Guides
Flood guides & explainers
Everything on FloodBrief, from “what does this warning mean?” to “is this house safe to buy?”.
How to make a flood kit (and a household flood plan in 15 minutes)
What to put in a flood kit or grab bag — documents, torch, power bank, medicines, water — where to keep it, and how to make a simple household flood plan.
PreparednessWhat to do after a flood: the first safe steps home
What to do after a flood in the UK: return safely, document the damage, contact your insurer, clean contaminated rooms, dry the building and find support.
PreparednessWhat to do when a flood warning is issued
A flood warning means flooding is expected — act now. What to do when a flood warning is issued: people first, move valuables up, and never enter flood water.
Property & buyingHow to check flood risk before buying a house
How to check flood risk before buying a house in the UK: gov.uk long-term risk maps, flood zones 2 and 3, seller disclosure, surveys and insurance.
Property & buyingDoes home insurance cover flooding?
Most standard UK home insurance covers flooding, but excesses, exclusions and flood history matter. What Flood Re does, and what to check in your policy.
Weather & warningsHow much rain causes flooding?
How much rain causes flooding in the UK? Why there is no single number, what counts as heavy rain in a day, and the four things that decide whether rain turns into flood water.
Weather & warningsIs 50mm of rain a lot?
Is 50mm of rain a lot? What 30mm, 40mm and 50mm of rain mean in real terms in the UK: litres per square metre, daily vs hourly totals, and when these amounts cause flooding.
Weather & warningsWhat does an 80% chance of rain actually mean?
What does 80% chance of rain mean? How UK forecast rain percentages really work, the myths about area and duration, and how to read probability alongside rainfall amounts.
ExplainersFlood alert vs flood warning: what the three levels actually mean
Flood alert vs flood warning explained: what each Environment Agency level means, what to do at each stage, and how severe flood warnings differ.
ExplainersHow fast can a river rise?
How fast can a river rise? Small becks can rise in under an hour after heavy rain, while big lowland rivers take days. What sets the speed, explained.
Weather & warningsWhat 20mm of rain actually means
What 20mm of rain actually means in real terms: litres per square metre, roofs and streets, intensity vs total, and when rainfall totals start to matter for flooding.
Weather & warningsWhat does a yellow rain warning mean?
A yellow rain warning from the Met Office means disruption is possible — not that it will be minor. Here is how the warning matrix works and what to do.
ExplainersWhat is surface water flooding?
Surface water flooding happens when rain overwhelms drains — no river needed. Why it is the most common UK flood risk and the hardest to warn for.
Weather & warningsWhy saturated ground increases flood risk
Saturated ground is why the same rainfall can flood in winter but not summer. How soil moisture, groundwater and back-to-back storms raise UK flood risk.