Floods

Flooding can occur for several reasons, such as snowmelt or heavy rainfall. It is often difficult to predict exactly where a cloudburst will hit. Here is how to prepare for floods.
Updated
Foto: Johan Eklund/Myndigheten för civilt försvar
Översvämning i Strömsund, Jämtland.

Floods can affect buildings and traffic, but also pose a danger to human health.
During floods, emergency services may need to concentrate on saving life, health and essential services. So you may not get help if, for example, your basement is flooded. You can get advice from your local emergency services on how to protect yourself and your home. 

Checklist in case of risk of flooding

Before

  • Check your insurance. Take photos of the rooms in your home so you can show them to the insurance company if needed.
  • Make an evacuation plan and consider what you need to bring and where you will go.
  • Store valuable or sensitive items in a safe place. If storing them in a basement, place them at least 50 cm above the floor.
  • Check that downpipes, drains, ditches, and drainage pipes are cleared and in good condition.
  • Ensure that roots from trees and bushes have not grown into water and sewage systems and caused blockages or leaks.
  • Make sure the ground slopes away from the property so that water drains in the correct direction.
  • Review your electrical system so that it is not at risk of flooding. Ensure access to backup power if needed.
  • Check that the roof, windows, and doors are sealed so that no water can enter.
  • Obtain protective equipment, such as pumps or temporary flood barriers.
  • Have a floor drain that can be shut off, backflow valves on drains, plugs for sink pipes, and a watertight cover over the toilet.
  • Raise and discuss the need for preventive measures with other affected property owners and the municipality.

During

  • Follow weather forecasts, SMHI warnings and messages, and news reporting.

  • Move moisture-sensitive and valuable items to a flood-safe location.

  • Turn off the electricity at the main switch if water is entering the building. Never enter water that may be electrically charged.

  • Seal basement windows and ventilation openings.

  • Block floor drains and toilets with sandbags, a filled pillowcase, or similar. If sewer systems become flooded, water can come up through them.

  • Build a temporary barrier using plastic and sandbags or soil – this can stop minor flooding.

  • Dig a trench to divert water away.

  • Pump out incoming water using a sump pump. It is important to maintain a balance between pressure inside and outside the basement. If the ground outside is saturated with water, the basement floor or walls may be subjected to pressure if the water inside is removed.

  • Move your car to higher ground.

  • Avoid walking or driving through flooded areas.

  • Stay in a high place where rescue personnel can reach you if you cannot evacuate.

  • Stay in contact with your neighbors – you may need to help each other.

  • Contact emergency services at 112 if the situation becomes too difficult.

After

  • Contact your insurance company as soon as possible.

  • Make a list of damages and document everything carefully by taking photos and videos.

  • Have an electrician check that it is safe to turn the power back on if water has entered your home.

  • Wash your hands and maintain good hygiene after contact with floodwater.

  • Wait to drink tap water until your municipality has confirmed that it is safe.

  • Be cautious when the water recedes. The property may be undermined and foundations may have been damaged. It can be dangerous to stay in the building due to the risk of collapse.

  • Ventilate moisture by opening windows and doors or use a dehumidifier.

  • Drinking water may be contaminated by bacteria during flooding. Check with your municipality that tap water is safe. If you have your own well, assess whether the water has been affected. If unsure, submit a water sample for analysis. More information is available from the Swedish Food Agency (Livsmedelsverket).

Note: In areas with regulated rivers, the municipality should provide information on what applies in the event of a dam failure.

Source: Municipality of Halmstad, County Administrative Board of Gävleborg, Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency