What Should You Do Before, During, and After a Flood?

Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) is the control agency for flood in Victoria, and its guidance is built around three phases: prepare before, act during, and recover safely after. The steps below apply to anyone in Victoria who lives, works, or travels through a flood-prone area. If a flood is already happening and you need emergency assistance, call 132 500 for VICSES; call Triple Zero (000) only if a life is in danger.

Before a Flood: Know Your Risk and Plan

Most of the work that keeps you safe happens well before any warning is issued.

Find out if you are actually at risk

• Check your Local Flood Guide. VICSES publishes Local Flood Guides so you can understand your specific local flood risk and prepare for a flood emergency. Start there rather than assuming your area is safe.
• Understand the warnings. VICSES directs people to VicEmergency warnings and Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) weather and warnings as the sources for flood and storm information.
• Learn what to do in an emergency through VICSES's "Emergencies – what you need to know" and "What to do in an emergency" pages.

Make a plan for each place you spend time

VICSES's planning guidance covers emergencies at home, at work, when on holidays, and at school. A plan is only useful if it answers concrete questions:

• Where will you go, and by what route, if you need to leave?
• How will household members contact each other if phones or power fail?
• What about pets, medications, and people who need extra help?
• Where are your important documents and valuables, and can you move them higher?

Prepare your property and supplies

• Read the Sandbag guide if you may need to protect entry points.
• Follow storm preparedness guidance, since floods and storms often arrive together.
• Assemble supplies you can grab quickly: water, food, torch, batteries, first-aid kit, medications, phone charger, and copies of key documents.

During a Flood: Follow Warnings and Know When to Call

Act on official warnings, not on assumptions

• Monitor VicEmergency warnings and BOM weather and warnings continuously as conditions change.
• Follow the instructions in the warning. Warnings may tell you to prepare to leave, to leave now, or to stay where you are — these are not interchangeable.

Know which number to call

VICSES lists "When to call 132 500" as a separate page, so check it before an emergency so you know the difference in advance.

Never enter floodwater

VICSES runs the campaign "You don't know, so don't go" — a direct warning that floodwater hides hazards such as debris, damaged roads, and changed depth. Do not drive, walk, or ride through floodwater. VICSES also promotes "15 to Float", which relates to surviving in floodwater if you are caught in it; the point is to avoid needing it.

After a Flood: Return and Clean Up Safely

• Wait for official clearance before returning to an evacuated area, and keep following VicEmergency and BOM updates.
• Treat floodwater and mud as contaminated. Wear protective clothing and wash hands thoroughly; assume anything touched by floodwater needs cleaning or disposal.
• Check for structural, electrical, and gas damage before re-entering, and do not use appliances or wiring that has been submerged until checked.
• Document damage with photos for insurance and assistance claims.
• Use VICSES's "Recovery after an emergency" guidance for what to do in the days and weeks after the event.

Quick Reference

• Local flood risk: Local Flood Guides (VICSES)
• Property protection: Sandbag guide, storm preparedness (VICSES)
• Planning: Create an emergency plan; plans for home, work, holidays, and school (VICSES)
• Live warnings: VicEmergency and BOM
• Help: 132 500 (VICSES) / 000 (life-threatening)

VICSES also provides information in other languages if English is not your first language, and its volunteer program is open to people from all backgrounds if you want to support flood and storm response in your community.