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Flooding

Prepared for Flooding: How to Protect Yourself, Your Family, and Your Home

Floods are among the most common and destructive natural disasters in Europe – and the Netherlands, with its location below sea level, tops the list of high-risk areas. Whether it involves dike breaches, extreme rainfall, or rising river levels, a flood can completely disrupt your living environment within a matter of hours.

In this blog, you will read how to practically and systematically prepare for a flood, both in terms of mindset and with a concrete list of resources and measures.


1. Risk Awareness: Know What to Expect

Floods do not always occur in the same way. You may encounter:

  • Gradual water rise (e.g., river flooding)
  • Sudden flash flooding (intense rainfall in a short period)
  • Limited local flooding (e.g., via sewage or flooded basement)
  • Catastrophic dike breach (with potential large-scale evacuations)

Check through official agencies (such as Rijkswaterstaat, Water Boards, and Overstroomik.nl) whether your home is located in a risk area.


2. Action Plan: Preparation in Three Phases

Phase 1: Before the flood – preparation

Your goals in this phase:

  • Gathering life-saving resources
  • Protecting home and belongings
  • Prepare evacuation plan


Phase 2: During the flood – protection

Your goals:

  • Stay safe
  • Maintain communication
  • Bridging time without help


Phase 3: After the flood – recovery

Your goals:

  • Ensuring health
  • Limit damage
  • Restart organizing


3. What You Should Have at Home (Flood-Specific)

Below is an overview of essential supplies specifically aimed at flooding:


A. Water and Food (at least 3 days supply, preferably 7-14)

  • Drinking water: 3 liters per person per day
  • Waterproof food storage: plastic containers with lid
  • Long shelf life food: canned goods, nuts, energy bars
  • Water filters / purification tablets (for when tap water is contaminated)


B. Communication and Energy

  • Emergency radio with solar panel and hand crank
  • Power banks (solar rechargeable or with manual control)
  • Fully charged phones + backup SIM card
  • List of important phone numbers on paper


C. Safety and Health

  • First aid kit + personal medications
  • Disinfectant gel and wet wipes (restrooms are often unusable)
  • Rubber boots and waterproof clothing
  • Thermal blankets or sleeping bags
  • Life jackets (especially for children or the elderly)


D. Documents and Valuable Assets

  • Waterproof folder with important documents (passports, property papers, insurance policies)
  • Digital backup on encrypted USB stick (photos, documents, medical data)


E. House Preparation

  • Sandbags or water barriers for doors, basements, and garages
  • Backflow valve for sewage (prevents inflow via drain)
  • Learning to use the main switch for gas, electricity, and water
  • Moving electronic equipment to higher floors


F. Evacuation Kit (“Grab Bag”)

This bag is ready to take within 1 minute and contains:

  • Water and food for 2 days
  • Flashlight + batteries
  • Documents and cash
  • Clothing and raincoat
  • Power bank
  • First aid kit
  • Map of the region
  • Keys (car, house)


4. Evacuation Plan and Exercise

  • Agree on a joint flight schedule with your family.
  • Know the official evacuation routes and shelter locations.
  • Practice the plan at least twice a year (with and without power).


5. Insurance and Administration

  • Check if your home contents insurance covers water damage from flooding (note: often excluded by default).
  • Ensure clear photos of your belongings for the purpose of damage claims.
  • Consider additional disaster or flood insurance.


6. Emergency Applications and Information Sources

  • NL-Alert: official notifications via mobile phone
  • Water Authority App: local water levels and warnings
  • Red Cross First Aid app
  • Overstroomik.nl: personalized risk profile


Conclusion

Voorbereiding op een overstroming is geen paniekzaaien, het is een rationele en noodzakelijke verantwoordelijkheid, vooral in een land als Nederland. Door tijdig na te denken over risico’s, scenario’s en maatregelen, voorkomt u dat u verrast wordt wanneer de situatie kritiek wordt.

Protect yourself, your loved ones, and your home. Not tomorrow, but today.

War