: dairy cattle
If you have dairy cattle, develop plans for moving your cows to temporary milking facilities and learn about emergency milk pick-up services available in your area.
Rural properties: manure storage areas
Place rubble on the banks of earthen manure storage areas where flowing water may erode berms.
Rural properties: power units and machinery
Prepare immovable power units and machinery for flooding.
Rural properties: animal emergency and relocation kit
Make sure your animal emergency and relocation kit is prepared at the start of the flood season.
Rural properties: disaster plan
Make a disaster plan and decide on a safe place to keep your stock prior to an emergency.
Rural properties: animal identification
Ensure your animals have enough identification to link them back to you.
Rural properties: feed plan
Make an emergency feed plan.
Rural properties: disposal plan
Make a disposal plan and check with your local government to see if laws or plans are in place for potential stock losses.
Retrofit: Garage
Reinforce garage walls with workbenches to prevent buckling under pressure from floodwater.
Retrofit: Wall linings
Select water resilient materials for wall linings.
Retrofit: Joinery
Ensure joinery is designed for easy cleaning and drying.
Retrofit: Floor coverings
Consider installing floor coverings resilient to floods.
Retrofit: Window frames
Coat wooden window frames with water resistant paint or replace them with metal frames.
Retrofit: Electricity meter
Install your electrical meter box and power points at the highest practical level.
Retrofit: Landscaping
Landscape to encourage free drainage around your home.
Retrofit: Doors and doorframes
Consider installing flood resistant doors and doorframes which will withstand flood damage.
Horses: AVA storm guide
Use the Australian Veterinary Association: 'Keeping your horse safe in cyclones, storms and floods' pamphlet as a guide for building your horse disaster plan and emergency kit.