Be Flood Prepared
- contact DoI on 850000 if you require assistance due to flooding
- flood waters can rise quickly. If you are in danger, or you see someone else in danger, dial 999
- help elderly or vulnerable friends and neighbours
- do not walk, drive or swim through flood water for health and safety reasons
- if possible do not touch flood water as it may contain chemicals or sewage
- do not touch sources of electricity if standing in water
ABI Guide to Responding to Major Floods This leaflet explains how your insurance company will respond in an emergency situation where your home has been flooded. For Island residents the Emergency steps would be to listen to local radio or Floodwatch.
You may also be kept informed of latest developments in an emergency situation by calling Isle of Man Floodline - a recorded message continuously available by telephoning +44 1624 686100 (calls charged at local rate) which provides the current flood warning status for the Island and more detailed information about any flooding expected. The message is updated as required by the duty forecaster at Ronaldsway Met Office.
You may also sign up to receive notifications via the Government messaging system to receive critical information during an emergency situation.
You are responsible for protecting your property from the risk of flooding. Putting in place a few simple measures will help prepare you for flooding:
Property Level Protection - Resistance
Property Level Protection - Resilience
ABI guide to resistant and resilient repair after a flood This link leads to an information leaflet prepared by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and the Isle of Man Government is grateful to the Association for permission to publicise access to the link. If you have suffered a flood you will know how devastating and distressing it is. This guide helps to explain:
- How you can prevent flooding from happening again by fitting flood resistant measures like flood guards at your home or business.
- The steps you can take to minimise the damage if it does happen again by using flood resilient materials such as water resistant plaster.
Please note that in the Island grants are not available for property resilience measures.
More information in relation to insurance matters is available from the ABI website
Further information can be found on the Blue Pages - a directory of property products and services advising of what is available to help reduce the risk of flooding to your home or business.
- gullies should be kept free of fallen leaves in autumn as they can cause temporary blockages
- regularly clean out your gutters, drains and drainage channels
- do not pour fat down drains as this will block them
- you may require specialised flood insurance for your property and its contents if there is a history of flooding in your neighbourhood or you are within an identified flood risk area. It is advisable to obtain flood insurance where possible.
- prepare a family flood kit and keep this is in a handy place (torches, first aid kit, essential medicine etc.)
- familiarise yourself with how to shut-off gas, electricity, oil-fired heating and water supplies, even in the dark
- keep a list of useful contact numbers, including Floodline - 686100 and DoI - 850000 / 672000
- make sure all the family know what to do and how to keep in touch if the area floods
Flood barriers
Made of plastic or metal, can be installed across a doorway or window before a flood arrives. The boards usually slide into a frame that has been pre-attached to the door or window frame to provide a watertight seal from flood waters.
Airbrick covers
A plastic cover clips to frames fitted around airbricks on exterior walls, preventing water entry via this route.
Flood skirts
This is a more advanced system of flood protection, which totally encloses the bottom 600 - 900mm (2 - 3 feet) of a property in water-resistant sheeting, sometimes to foundation level. A more expensive solution, this may be useful for detached properties that are flooded regularly for sustained periods.
Sandbags
These are available from your local civic amenity site and can also be purchased from DIY retailers. Bin bags filled with soil are an alternative option. These can be used to create a dam in front of doorways and, when put in a toilet bowl, can prevent sewage entering your home. After flooding they must be discarded as they may contain contaminants.
Make sure you:
- know where to turn off your electricity, water and/or gas supply
- store valuable and sentimental items and important documents upstairs or in a high place
- ensure your radio batteries, mobile phone and any torches you may need are fully charged
- move pets or other livestock safely away from areas which might be flooded
- ensure any chemical containers (e.g. oil, paint, detergents, weed killer, acid, etc.) in your shed or garage are securely sited above possible flood levels
If flooding is imminent:
- turn off electricity, water and gas supplies
- move vehicles to higher ground where water cannot reach the bodywork or mechanical parts
- ensure you have a safe escape route from flood water. Even a few inches of water, especially if flowing or in waves, can sweep you off your feet. A foot or more of water can move cars around
- alert your neighbours, especially the elderly
- do as much preparation as possible in daylight; it is more difficult in the dark, especially if the power fails
- remember that tidal flooding will begin to recede after high water and rainfall flooding will usually begin to recede after the rain eases off or stops falling. It is safer to stay indoors until the danger has passed
If you are driving in very wet weather you should take extra care to ensure your own safety as well as that of other road users.
If roads are flooded remember to:
- slow down as there may be deep standing water which may cause your vehicle to swerve, aquaplane or break down
- be alert for unexpected debris in the road from trees or other wind blown objects
- slow down if you see operatives working to manage floods
In heavy rain remember to:
- slow down or find a safe place to pull in until the rain eases off
- put your headlights on and windscreen wipers on to their fastest speed
- use your fog lights where visibility is poor
In high winds remember to:
- watch out for cross winds as they can cause your vehicle to swerve
- avoid driving in high-sided vehicles at exposed locations as they risk being blown over
Weather Warning information is provided by the Meteorological team:
Floodline - tel: (01624) 686100
If you require assistance due to flooding please contact the Department of Infrastructure:
Tel: (01624) 850000
Ronaldsway Met Office provides a daily weather forecast.
Road closures: Find out if roads are closed due to flooding: please visit https://www.gov.im/residents/roadnotifications/
If your life is in danger due to flooding dial 999.