Guidance for residents in the event of a flood

Report Flooding

The public should report any incidents of flooding to the Flood Incident Line T. 0300 2000 100. This number is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You don't have to contact the Rivers Agency, Roads Service or NI Water. When you ring, a member of staff will take all your details and contact the appropriate agency on your behalf.
This is a non-emergency number. If anyone is in real danger, then the emergency services should be contacted on 999.

Electricity Problems: if you are having problems with your electricity, please contact the NIE Customer Helpline on 0845 7643 643

Blocked Sewers: if you think there is a blockage or if your property has been flooded by a public sewer, please call Northern Ireland Water on 03457 440088, the helpline is available 24 hours a day. Further information on preventing blockages can be found on the Northern Ireland Water website: Blockages - Northern Ireland Water

Preparing for flooding

You may already know that you live in or have a business in an area that has flooded before or is at risk of flooding. These are suggestions on being prepared for flooding:

If you have a risk of flooding, seek professional advice and create a household plan.
Keep a few sandbags to block doorways; these can be purchased from your local builders' merchants.
Be prepared to seal airbricks on the exterior of your house with plastic covers, cloths or towels.
Make a Household flood plan | nidirect
Listen to local weather, news and travel bulletins on the radio and TV. You can also check for warnings of severe weather on the Met Office website or register to receive alerts via email at UK weather warnings - Met Office - you can also follow on Twitter or download the app.
Make sure you have adequate insurance and that you are covered for flood damage. If you own your own home, you should have both buildings and contents insurance. If you live in public or private rented accommodation, you should have contents insurance. Your landlord should have building insurance on the property.
Talk to your neighbours and consider having a community emergency plan for your area. Consider that there may be vulnerable people near you who could use your help in a flooding emergency.
Consider the various ways flood water could enter your home, and consider making changes to prevent this.
Report a road drainage fault | nidirect - via the NI Direct website if there is an issue with blocked gullies, roadside drainage or ponding.

Rate Relief Schemes for Households and Businesses

Land and Property Services (LPS) can assist ratepayers and businesses experiencing financial difficulties. It is essential that ratepayers impacted by flooding contact LPS as soon as possible to discuss options that best suit their circumstances.

T: 0300 200 7801 (calls charged at local rate)
Text Relay: 18001 0300 200 7801
W: www.finance-ni.gov.uk/contacts/contact-land-property-services

Hardship Rate Relief Scheme

Hardship Rate Relief for non-domestic rates is aimed at providing rate relief to assist a business in its recovery from a temporary crisis resulting from an exceptional circumstance. Download an application form from the nibusinessinfo website: www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/hardship-rate-relief

Non-Domestic Vacant Rating (and Exclusions)

Businesses can apply for rate relief for vacant commercial properties.

Download an application form from the NIBusinessInfo website: https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/non-domestic-vacant-rating

Household Flood Plan

A household flood plan can help reduce the impact of flooding:

Make a household emergency life-saving plan with everyone in your house. This will make sure you know where to meet each other if you become separated and will help you to write down a list of important contact numbers and information in advance.
Plan who will turn off the gas if water enters your home. You should not touch any electrical fittings and do not need to turn off the mains water supply.
Make up an emergency kit and add extra things you will need in a flooding emergency, like rubber gloves, waterproof clothing and boots.
Think about what belongings you can move now and what you would want to move during a flood. Make sure you move your treasured family possessions to safety before a flood. It's also useful to plan what other things you might like to move to safety, such as cars, pets, furniture and items in your garden.

What to Do After a Flood

Cleaning up after a flood is heavy, manual work. You can get detailed advice on NI Direct about:

Returning to a property after flooding
Scheme for Emergency Financial Assistance (SEFA)
Checking your electricity supply and electrical appliances
Checking gas supply and gas appliances after a flood
Protecting yourself while cleaning up
Looking after your health while cleaning up
Getting rid of floodwater
Cleaning surfaces in your home
Drying the building
Major redecoration or repair work
Contacting the utility supplier

Financial support

Scheme for Emergency Financial Assistance (SEFA) may provide an Emergency Payment: £1,000 for severe flood inconvenience may be made. Call 0300 2000 100 within 7 days. An inspection would be conducted by Council Officers.

Rate Relief and Hardship Grants: Land & Property Services - 0300 200 7801.
Flood Protection Grant: May help with part of the cost of protective equipment. Check infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

Homeowner Flood Protection Grant Scheme

If you own your home and have experienced indoor flooding from a river, sea, surface water or sewerage, you could be eligible for a grant to protect your home against flooding. It is a government scheme to help homeowners who:

experienced flooding in their home at least once in the last twenty-five years
live in an area where there is a recognised risk of flooding

The grant could cover some or most of the cost of installing barrier equipment to protect a home from flooding in the future. The Homeowner Flood Protection Grant scheme is not open to tenants.

Find out more at Homeowner flood protection grant scheme application pack | Department for Infrastructure (infrastructure-ni.gov.uk)

Emergency Flooding Booklet (PDF, 1 MB) (opens new window) Emergency Flooding Booklet