🚨 Stay safe during a flood

If authorities tell you to evacuate:

• Leave immediately.
• Take medicines, identification and essential supplies.
• Follow the designated route.
• Move to higher ground or an official safe location.
• Respect barriers and roadblocks.
• Keep children with a responsible adult.
• If travelling by car, bus, motorcycle or other transport, avoid floodwater, underpasses, bridges, drainage channels and seasonal riverbeds.

If authorities recommend shutting off electricity, gas or water, do so only when it is safe. Never touch electrical equipment while standing in water.

Never walk, swim or drive through floodwater. It may be:

• Fast-moving
• Deeper than it appears
• Contaminated
• Hiding holes, sharp debris or electrical hazards

Keep children away from floodwater, drains, riverbanks and damaged structures.

If stranded above the water or trapped by rising water, stay where you are, call emergency services if available, and wait for rescue. Do not enter the water.

Stay away from:

• Damaged electrical cables.
• Unstable buildings and bridges.
• Sharp debris.
• Displaced snakes or other animals.
• Dead animals.

Seek urgent medical help after a serious injury or animal bite. Do not move a seriously injured person unless remaining in place creates immediate danger.

Floodwater can contaminate drinking water and food.

• Use water confirmed as safe.
• Follow treatment instructions from your local authorities.
• Do not judge water safety by its appearance.
• Throw away food that has touched floodwater.
• Keep remaining food and safe water covered.
• Wash hands with soap before preparing food, eating or feeding a child.
• If someone develops frequent watery diarrhoea or repeated vomiting, start oral rehydration according to local guidance, continue breastfeeding where relevant, and seek medical advice promptly.

Seek urgent medical care if someone is unable to drink, becomes very weak, has difficulty breathing, is unconscious, or shows signs of severe dehydration.

Crowded shelters and displacement can create additional safety risks.

Keep children with a responsible adult.

Show children which trusted people or services can help.

Do not leave young children alone.

Report safety concerns through verified feedback channels.

Only use verified feedback channels to ask questions, share concerns, report unmet needs or provide feedback on assistance received.

All services, feedback mechanisms and referrals should be confidential, safe and free.

• Explain what is happening in simple language. Listen to children’s questions and maintain familiar routines when possible.
• Keep children away from floodwater, dangerous clean-up work and repeated distressing images.
• Let children ask questions and talk about their concerns and listen without judgement.
• Maintain familiar routines where possible.

Pregnant people should avoid floodwater and strenuous clean-up work. Continue prescribed medicines unless a health worker advises otherwise.

Resume prenatal or postnatal care as soon as services are safely available.

• Wait for official confirmation before returning.
• Do not enter unstable buildings.
• Keep children away from mud, debris and contaminated items.
• Do not touch electrical equipment while standing in water.
• Clean and disinfect clothing, toys and living areas.
• Discard badly contaminated food and belongings.
• Dry and ventilate wet areas when it is safe to do so.