How to prepare your home for a flood.
Get our top tips to protect your home from flood and storm damage. And find out more about Tesco Home Insurance.
Published: 29 August 2025
The importance of protecting your home
We’ve seen a lot more extreme weather in recent years. Rising temperatures are leading to more intense storms, heavier rainfall and increased flooding. It’s affecting everyone, all around the world. So, it’s more important than ever to prepare for floods and protect your home.
Home insurance can help to cover you if the worst happens, but there are simple steps you can take to reduce the damage if it does.
Flood and storm advice
Plan ahead for extreme weather
Being prepared for a storm is the key to protecting your property and keeping your loved ones safe.
- Be aware of flood warnings. Find out how your local flood warning system works. Check for details on your council’s website or learn about Flood preparation at Gov.uk.Be aware of flood warnings. Find out how your local flood warning system works. Check for details on your council’s website or learn about Flood preparation at Gov.uk.
- Prepare a flood emergency kit. Get together some essentials - for example, a first aid kit, fresh or bottled drinking water, food, and a torch - as well as medicines, important documents and anything else you might need.Prepare a flood emergency kit. Get together some essentials - for example, a first aid kit, fresh or bottled drinking water, food, and a torch - as well as medicines, important documents and anything else you might need.
- Stock up on sandbags. Use sandbags to block doors and other entrances into your house and garden, to prevent water getting in. You might be able to get sandbags from your local council, or you can buy them from builders’ merchants.Stock up on sandbags. Use sandbags to block doors and other entrances into your house and garden, to prevent water getting in. You might be able to get sandbags from your local council, or you can buy them from builders’ merchants.
- Learn about DIY flood defences. Install some simple flood defences to help protect your home. For example, window and door guards, air brick covers and freestanding barriers.Learn about DIY flood defences. Install some simple flood defences to help protect your home. For example, window and door guards, air brick covers and freestanding barriers.
- Install non-return drainage valves. Make sure your drainpipes are fitted with non-return valves to prevent wastewater flowing back into your home during a flood.Install non-return drainage valves. Make sure your drainpipes are fitted with non-return valves to prevent wastewater flowing back into your home during a flood.
- Check your home insurance. Make sure you’ve got both buildings and contents insurance. And check what you’re covered for, so you’re prepared if something happens.Check your home insurance. Make sure you’ve got both buildings and contents insurance. And check what you’re covered for, so you’re prepared if something happens.
Take steps to prepare for floods and storms and protect your home
Take simple steps to prepare for flooding and protect your property when a storm is on its way.
- Protect your valuables. Move all your valuable items and important documents upstairs, away from potential flooding, and find a safe, dry place to store them.Protect your valuables. Move all your valuable items and important documents upstairs, away from potential flooding, and find a safe, dry place to store them.
- Move furnishings above floor-level. Store rugs, curtains and soft furnishings upstairs, or as high up in your house as possible, to help prevent water damage.Move furnishings above floor-level. Store rugs, curtains and soft furnishings upstairs, or as high up in your house as possible, to help prevent water damage.
- Weigh down furniture. Prevent furniture from floating around in floodwater and causing more damage if your house gets flooded.Weigh down furniture. Prevent furniture from floating around in floodwater and causing more damage if your house gets flooded.
- Turn off power and water supplies. Unplug electrical appliances and turn off your gas, electric and water supplies.Turn off power and water supplies. Unplug electrical appliances and turn off your gas, electric and water supplies.
- Secure outdoor items. Secure your garden furniture - bolt it down, if you can - and store tools and other equipment in your garage or shed. Check your wheelie bins aren’t going anywhere. And make sure children’s toys and play equipment, like large trampolines, are secured too.Secure outdoor items. Secure your garden furniture - bolt it down, if you can - and store tools and other equipment in your garage or shed. Check your wheelie bins aren’t going anywhere. And make sure children’s toys and play equipment, like large trampolines, are secured too.
- Trim trees and bushes. Cut back growth to prevent damage from flying branches, like broken windows or damage to your car.Trim trees and bushes. Cut back growth to prevent damage from flying branches, like broken windows or damage to your car.
How to make a Home Insurance claim
If you have Tesco Home Insurance, find out how to make a claim and what to expect from us when you do.
Important information
Tesco Home Insurance is arranged and administered by Tesco Insurance and is underwritten by Tesco Underwriting Ltd.
You'll find complete details of the cover, monetary limits, exclusions, excesses and terms in our policy documents.
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