A flood warning subscription is useful only if it relates to the right address and reaches a channel you still use. It also has limits. Check the official service for your nation instead of assuming one sign-up covers every type of flooding.
Use the service for your location
England's Environment Agency service offers warnings for relevant river, sea and groundwater risks, depending on the area. It does not provide surface-water flood warnings. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own arrangements. Use the official links and check local authority information for additional hazards relevant to your home or route.
- Review subscriptions after moving home or changing a phone number.
Choose a usable contact method
Consider who will notice a call, text or email at different times of day. If you support another household, discuss permissions and responsibilities before entering their details or sharing messages. Keep your account information secure, and do not rely on one person always being awake, online and available to relay every update.
- Write down the service's official contact details.
Connect warnings to a household action
Decide what you need to check when a message arrives: current official instructions, an accessible departure route or a vulnerable person's support arrangements. Do not treat the absence of a message as proof a road or property is safe. Heavy rainfall can create local hazards beyond the subscription's coverage.
- Read the warning's actual instructions rather than only its label.
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