The accelerating climate crisis, coupled with this year’s record-breaking El Niño, has prompted an urgent warning for UK households: despite the recent memory of summer heatwaves, the country must prepare for a potentially destructive winter of severe storms and heavy rainfall. With millions of homes currently at risk of flooding, experts are urging individuals and communities to move beyond government-level defenses and take proactive, practical steps to build personal and neighborhood resilience before the flood season begins in earnest.
Tracey Garrett, chief executive of the National Flood Forum, acknowledges the psychological and financial toll of flooding but stresses that proactive measures can mitigate the damage. “We are seeing increasingly intense rainfall and a growing risk from surface water flooding,” she says. “Climate change means we cannot assume the flooding patterns of the past will be the patterns of the future. This makes preparation more important than ever.”
The first line of defense is information. Residents are advised to check the government’s flood risk portal to determine their specific vulnerability. Beyond individual vigilance, experts emphasize the need for collective action. Forming or joining a local community flood group allows residents to lobby councils for better infrastructure, such as permeable paving, rain gardens, and increased tree planting, which help manage water runoff more effectively. Additionally, drawing up a “street plan” to support vulnerable neighbors ensures that the community is prepared to act in unison when warnings are issued.
Environmental experts, including those behind the Flood Mary campaign, suggest that home protection should begin at the perimeter. Now is an opportune time to inspect exterior brickwork and mortar; cracks can serve as conduits for rising water. Replacing crumbling mortar or applying breathable waterproof sealant to external walls can prevent water ingress. Furthermore, clearing gutters and installing water butts are simple, cost-effective measures. If a flood warning is issued, emptying water butts beforehand ensures they have the capacity to capture runoff that would otherwise overwhelm local drainage systems.
Inside the home, the focus shifts to containment and damage limitation. Experts recommend a “flood box” containing essentials like high-quality flood tape, plastic sheeting, and absorbent cushions. While sandbags are traditionally favored, flood tape is often more effective and significantly easier to deploy. Critical vulnerabilities, such as airbricks, should be addressed by replacing them with Kitemarked self-closing models or using temporary covers.
One of the most distressing aspects of flooding is the risk of sewage backflow. To mitigate this, homeowners in high-risk areas should consider installing non-return valves on their drainage systems. In an emergency, unconventional methods can be lifesaving: Mary Long-Dhonau suggests using a deflated child’s football, which can be inserted into the toilet and inflated to create a seal, then secured by taping the toilet seat down.
Finally, preparation extends to protecting internal contents. Moving furniture off the floor using trestles or even simple household items like buckets can save valuables from water damage. Residents are encouraged to audit their homes, considering everything below waist height and determining how to move precious belongings to higher ground.
While larger flood defense projects are a government responsibility, the reality of the climate crisis necessitates that households take ownership of their own risk. As Kelly Ostler-Coyle from the government-backed Flood Re reinsurance scheme notes, “A little preparation can make a real difference—helping to protect the things people care about and making it easier to get back into their homes and back to normal if flooding does happen.” By working with nature and preparing for the worst, homeowners can significantly reduce the disruptive impact of the coming winter.
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